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Phono Pre: ART DJPRE II vs. DB Systems DB-8

You guys are harder on the DL 110 than I have previously heard before. I think it sounds fine at 47k
and a bit better at 1k. Some say 8 to 10k is best. It is a lovely cartridge.

Let it break in and match it with an arm that is medium mass (lighter end of the scale).

Never heard the bright harsh sounds described here with mine. Sometimes the recording is bright.

We all hear differently.
 
I think it sounds fine. They just took my ramblings too seriously... In reality, I think I'm coming closer to neutral than a lot of people get with more expensive cartridges and phono stages. I just got it dialed in yesterday. I'm sure I'll make another slight tweak or two over time and it will get even better.

I do like the transfer Beatcomber made me with his Grado... I'm chilling to it now.
 
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Done with clips for a while

I am so grateful to all for their contributions here...this has been (and probably will continue to be) a dynamite thread.

I am just in "enjoy the music mode now". My ClearAudio Concept table, AT OC9/III, AT630 SUT and ART DJ Pre II are dialed in...I am loving the sound..so for me, convinced on battery power, center + as I originally said..LOL

Just too good to be true..I may just leave it be and never get the Phonomena II ..don't need it..It would just be reaching for something I feel I already have...sigh...rest ...LOL

again, thanks to all, especially muddywaters for his time consuming clip captures...
 
arcorob said:
I am so grateful to all for their contributions here...this has been (and probably will continue to be) a dynamite thread.

I am just in "enjoy the music mode now". My ClearAudio Concept table, AT OC9/III, AT630 SUT and ART DJ Pre II are dialed in...I am loving the sound..so for me, convinced on battery power, center + as I originally said..LOL

Just too good to be true..I may just leave it be and never get the Phonomena II ..don't need it..It would just be reaching for something I feel I already have...sigh...rest ...LOL

again, thanks to all, especially muddywaters for his time consuming clip captures...
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I'm convinced on the battery power no matter what. In my system, it makes the ART's soundstage bigger, gets rid of midrange bloat and improves dynamics... and the ART had a pretty agreeable sound to begin with. IMO, my system is sounding like I dropped at least a few hundred dollars on a phono stage upgrade, for about $30.00 worth of battery stuff. I'm enjoying it.
 
I would just like to say, all of the recordings sound great. I have observed this thread with interest. I have an ART and I am thinking of getting a battery for it, but I have not made up my mind.

The Cat Stevens recording sound very good, but they don't seem to have a lot of stereo separation. When I evaluate equipment, this is something I listen for and I know the ART can deliver in this department. I am not trying to offend when I say this. I would like to hear a recording with a lot of stereo separation when comparing the wall wart and the battery. I know that stereo separation isn't everything. I guess we all have different preferences. I haven't chosen which sample I prefer. I am working on this.
 
wlmill said:
I would just like to say, all of the recordings sound great. I have observed this thread with interest. I have an ART and I am thinking of getting a battery for it, but I have not made up my mind.

The Cat Stevens recording sound very good, but they don't seem to have a lot of stereo separation. When I evaluate equipment, this is something I listen for and I know the ART can deliver in this department. I am not trying to offend when I say this. I would like to hear a recording with a lot of stereo separation when comparing the wall wart and the battery. I know that stereo separation isn't everything. I guess we all have different preferences. I haven't chosen which sample I prefer. I am working on this.
Click to expand...

I believe his recording is mono and I did almost bitch about it. For a phono stage evaluation? But, he worked very hard to make all these clips for us and it's much appreciated.
 
royphil345 said:
I believe his recording is mono and I did almost bitch about it. For a phono stage evaluation? But, he worked very hard to make all these clips for us and it's much appreciated.
Click to expand...

And I do appreciate it. I wasn't going to post my observations for these reasons. I know he worked very hard on these recordings and I wasn't trying to ccriticize in any way.
 
Muddywaters said:
Here are the new clips I promised. These were recorded tonight.

These are the four different psu and the batt options I provided before in random order.

#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Click to expand...


OK, I like #3 the best - a bit better PRAT - attack and clarity :)

I like #5 as second place. these are really close, but I'm using cans so I can eliminate room interaction and they are all clear, but 3 and 5 are the best for me :music:
 
wlmill said:
I would just like to say, all of the recordings sound great. I have observed this thread with interest. I have an ART and I am thinking of getting a battery for it, but I have not made up my mind.

The Cat Stevens recording sound very good, but they don't seem to have a lot of stereo separation. When I evaluate equipment, this is something I listen for and I know the ART can deliver in this department...
Click to expand...

Try Arcorob's clips Capt #1 and #2. there is good stereo separation in there :) One is wall-wart and one if battery :music:
 
royphil345 said:
I believe his recording is mono and I did almost bitch about it. For a phono stage evaluation? But, he worked very hard to make all these clips for us and it's much appreciated.
Click to expand...


Mono or stereo should not be an issue if we are looking for sonic detail and such. I really like that I was not distracted by placement while trying to listen for other factors. Once we have the basic "voicing" and detail eval, we can move onto sound stage width and depth - maybe with another tune ...
 
Actually I don;t agree

BrocLuno said:
Mono or stereo should not be an issue if we are looking for sonic detail and such. I really like that I was not distracted by placement while trying to listen for other factors. Once we have the basic "voicing" and detail eval, we can move onto sound stage width and depth - maybe with another tune ...
Click to expand...

Respectfully of course...LOL

Yes, we want sonic detail buy you also want to hear the soundstage and what the ART can do and how the battery improves it...So this is the first I am hearing about Mono..I know the Janice cuts were not (or don't thinks so)

For a test of the sonic detail AND soundstage ..check out long needle drop HERE
 
Something cool to do

I am so impressed with the SUT TO ART and how all sounds, I would almost like to order the Phonomena II (with a good return policy...) just to hear...no big difference or DRAMATIC...I mean how would we know? Hmmmm
 
arcorob said:
Respectfully of course...LOL

Yes, we want sonic detail buy you also want to hear the soundstage and what the ART can do and how the battery improves it...So this is the first I am hearing about Mono..I know the Janice cuts were not (or don't thinks so)

For a test of the sonic detail AND soundstage ..check out long needle drop HERE
Click to expand...

Thanks, that needle drop sounds fantastic.
 
#2 for me also. Question or an observation...We are taking an LP (analog) and ripping it to a hard drive (digital), then we listen to the file via computer (digital). Some what convoluted. Obviously the only way to find an answer is to all be in the same room listening to the same system. Chances for that happening are remote...so, as my Nona would say...Tutti i gusti sono gusti.

Cheers everyone!


_______
Matthew
 
Thank you

wlmill said:
Thanks, that needle drop sounds fantastic.
Click to expand...

And that was done with a much disrespected ATLP120 turntable and a very well respected AT440Ml/OCC cart ...pretty amazing what you can squeeze out ...LOL

And the DC powered ART making it happen...:yes:
 
arcorob said:
pretty amazing what you can squeeze out ...LOL
Click to expand...

You got that right.

arcorob said:
And the DC powered ART making it happen...:yes:
Click to expand...

and that... I think it's a sizable improvement. It's easy to say the difference sounds small, but it's in all the right places. I've tried to spend considerably more on a phono stage for a small improvement and I'm happier with the improvement this battery made. The big soundstage, improved dynamics, deeper bass, smoother highs. It makes the ART sound expensive.
 
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arcorob said:
Respectfully of course...LOL

Yes, we want sonic detail buy you also want to hear the soundstage and what the ART can do and how the battery improves it...So this is the first I am hearing about Mono..I know the Janice cuts were not (or don't thinks so)

For a test of the sonic detail AND soundstage ..check out long needle drop HERE
Click to expand...

I guess I should clarify. Since I have a couple of ART's, I'm not worried that Muddywaters Cat Stevens clips did not have much stereo separation. I know what it can do with well engineered stereo :music:

In the case of Muddy's clips I was listening for other stuff. Your clips are well separated and present a good 3-D image :)

What piece is that Long Clip. Sounds good with lots of interesting musical themes overlapped. But not a cymbal crash - oops, spoke too fast :D??
 
Better to beg for forgiveness right?

Well you can add this to AK lore. I'm very frustrated and tired so I'll keep it short. Try the new files of the 5 power options for the Art.

I'm not going to go into detail since I've been up way too long tonight. Yes I recorded another batch of files (not because I wanted to, believe me). I guess I couldn't see the forest for the trees. I wish someone would have called me on this earlier but just to keep you all guessing I'm not going to reveal what I figured out due to the conversations suggesting the Cat Stevens cut was mono and no I wasn't recording in mono:no: I'll fill in the blanks tomorrow sometime but try guessing.

With severe embarrassment and apologies for wasting your time and bandwidth so far please download the files. I'm too zonked right now to qualify for listening critically but assure you they wont sound mono. There is something different besides the better stereo separation in the set up (teaser).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/udmf0zo6euhpid3/1Cat_Art.wav

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hc5pcsvv3klco86/2Cat_Art.wav

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qb6e29prfvisa6s/3Cat_Art.wav

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6g8zs12dz0z8aty/4Cat_Art.wav

https://www.dropbox.com/s/if03sgshxj4xoky/5Cat_Art.wav

My hope to have around 24-30 cuts from the various contestants ready for you by this evening is likely delayed. I removed all the previous bad files from dropbox.

Catch you in a few hours maybe:boring:
 
The ripping gear and process are a "constant", the source device varies. Therefore any relative variance between the samples is on the source device.
hoodie said:
#2 for me also. Question or an observation...We are taking an LP (analog) and ripping it to a hard drive (digital), then we listen to the file via computer (digital). Some what convoluted. Obviously the only way to find an answer is to all be in the same room listening to the same system. Chances for that happening are remote...so, as my Nona would say...Tutti i gusti sono gusti.

Cheers everyone!


_______
Matthew
Click to expand...
 
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