Stageline upgrade

Stefano, Are you talking about adding a second HC-DR, or are you thinking of re-assigning the one you already own which is on your SN2?

Chris

Stageline becomes a very expensive entry level phono stage with hicap, I am using one but now testing my TT with Roma 79dc phono stafe, it is miles better

Does the Technics justify a hicapped Stageline? I always thought that electronically controlled direct drive decks didn't sound that great. 

Christopher_M posted:

Stefano, Are you talking about adding a second HC-DR, or are you thinking of re-assigning the one you already own which is on your SN2?

Chris

You are right, Chris: adding a second HCDR, since I already have one for SN2. 

Regards,

Stefano

Hungryhalibut posted:

Does the Technics justify a hicapped Stageline? I always thought that electronically controlled direct drive decks didn't sound that great. 

I don't know, actually. Anyway Technics 1210 / Ortofon 2M Blue / Stageline is a pretty fine combo, in my opinion, that why I'm considering an upgrade (phono stage or maybe cartridge...).

regards,

Stefano

essezeta posted:

Christopher_M posted:

Stefano, Are you talking about adding a second HC-DR, or are you thinking of re-assigning the one you already own which is on your SN2?

Chris

You are right, Chris: adding a second HCDR, since I already have one for SN2. 

Regards,

Stefano

In which case I would borrow a 4-5 interconnect from my dealer, take the HC-DR off the SN2, and try it on the Stageline. Then, only considering the sound on vinyl , I would decide what I thought of the the HC-DR in its new position.

But, but.... the trouble is that Stageline and HC-DR approximates to the cost of a used [MC only] SuperLine. So if the Technics can take an MC, that is the way I would go instead, based on the reputation of the SuperLine that I have read about here. The SuperLine would be powered from Aux2 of the SN2/ HC-DR.

Hope that helps.

Chris

Hungryhalibut posted:

Does the Technics justify a hicapped Stageline? I always thought that electronically controlled direct drive decks didn't sound that great. 

Try a Brinkmann bardo please, it may change your mind

Stefano I have both Stageline N and Superline and a non DR Supercap.

I like a lot the Stageline with Rega Exact and Reson Reca.

Perhaps mc gives more details but I find mm very involving.

I have two, for now, turntables: Rega P9 and Rega RP10.

All the best

Vincenzo

Maybe consider a new sl1200g and upgrade Blue to Bronze

Front end first

I had a faulty cartridge recently and disconnected my Stageline from my SN2 whilst it was being repaired and discovered that I prefered the sound of the SN2 when it wasn't powering the Stageline.  I also have a NAT05XS so I bought an ex dem Flatcap XS for not a lot of money which now powers the Stageline and also the tuner.  The tuner in particular has benefitted from it and IMO the whole system sounds better overall.  My deck is a Rega RP8 with Apheata 2

dayjay posted:

I had a faulty cartridge recently and disconnected my Stageline from my SN2 whilst it was being repaired and discovered that I prefered the sound of the SN2 when it wasn't powering the Stageline. 

That's interesting, dayjay! It's the first time I heard of it...

regards,

Stefano

Christopher_M posted:

essezeta posted:

Christopher_M posted:

Stefano, Are you talking about adding a second HC-DR, or are you thinking of re-assigning the one you already own which is on your SN2?

Chris

You are right, Chris: adding a second HCDR, since I already have one for SN2. 

Regards,

Stefano

In which case I would borrow a 4-5 interconnect from my dealer, take the HC-DR off the SN2, and try it on the Stageline. Then, only considering the sound on vinyl , I would decide what I thought of the the HC-DR in its new position.

But, but.... the trouble is that Stageline and HC-DR approximates to the cost of a used [MC only] SuperLine. So if the Technics can take an MC, that is the way I would go instead, based on the reputation of the SuperLine that I have read about here. The SuperLine would be powered from Aux2 of the SN2/ HC-DR.

Hope that helps.

Chris

Thank you, Chris, but honestly I think an MC cartridge doesn't worth the effort on Technics arm. 

Regards,

Stefano

From my experience the Stageline sounded better with a dedicated power supply than when powered by the pre (the rest of the system improved too). However, a Superline powered by the pre sounded better than a HiCapped Stageline. At least to my cloth ears

Regards,

Steve O

Just my .02, keep the deck as is with Stageline, no HicapDR. If you want to improve your vinyl playback, consider a new TT. Rega is coming out with some very nice decks at reasonable cost. Their new budget MC looks interesting... Consider an all Rega combo- great synergy without a lot of pain in the wallet.

Adding a Hicap DR  to MM Stageline seems like poor vfm ... Better sounding stages available for less cash,imo.

ATB,

Mark

I had a HiCap DR on my Stageline N and really liked what it did, so I can encourage you to give it a try.

Sell the SL N and buy a Lejenklou Gaio or Rega Fono MM MKII, both are much better. 

Robiwan posted:

Lejenklou Gaio

Have you heard one, Robin?

The forum member who recommended it to me told me it had been specifically designed with  the Linn Adikt.

C.

The Rega Fono MM Mk2 is a fine phono stage for the money or you could try an MM/MC phono stage something like a Dynavector or a Trichord Dino they will all come in cheaper and in all probability sound at least as good as a HiCap'd Stageline.

I'd find it prudent to demo alternative stages before spending on an expensive PSU to upgrade the Stageline. The Stageline is after all a $700 stage and there are superior sounding stages in that price range that might trump it even with the additional $2600 PSU. No way I'd drop $3300 on a MM stage. Think about where you could otherwise take a vinyl system for that kind of money - it's folly to pursue a Stageline/HCDR.

Christopher_M posted:

Robiwan posted:

Lejenklou Gaio

Have you heard one, Robin?

The forum member who recommended it to me told me it had been specifically designed with  the Linn Adikt.

C.

my friend has one with linn lp12 and linn adikt mm. It sounds excellent!

I had 4 SL N with different TT's and carts over the last years and although i like it's control on bass the rest of the frequency spectrum is just too dark, steely, onnatural and lacks cohesion. And it is even more sensitive for placement, it drove me knots. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Does the Technics justify a hicapped Stageline? I always thought that electronically controlled direct drive decks didn't sound that great. 

You might be surprised ( I certainly was! ). Their new Limited Edition SL1200 sounded pretty darn good. 4KUSD complete.

I saw that there is a 'special' hifi version, though I believe the OP's is the standard one, which in the UK costs less than the hicap that's being considered to power the Stageline. It would be great if the hifi Technics really is that good. I had a an SL1500 (I think) in the mid 70s, which I replaced with a Linn in 1979. The one in the picture looks little different from its ancestor from 40 years ago.

Thanks to all.

Definitely is seems to me that the majority of forumers consider HCDR an inappropriate upgrade for Stageline. Even more considering my TT and cart, not particulary "hi-end"! 

Probabily, as someone suggested, adding a cheaper Flatcap XS would be a smart choice for the Stageline, an higer vfm.

Finally, I'll will consider the "external solution", i.e. a stand alone phono stage with a pretty high q/p ratio, such as Rega Aria, for example. 

Regards,

Stefano

essezeta posted:

Thanks to all.

Definitely is seems to me that the majority of forumers consider HCDR an inappropriate upgrade for Stageline. Even more considering my TT and cart, not particulary "hi-end"! 

Probabily, as someone suggested, adding a cheaper Flatcap XS would be a smart choice for the Stageline, an higer vfm.

Finally, I'll will consider the "external solution", i.e. a stand alone phono stage with a pretty high q/p ratio, such as Rega Aria, for example. 

Regards,

Stefano

No, The SL1200 is high end! The SL is not. Sell the SL and buy the Aria!

Robiwan posted:

essezeta posted:

Thanks to all.

Definitely is seems to me that the majority of forumers consider HCDR an inappropriate upgrade for Stageline. Even more considering my TT and cart, not particulary "hi-end"! 

Probabily, as someone suggested, adding a cheaper Flatcap XS would be a smart choice for the Stageline, an higer vfm.

Finally, I'll will consider the "external solution", i.e. a stand alone phono stage with a pretty high q/p ratio, such as Rega Aria, for example. 

Regards,

Stefano

No, The SL1200 is high end! The SL is not. Sell the SL and buy the Aria!

And what about the Lejenklou Slipsik?

regards,

Stefano