CD vs Vinyl
Posted by: Christopher on 04 September 2003
Hi!
I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but does anybody have an LP12 & CDX and a copy of the same album on CD & on LP? The reason I ask is that whilst I was very satisfied with my new LP12 up until a few days ago, suddenly it seems to have become somewhat muddled... a direct comparison with CD with Coldplay Parachutes, The Darkness and Red Hot Chillis latest shows the LP12 to give a very dark, closed in, distant sound in comparison to the CDX... whereas initially it surprised me how similar they sounded!
So the Lp12 seems to have lost some of it's sparkle and dynamics. Maybe it's my hearing (although LP seems to start to sound a lot better with higher volumes... in fact it suits higher vols really well, almost addictive :-))... just wondered if anybody could tell me their take on the comparison.
Equipment = LP12, Aro, Armageddon, DV XX-1; CDX, XPS, 82, Hi-cap, 180. All on a Q4 rack (LP12 on top shelf).
Oh, and has anybody heard the SME model 20?... any good?
Cheers!
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by long-time-dead
I'd think about making all the usual checks - tracking weight, VTA etc. in case the fairies have appeared overnight....
Then I would get your cartridge checked in case it's got a problem.
The fairies appeared in my house one day (I think they looked very similar to my daughters) and stole the cantilever from an AT-OC9. Putting the remains of the cartridge under the pillow never seemed to convince the tooth fairy to replace it
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by Geofiz
Have you changed the location of any of the components on your Q4 shelf? I have 2 Q4s for my electronics but the LP12 on it's own stand (which I would strongly suggest you do if you can). If you have moved around components, check the connections. Probably want to check that the LP12 is level. Big question is have your listening comparisons been at the same volume (not necessarily the same volume knob placement as the gain between CD and phono stages will be different). I would assume that you tend to listen at high volumes? Maybe the difference you perceive is from playing the LP at a lower volume?
Cheers and good luck
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by Paul C
Hi
I have a SME 20, and like it a lot, but it does not swing like the Linn. It will give you much more info and is very dynamic. It is much larger sounding and with the right cart, like your Dynavector it will sound mate very well with the SME V. Some people do not like it compare to the LP12, it may sound a little lean a first listen but you will hear much more later.
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by garyi
I have a CDi which I rekon is a good match for the CDX.
My LP12 beats it in everything important. It don't sound the same at all.
Something is wrong
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by kan man
Try cleaning your stylus. A CDX is good but your LP12 should be significantly better if working correctly.
regards
Steve
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Christopher
I checked the tracking last night, seems ok. Bias set at same weight as tracking (I guess this is what I have to do - the Aro instructions are sh*te for a lay person like me!)... apart from that not sure what to do. It was set up by a local dealer (athough not bought from him).
Could this be something to do with the stand I wonder, how critical is it that the LP12 sits on a decent support, night and day difference? Does the Q4 work with the LP12?
The main issue I've got is that the sound of LP is more boxed, closed in somehow, with no sparkle in the highs and far less definition in the bass. Any experts out there living near Geneva, Switzerland?
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Christopher
Thanks Hock, I'll try this VTA thing tonight.. "dull and woolly" just about sums it up on all except audiophile pressings (which sound pretty good to me). Maybe this'll sort it out (fingers crossed!)
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Minky
Personally, I think they should come up with a bomb that vaporises vinyl lovers and leaves everything else completely untouched. Just IMO you understand
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Jean-Marc
Chris,
Be careful not to tighten too much the little screw at the base of the pillar when adjusting VTA. Normally it shall just be tighten very lightly by hand.
Also, on the ARO, VTF shall be re-adjusted each time you modify VTA.
Good luck
Jean-Marc
PS: have you checked if your TT ^suspension still bounces right?
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by --duncan--
Christopher,
you LP12, properly set-up, should vapourize a CDX. As the deterioration has happened recently, the set-up (or the fairies!) is probably the main problem.
A contributory factor might be the Q4. I tried my similar LP12 on the top of a Q4 loaded with gear and it didn't like being there at all: the sound was soft and dull even compared with it on a simple Target wall-shelf. A seperate, empty Q4 might be better. You probably know about keeping all the joints loose so the rack wobbles nicely side-to side. If you haven't tried this it does make a difference. Really, your deck needs to be on its own dedecated Altar. I was very happy with my choice (see Profile) and my set-up has sparkle and dynamics in spades...
duncan
Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Christopher
I was thinking Mana shelf as the suspended floor wobbles like f***. I gather these make quite a difference to the LP12, added snap! But I worry about getting the thing level, how do you know if the holes you are drilling are completely horizontal?
Anyway, another thing, there's a slight noise coming from the turntable, as far as I can see not spindle bearing related as it doesn't happen at the same point in every revolution, I'd say it happens about every 1.1 revolutions of the platter, like a soft (and admittedly pretty quiet) scraping, may even be a spring noise... this didn't used to be there, so maybe this and the sound performance are connected... is it normal for the deck to make some noise?
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Phil Barry
Minky's comment is a prime example of the axiom that 'The good is the enemy of the best.'
Minky, you've apparently missed out on vinyl. Why do you want to interfere with others' pleasure?
My LP12/ARO/Karma on a Target wall shelf is better in hifi terms than my CDS1 on Mana. And LPs provide real music more regularly than CDs do.
PR
What exactly have Koreans done to deserve vaporization? The last time any Korean initiated a massive attack on another population without provocation was over 50 years ago...and that attack was not supported by a majority of Koreans anyway.
In the Judeo-Christian culture, we tend to believe 10 decent people can prevent God's holocaust. How many decent people are required to prevent a man-made holocaust?
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
42
I suspect that this may be lost on our American cousins.
Bloody good reply, though!
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Phil Barry
OK, Mike. What's the signifcance of '42'?
TIA.
Phil
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by Minky
Speaking of which, I have just finished Douglas Adams "The Salmon of doubt". In amoungst the inevitable filler (it being notoriously difficult to write new material postmortem) there are a surprising number of good bits. Better than I thought it would be. I would give it a score of 42.
Posted on: 06 September 2003 by Phil Barry
Ah. Douglas Adams. Never read him....I reached this level of...um...enlightenment via the Illuminatus! trilogy.
Phil
