Lp12- mm or mc....and riaa

Greetings Steinar,

Are you talking about Pspatial Audio stuff?

Some say 'Graham Sleep' but I couldn't possibly comment. The Adikt is a great MM cart and I really like the Nima too. It works on the LP12 as an 'Aro-light' option very nicely.

The Rega Aria is an excellent value for money phono-stage which will handle MM and MC carts. Nice to have the option, cos the MC itch will probably need to be scratched in due course.

Ah; the rocky road of The Scottish Turntable addiction eh? You could be in BIG trouble.

Enjoy.

John.

A Linn/ Naim mate of mine swears by the Adikt with Lejonklou phonostage (latest iteration is the Gaio) developed specifically for the transom-shaped wonder.

You could well be thanking him not just in advance but for years  :-)

Best,

Chris

The best sounding Adikt I have heard was when I was demoing a Linn's Uphorik.

It is a versatile phono with provision for an adjustable capacitance for MM cartridges and MC.

Stageline N/HCDR is also excellent.

I prefer the Adikit over an entry level MC plus its maintenance cost is a lot lower than MC.

I went through a period of MM cartridge survey and the Adikt came on top for me. ( with ARO )

I use an Adikt on my LP12/Lingo2/cirkus/Ittok/Archidee setup. It always sounds great to me.

BBM

Fredrik Lejonklou is your man

How is it compared to a Stageline N?

Thanks all for constructive inputs.

My understanding has been that MC is where you end and why not go there directly. Then, after some reading I have found that MM may be easier to get working, cheaper and they also play music  Some of your inputs also confirms that in my view.

Since my vinyl approach this time was to focus on understanding the lp12, all the bits and parts, learn how to set it up, I look for lower speced and priced components. I could go directly to Uphorik- or Superline (MC, I know) level at first, but I don't know where this will end. One step at the time.

Graham Slee(p) have got great reviews, especially if you look at it's price level. Dynamic and fast.

They are also cheap.

I can possibly buy a Project Phonobox RS second hand and it delivers both MM and MC. I don't know it's signature, but by reading reviews I'm a bit sceptical. Still, it's half the cost compared to Lejonclou, which I have also had in mind. 

Then I'm at the Stageline N. Available second hand and built for my Naim amp. Can be upgraded at a later stage.

I don't focus on cost only, but until I have found "the right choice" I want to keep it as budget As possible. I don't have the chance to audition, so learning by doing is my option.

I hope some of you can add something to my approach.

S

Stover,

My two cents is that you're definitely upping the ante to delve into MC. I've found satisfaction using MM and set the ceiling there for cost and ease of use. I have the sense that optimal performance of MMs are more forgiving of set up. I guess MC consideration depends on your budget, dedication to vinyl, penchant for tinkering, and the level of sophistication you're seeking. I'm sated with MM, but perhaps ignorance is bliss?

Seems like I have landed there as well in the end, obviously. I can se you're using Stageline N. Have you compared it to anything or did you end there by obvious reasons (read Naim reasons)

Stover,

IMO you should stick with your Adikt, buy a phono stage to suit your budget and enjoy what you have for now. You'd have to spend quite a lot more to buy a decent MC cart to improve on the Adikt and it would be more advisable to upgrade the deck first. What sub-chassis, power supply do you have?

Good luck.

Steve 

Hi Steve

I think that's the way I'm heading actually. Finding a balance throughout the whole line is the most important thing. I'm also certain there's upgrades to to with the deck itself, before spending a lot of money on riaa or MC for that sake.

The plinth is about 5 years old and some of it's components only 3 years old. Circus, Valhalla and standard subchassis. It's delivered by Cymbiosis, to the former owner 3 years ago.

I may go for a future Kore, Lingo/ Armageddon level and rather focus on adding lp's to the collection, learn about the Sondek ..... and play music, than heading to the lp12 top line.

Steinar

Frankly I never found a MM setup that satified my, StagelineN+HiCap was nice, but nothing more.  Only after switching from MM to MC I could fully enjoy vinyl.  

A sensible approach. Enjoy your fabulous deck safe in the knowledge it can be improved as and when necessary but will never let you down sonically. I've had my LP12 since 1987 and throughout it has been a very musical experience. It's now fully spec'd but this has taken place over many years.

ATB

Steve

The Rega Aria is a lovely phono stage and will serve you well with both MM & MC cartridges.

You could always call the dealer in Leicester that set up your LP12, as he stocks Naim, Rega, Linn, Roksan and more, so knows your deck well and can advise accordingly.

Best regards, FT

I auditioned the Aria in my system. It transformed my Naim sounding vinyl end into more of the Rega sound I was familiar with having also home demoed a Saturn and Brio-R. In short, overly bouncy mid-bass, lack of a solid bottom end, and truncated highs, at least for my taste. Stageline N fed by Aux2 gives me more of what I like, which I suppose is the Naim sound.

Hello John 

After I have picked up the deck and started googling stuff, I feel I`m on deep water. I manage to swim, but I have to learn better. It`s a mix of joy and frustration, I will have to take my time.

Steinar

I appreciate both the balanced comments and the possibilities mentioned in your replies. Keep what you have, but there`s more to get from the deck etc.

I will for sure keep the deck as it is for a while and learn to know and handle it. Then make a plan for how to slowly upgrade it. I`m pretty sure I want to try both MM and MC so riaa should take care of both, alternatively a cheap version of MM first.

I read from this forum and others, that Dynavector pickups are a great match with the Nima, especially 17D3. I`m not going there yet.

When it comes to dealers. I have been in contact with the mentioned UK dealer, but I`m not at the point where I want to spend a lot of money. At a later stage maybe, when I have got things settled and into perspective. It would also mean I would have to go straight to my budget top directly. If not, every change or upgrade would require shipping both ways.

Also, my country`s valuta is very weak at the moment, making UK purchase a very bad business. 

Steinar

All the more reason to keep it local and go Lejonklou.

Chris

How is it compared to the Stageline N?

I really like the Adikt, it is a very solid cartridge despite creating up in cost over the last several years. I have used an Adikt since they came out. I had a Linn MC cart that the maids broke twice, I fixed both problems at once new maids new cart. I really do think it has a great amount of boogie or jam to it. It may not be quite as revealing as a very good MC cart but it is very fun and reasonable in the realm of carts. I would not replace it in your situation, You can replace the stylus separate if its a wear issue.

This maybe sacrilege to some here, but if your not even sure you are going to stay with a MM cartridge why not go inexpensive and get something like a Pro-Ject PhonoBox MM or PhonoBox S (Which will let you experiment with MC carts too) from Amazon, they are inexpensive and well loved and will let you sort things out with a respectable phono stage that you can sell for likely little loss once you have decided what you want to do. The Rega Fono MM is also a good choice but a bit more expensive. I would not spend more until you are familiar with what the strengths and weaknesses of you table are and you can certainly get great sound from that combo without demolition of the bank..

Along the same line as the Project Phonos, Cambridge P540 wasn't bad for under 100$USD. 

That said, tho, the problem with cheaping out on a phono ( even with a modest arm and cartridge ) is that you don't really hear what the cartridge is capable of. Most often I found with entry level phonos, the noise floor is high and for most non Naim amps, albeit they might do some things better, they just slow down music compared to even a Stageline N powered from a preamp.

I am sort of on the same boat as Stover where I am learning, practicing and experimenting with my Sondek. I would like to hear not only what's cartridge is doing but I would like to hear a minute tweaks ( a suspension, anti-skate or tracking angle changes etc...) I need to be able to hear those things so I understand what and how parts affect the outcome.

Originally I was using phono cards inside the 52 for the task. But they weren't good enough so I decided to get a Stageline N again.

Naim amps generally are very good at tracking a pulse of music, so for me, with the Adikt, Stageline N became my minimum MM phono amp. Good enough to hear what's going on. This combo is enjoyable as well as informative.  Improvements can be had with better outboard power supplies and Powerline/HiLine/SuperLumina 4/5 etc..  but not a requirement for learning and a casual listening enjoyment.

Finding a phono amp that will work is simple as that, but as Kuma is into, it should have some level of quality, to show strengths and weaknesses during learning. On the other hand, that may lead me into the jungle of mismatches and lack of joy.

I guess a more predictable way, as far as I understand there are dealers that have several decks available for audition, with different specs. That may be a quick way to find level, which rica and coil principle to choose and so on. 

Why? How? What? I can't even... I sincerely don't understand what maids were doing with your MC cartridge. Do they play records while they clean?

I cannot conclude on anything yet, but the input from all of you have made me wiser.

Steinar