Stageline upgrade

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!

I borrowed an Aria from my dealer with the intention of replacing my SL with it, I didn't bother.  It was different with a slightly wider soundstage but not especially better and certainly not worth me taking a hit on the SL to put it in place.  If I was starting from scratch I'd go for the Aria but I wouldn't sell a Stageline to get one. 

dayjay posted:

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!

I borrowed an Aria from my dealer with the intention of replacing my SL with it, I didn't bother.  It was different with a slightly wider soundstage but not especially better and certainly not worth me taking a hit on the SL to put it in place.  If I was starting from scratch I'd go for the Aria but I wouldn't sell a Stageline to get one. 

just a question, or maybe two: did you compared Aria to SL + Flatcap XS? when you added Flatcap XS to SL, did you get improvement in sound compared to SL powered by AUX2 of SN2?

thanks and regards,

Stefano

I have the feeling Aria will fit most cartridges, MM or MC

Stageline not, Lejonklou not

All are great stages though, guess the new Technics are fine, the older ones had certain compromises

Hungryhalibut posted:

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.

My first record player was SL1300 ( non DJ version of SL1200 ). A few years ago I was curious to see how it stack against my LP12 so I got one. Definitely it was not as musical as I remember back in my high school days.

You're right in that this new one is totally different. It's deceiving because they retained the looks of the old SL1200, but they retooled and redesigned the whole thing including the arm. ( I have a sneaking suspicion it has a lot to do with the new sound ) It certainly sounded a lot more musical than any of vpi turn tables I have heard.

I saw this Technics PR video when it came out, and rather cynical about it. But I suppose all this hoopla is true.

It is much better than any direct drive turntable I have heard. I would love to pit it against my Sondek.

No doubt in my mind that Stageline N/HCDR ( or even SL/Supercap for a moving coil  ) would work well with this table.

kuma posted:

No doubt in my mind that Stageline N/HCDR ( or even SL/Supercap for a moving coil  ) would work well with this table.

Works well is one thing, VFM another. I've heard the HCDR/Stageline combo and it's very good.

Bigger question though is would you lay out the bucks for a HCDR on a Stageline + associated IC at this level of TT?

b_lund posted:

I have the feeling Aria will fit most cartridges, MM or MC

Stageline not, Lejonklou not

All are great stages though, guess the new Technics are fine, the older ones had certain compromises

Yes the Aria has MC and MM inputs that can both be adjusted via dip switches depending on cartridge

joerand posted:

Bigger question though is would you lay out the bucks for a HCDR on a Stageline + associated IC at this level of TT?

Yep.

A good phono stage is hard to come by so personally I don't hesitate partnering it  with any table. That said, I still keep my valve phono around ( Art Audio Vinyl One) which can be had for a song these days and give a beguiling performance against costlier Stageline/HC.

The issue is MC Stageline isn't as good ( they can be noisy )  but so long as staying with MM carts, Stageline/HC is fine phono assuming you like what it does.

OP already has the Stageline, he can also consider a second hand HC. ( which I recknon has been devalued due to HCDR intro )

There was one of the limited edition 1200 tables with a SME5 and an Anna playing in my local dealership the other day, sounded horribly toppy to me, the WT simplex with I don't know what cartridge came as something of a relief after that, never could get on with SMEs so maybe that's all it was but try before you buy and get some context.

I'm not sure I'd call the SME V "toppy", rather the opposite in fact, and if anything can be a bit too "bottomy", but of course the turntable and arm board it's mounted on will have some effect on how it performs. 

kuma posted:

joerand posted:

Bigger question though is would you lay out the bucks for a HCDR on a Stageline + associated IC at this level of TT?

Yep.

A good phono stage is hard to come by so personally I don't hesitate partnering it  with any table. That said, I still keep my valve phono around ( Art Audio Vinyl One) which can be had for a song these days and give a beguiling performance against costlier Stageline/HC.

The issue is MC Stageline isn't as good ( they can be noisy )  but so long as staying with MM carts, Stageline/HC is fine phono assuming you like what it does.

OP already has the Stageline, he can also consider a second hand HC. ( which I recknon has been devalued due to HCDR intro )

that could be an idea!

I mean, assuming that a second hand HC (not HCDR) would be a better choice than powering Stageline via Aux2 of a SN2 powered by an HCDR?

is it clear what I mean?

regards,

Stefano

P.S. anyway i think that any further investments in analogue setup will be postponed for next months because in the meantime Naim Assistance here in Italy advised me that, after a long wait, finally the DR Kit for my XPS2 has arrived. honestly I was on the point of cancel the order, due to this unexpected delay!

In my system a Non-DR-HiCap was a really worthwhile upgrade for the stageline compared to the Aux power.

I should say that my system at that time was Nait XS + HiCap powering the stageline via Aux. 

Adding a dedicated HiCap for the stageline was a great enhancement.