My search is quite over.... Thanks Jean Marc !

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Alberto

I am also not a big fan of MCs in general. I've not listened to dozens of them, or the $5K+ models but - somehow - there is something about the MC sound that I find a bit distracting and irritating. But I have to admit that they seem to extract more information and more detail.



Alberto

Yes Alberto, I think the same. MC carts are more detailed. But sometimes we get too much details, a "CD like" sound, and that's not what I'm after also.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Hi Jerome,

Since I've not evaluated the 2300, I don't think I could have said that it would be a lateral move from the 220. I must admit that I've been tempted to get the 2300 (I love the idea of remote tone controls and cartridge loading, and I also think it looks great.) But when I listen to my system these days it sounds EXACTLY the way I wanted it to sound and I have to ask myself what would motivate me to get a new/different component.

I can confirm that I still love the Maestro + 220 combination. I listened exclusively to vinyl last night and it was REALLY hard - harder than usual - to turn off my system. I kept wanting to listen to one more side.

Keep in mind, though, that my preferences for warmth and tone over resolution/accuracy are quite extreme compared to those of most audiophiles. As a guitar player, I spent many years in search of a great tone, by combining guitars, pick-ups, amps, speakers, etc. The tone I was after was round, warm and rich - with a bit of a mid-bass boost. I guess I am after the same tone in my audio system. I am not after the absolute sound, but a delicious sound.

Alberto

Sorry if I misunderstood you my friend.
I must have read one of your post too fast...
I often share your comments, so I often refer to them. I think basically, we have the same tastes.
We have many separates in common and like you, I do not use the MDA1000 as a pre....

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Once again Serge "reads my mind" and posts almost exactly what I would have posted . I.e., balancing the forward Clearaudio table with a warm cartridge.

I am not a big fan of the sound (and looks) of acrylic/non-suspended tables, but I know a lot of people who love both the precise sound and cool looks.

I am also not a big fan of MCs in general. I've not listened to dozens of them, or the $5K+ models but - somehow - there is something about the MC sound that I find a bit distracting and irritating. But I have to admit that they seem to extract more information and more detail.

The one thing I am going to STRONGLY recommend to anyone considering a cartridge is to go with a micro-line stylus design. The micro-line geometry does wonders for inner-groove distortion and surface noise. I no longer dread reaching the last couple of tracks on an LP.

Alberto

Alberto, based on my limited research and experience with cartridges so far, some MC's like the Koetsu, 47Labs/Miyabi, Benz/Cardas Myrtle Heart ruby-3 you can enjoy the detailed presentation of an MC and they still have a warm tonal balance and are organic/forgiving like a high quality MM. Even the Lyra Olympos/Skala sounded very detailed but not overly analytical on a Spiral Groove TT so it all depends on the TT/Tonearm/Cart match and balance. Of course Spiral Groove is not acrylic either.

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Sorry if I misunderstood you my friend.
I must have read one of your post too fast...
I often share your comments, so I often refer to them. I think basically, we have the same tastes.
We have many separates in common and like you, I do not use the MDA1000 as a pre....

No problem.

We do have several components in common: C220, MDA1000, MC501s and even the rather rare Tannoy Autograph Minis :-).

Alberto

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Alberto

No problem.

We do have several components in common: C220, MDA1000, MC501s and even the rather rare Tannoy Autograph Minis :-).

Alberto

Yep !
And I also had an MCD 201 !
Not to mention I also have the magic Wadia i170, which I did not put in my signature....
But I would love to be a guitar player !!!!

[Jean-Marc jmajma]

Hi Jérôme,

It was a great pleasure to meet again.

Like I told you yesterday, and I'm OK with Serge on that, it's all about the best combination between arm, TT and cart; that's why you can be unhappy if you associate the best arm ever, the best cart ever and th best TT ever (if they exist!).

And that's why , before buying this setup, I talked very much with the vinyl guy from the Clearaudio importer...who's named Jérôme too! I explained him I had the LP12 /LVIISE/DL103R before, that I loved very much during years,clearly a fabulous TT, and that I had listened to the McIntosh MT10 that I found to be very good, that I'm a vinyl lover (but not only) and that I wanted to have better results than these 2TTs; I told him about C1000; I told him what I liked about sounding,what kind of music I listen to, a little bit like Alberto, something fundamentally delicious, not the most detailed or precise, not too smooth either...

This guy is a great guy, and he said for example the wooden arm (Ebony) would sound better in my sound style than the Carbon, he told me to use ribbon screws, he told me to buy the Symphony because of the C1000 and so on...

Like we both said yesterday for example: Wow!, Norah Jones is in front of us!, and all we said was always about "fidelity", sound quality etc...

I don't like to talk about my system, so I'll let you do it, but one thing is sure, this TT was a very big improvement in my system, worth every penny! And I told you the other big improvement was cheap, it was to work on the WP8 place (4.50 meters space, couch at 4.70 meters) and spikes between Watt and Puppy.

Another thing: I really don't want to change anything right now, I am so happy with my system.

Again, I sincerely was happy to make this demo with you, and you're welcome when you want.

[Jean-Marc jmajma]

Serge, what do you want to say with "forward", about acrylic non suspended TTs?

If I translate well, I'm not OK at all with that, because yesterday we talked about the depth and the width of the soundstage.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc jmajma

Serge, what do you want to say with "forward", about acrylic non suspended TTs?

If I translate well, I'm not OK at all with that, because yesterday we talked about the depth and the width of the soundstage.

JM, I think that Serge means a sound very extraverted.
I don't think he's talking about stereo image but maybe I'm wrong ? Serge ?

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc jmajma

Hi Jérôme,

It was a great pleasure to meet again.

Like I told you yesterday, and I'm OK with Serge on that, it's all about the best combination between arm, TT and cart; that's why you can be unhappy if you associate the best arm ever, the best cart ever and th best TT ever (if they exist!).

And that's why , before buying this setup, I talked very much with the vinyl guy from the Clearaudio importer...who's named Jérôme too! I explained him I had the LP12 /LVIISE/DL103R before, that I loved very much during years,clearly a fabulous TT, and that I had listened to the McIntosh MT10 that I found to be very good, that I'm a vinyl lover (but not only) and that I wanted to have better results than these 2TTs; I told him about C1000; I told him what I liked about sounding,what kind of music I listen to, a little bit like Alberto, something fundamentally delicious, not the most detailed or precise, not too smooth either...

This guy is a great guy, and he said for example the wooden arm (Ebony) would sound better in my sound style than the Carbon, he told me to use ribbon screws, he told me to buy the Symphony because of the C1000 and so on...

Like we both said yesterday for example: Wow!, Norah Jones is in front of us!, and all we said was always about "fidelity", sound quality etc...

I don't like to talk about my system, so I'll let you do it, but one thing is sure, this TT was a very big improvement in my system, worth every penny! And I told you the other big improvement was cheap, it was to work on the WP8 place (4.50 meters space, couch at 4.70 meters) and spikes between Watt and Puppy.

Another thing: I really don't want to change anything right now, I am so happy with my system.

Again, I sincerely was happy to make this demo with you, and you're welcome when you want.

Yes JM, it's REALLY a great set-up.
Your speakers sounded beautiful. Nothing to say against them. It was just a "regal" !
And yes, you made a very good choice with that TT. Not to mention it's beautiful ( a pic would sue be appreciated here....) and, even if I know you don't like talking money, it's a real bargain for the price.
Thanks again !!
( I will pass my order for it after "Lag Baomer" which is in about 2 weeks.
After that you will have to come to listen to it in my new room ! )

Cheers,
Jérôme

BTW I completely agree on the synergy needed between TT / arm and cart. That's why I like packages from one manufacturer. But not too many do that : Clearaudio, Audio Note, Linn...

[Jean-Marc jmajma]

With pleasure, my friend!