RunOutGroove
Addicted Member
So I was on here some time ago, asking about a new cartridge for my Technics SL 1300 table. You folks talked me into getting a new stylus (an upgraded "nude elliptical" style, Audio Technica) for my Signet cartridge, rather than ordering a whole new cartridge. In a crazy zeal to improve the sound of my turnable, I just bought a new phono preamp that someone was selling for cheap locally. It's a Cambridge Audio 651P which is replacing a NAD PP4, which in turn was replacing the phono stage on my ancient Marantz 2270 receiver (the NAD sounded noticeably better than the phono stage).
I have to say that plugging in the Cambridge Audio preamp made a pretty nice improvement in the sound. I hear it most in the treble region, with cymbals having a more natural overtone and none of the sizzle that I was hearing before.
Along with my new stylus, I ordered the stuff that I need to properly set up my table, which I'm sure isn't properly aligned, weighted, etc. Unfortunately, not initially realizing that the protractor and tonearm scale that I ordered on Amazon was going to take weeks rather than days to arrive (I think it ships from China) I wasn't really good to go with the stylus swap. Having just bought the preamp though, I couldn't wait to test the combo so I put the new stylus on without doing a setup, put on a record (something by Ornette Coleman) and... the combo sounds great! As great as I've ever experienced vinyl. Very clean, full 3d type sound, with as I said much cleaner, more realistic highs (the bass wasn't too bad before). I guess once I get the tools (and the will!) to properly set the thing up, it'll sound even better.
One thing though: I noticed when I hooked up the new Cambridge Audio preamp that I was getting a nasty hum. I disconnected the ground wire going to it though and it's gone. I seem to remember doing the same thing ages ago with a totally different setup, where everything worked better without the ground wire attached. Is this odd? Is there something else that may be the culprit that I should probably address and then reconnect the ground wire... or if it sounds good the way it is, maybe I should just count my blessings and leave it as is?
I have to say that plugging in the Cambridge Audio preamp made a pretty nice improvement in the sound. I hear it most in the treble region, with cymbals having a more natural overtone and none of the sizzle that I was hearing before.
Along with my new stylus, I ordered the stuff that I need to properly set up my table, which I'm sure isn't properly aligned, weighted, etc. Unfortunately, not initially realizing that the protractor and tonearm scale that I ordered on Amazon was going to take weeks rather than days to arrive (I think it ships from China) I wasn't really good to go with the stylus swap. Having just bought the preamp though, I couldn't wait to test the combo so I put the new stylus on without doing a setup, put on a record (something by Ornette Coleman) and... the combo sounds great! As great as I've ever experienced vinyl. Very clean, full 3d type sound, with as I said much cleaner, more realistic highs (the bass wasn't too bad before). I guess once I get the tools (and the will!) to properly set the thing up, it'll sound even better.
One thing though: I noticed when I hooked up the new Cambridge Audio preamp that I was getting a nasty hum. I disconnected the ground wire going to it though and it's gone. I seem to remember doing the same thing ages ago with a totally different setup, where everything worked better without the ground wire attached. Is this odd? Is there something else that may be the culprit that I should probably address and then reconnect the ground wire... or if it sounds good the way it is, maybe I should just count my blessings and leave it as is?
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