Turntable advice please: How long can cable to preamp be?

Well, my LP12/Urika/Akurate is connected to my 552 with a 2m lead.  Works perfectly well.

Kevin, if we're talking about a Naim phono stage + PSU, then the maximum I would suggest would be 2m.  Any more than this and it could lead to instability as they're not designed to drive long cables. However, it's better this way that the alternative, which would be extra long phono cables.

Hi Kevin. Just out of interest, is there any reason you’ve omitted the RP8 from your audition ❓ 

Richard Dane posted:

Kevin, if we're talking about a Naim phono stage + PSU, then the maximum I would suggest would be 2m.  Any more than this and it could lead to instability as they're not designed to drive long cables. However, it's better this way that the alternative, which would be extra long phono cables.

Thanks Richard. Not sure yet which phono stage it would be, but presume the Rega Fono or Aria would have the same constraint? If it’s a Stageline then I think initially at least I would just power it from the 552.

I don’t think I want to spend a fortune on a Vinyl source since I’m really only aiming to use this to play an existing collection of mostly 70’s and 80’s LP’s and not really aiming to start buying a lot of new vinyl. I’m very happy with my streaming solution for most music, but I find contemporary music from those decades just doesn’t really sound authentic in any digital form. I guess the producers and engineers optimised every aspect of the process to sound good on Vinyl.

My thought is to put the record player, motor ps and phono stage on a rack in the window recess you can see top right in this picture and the run a lead back to the main system bottom left. Measuring that now and allowing for drops to and from the floor etc. It could be as much as 2.7 metres needed. What do we think?

GregWPGibbs posted:

Hi Kevin. Just out of interest, is there any reason you’ve omitted the RP8 from your audition ❓ 

Not really Greg. After talking with my dealer I’m thinking P6 is probably the least I need to spend and the RP10 is the most I want to spend, so I’ll start the listening with the 2 extremes. Happy to consider RP8 too. If you’ve heard all 3 where would you say RP8 sits in the hierarchy? 

Kevin, I would have a word with Rega to see what they say regarding long i/cs and the Aria - which is the one I would recommend at this kind of level.  If going Naim then think Superline.  However, if powering from the 552 you have a problem.  You either need an extra long SNAIC (not so good, maybe not even possible), or an extra long tonearm lead (possibly even worse, and maybe not even possible).

How about the Rega wall bracket?

I should add that this TT siting may only be a temporary solution as we are hoping to move house at some point this year or next, at which point a more normal siting for the TT should then be possible. Kevin

Richard Dane posted:

Kevin, I would have a word with Rega to see what they say regarding long i/cs and the Aria - which is the one I would recommend at this kind of level.  If going Naim then think Superline.  However, if powering from the 552 you have a problem.  You either need an extra long SNAIC (not so good, maybe not even possible), or an extra long tonearm lead (possibly even worse, and maybe not even possible).

How about the Rega wall bracket?

Thanks Richard. I’d not seen the Rega shelf with a TT on it before. I’d assumed it was quite a lump of steel, but your pic shows that it’s footprint is very tight to the TT itself. That could possibly just about pass review with the decor police! However, where to put the motor ps and phono stage could still be an issue..

kevin

kevin J Carden posted

GregWPGibbs posted:

Hi Kevin. Just out of interest, is there any reason you’ve omitted the RP8 from your audition ❓ 

Not really Greg. After talking with my dealer I’m thinking P6 is probably the least I need to spend and the RP10 is the most I want to spend, so I’ll start the listening with the 2 extremes. Happy to consider RP8 too. If you’ve heard all 3 where would you say RP8 sits in the hierarchy?

Greg, if your still around I would be very interested in your (or anyone else with relevant experience) thoughts on the RP8. 

I’ve listened this week to a P6 with Ania cartridge and Aria Phone stage vs RP10 with both Ania/Aria and Dynavector XX2/Dynavector P4 Phono. I have to say that to my tastes, the P6 is hard to beat. It clearly leaves some information in the grooves that the RP10 captures, but what information the P6 does extract is presented in such a delicious manner that it makes every record a real pleasure. Just a lovely sound. I’m torn with the RP10 though. It’s clearly more detailed and getting more from the record, but it’s not a very ‘analog’ sound to my ears. It sounds to me like it’s voiced to challenge digital sources, which is not really what I’m after.

So, very interested in how RP8 might sound. An audition would seem sensible, but in the meantime I’m all ears for thoughts on whether you think RP8 is nearer to a P6 presentation or the RP10’s.

Kevin