CAD GC1 or Chord phonoaray?
- Thread starter engadin
- Start date
I received the Phono Chord Aray today as a purchase but obviously under 14 day return.
I heard nothing with it attached between my tonearm to my amp. I have two earth runs one from my chassis/bearing and one from my tonearm. I will try swapping it tomorrow but can’t say I’m hopeful.I
This unit has nearly doubled in price recently and I know we are in a luxury game but this seems vastly overpriced even out the box but has a couple strong reviews that suggests it’s impact is not subtle but it’s simple to set up and take back out and you wouldn’t know either way.
I heard nothing with it attached between my tonearm to my amp. I have two earth runs one from my chassis/bearing and one from my tonearm. I will try swapping it tomorrow but can’t say I’m hopeful.I
This unit has nearly doubled in price recently and I know we are in a luxury game but this seems vastly overpriced even out the box but has a couple strong reviews that suggests it’s impact is not subtle but it’s simple to set up and take back out and you wouldn’t know either way.
Yes dealer is just about to be contacted on the Chord Phono Array and it's return-a real non-event for me. Guess it happens but as much things can be system dependent it's difficult to reconcile such a strong disconnect on this unit.
How does this Chord PhonoAray connect up? After many years of Entreq grounding my whole system, I'd become a bit jaded re the concept of grounding full stop, but have recently been jolted back into being a full believer after grounding my Airblades.
What are the varied connection protocols for installing it?
What are the varied connection protocols for installing it?
It's pretty straight forward-it's just a daisy chain unit with a decent quality grounding cable at the outlet end-so you fit the original ground cable in and the outlet cable goes to your amp/preamp. The unit was what £550 on release gets a couple of outstanding reviews with a dash of inflation and you are looking at £1000. Look we know we are in a luxury game but you can get a lot more for £1000. The dealer said they were cynical but heard a difference right away -maybe my set up doesn't need this and other systems do. I saw a demo recently set up by Airt Audio in Glasgow where they take away various grounding items.... to show the impact. I wasn't totally convinced what I was impressed was with was the sound out of a moderate system...really well set up.
We are lucky in the hobby due to dealers we can try these things. I was intrigued to maybe try the Entreq mini set up on my speaker terminals on my amp-reasonably cheap in their portfolio.
You do see a fair amount of Entreq stuff kicking about second hand.
It's an absolute curse of the modern age to increase prices overnight by multiples.
Maybe we're all living in Argentina or Zimbabwe now.
Maybe we're all living in Argentina or Zimbabwe now.
Well, here is a comparison:
theaudiophileman.com
PHONOARAY EARTHING SYSTEM FROM CHORD
A grounding accessory aimed at your turntable. Paul Rigby wonders if it might have wider uses… For this grounding unit, the PhonoARAY from The Chord Company, like every other grounding accessory I’ve ever come across, it doesn’t ask you to plug anything into the mains, there’s no flashing lights...
theaudiophileman.com
I'm still unsure how to install this thing in my particular system. My tonearm doesn't use a ground wire, so how would this device work?
Unless I use the ground terminal of my Straingauge energizer?
Unless I use the ground terminal of my Straingauge energizer?
Maybe you read again?
Paul Rigby wrote:
„I hooked my turntable to the PhonoARAY and the PhonoARAY to my Icon Audio valve-based 2-box PS3 phono amplifier and listened.
An blimey, I had to race to make notes because changes happened all over the place. The largest and most noticeable change was the focus. Tremendous focus right across the soundstage, particularly around the stereo image which pushed back into 3D space. The presentation was not as loose now, not as messy. Mids were thus cleaner and offered improved clarity. That sax was honed and precise and less likely to scream during crescendos while bass was much tighter and impactful. Synth claps now had noticeable reverb hanging off them, which was new, cymbal hits offered more information.“
I have not heard the Phonoaray in my setup.
But I have several Chord Groundarays in my system, which definitely aren’t snake oil.
I don't think he's referring to the review. He's effectively saying ignore it, it's worthless on principle, *whatever* this review might say.
My Q still stands, I'm still unsure where this thing goes from and to, if I don't have a ground lead in my armwire, there are no sockets in my TT or arm, my TT has very few screws to lash this thing to.
My Straingauge energizer box has a ground terminal, not used for the armwire, but a ground lead to an Entreq Silver Tellus.
My Q still stands, I'm still unsure where this thing goes from and to, if I don't have a ground lead in my armwire, there are no sockets in my TT or arm, my TT has very few screws to lash this thing to.
My Straingauge energizer box has a ground terminal, not used for the armwire, but a ground lead to an Entreq Silver Tellus.
PhonoARAY turntable earthing system - The Chord Company
PhonoARAY allows turntables to be earthed to the phono stage or phono amp input, whilst providing maximum protection for the highly sensitive signal.
chord.co.uk
I've posted the weblink for the product but I would recommend emailing Chord or a dealer that does the unit and get your answer-if there is one.
As stated above it did nothing in my system.
It is in my view a lot of money for what it is but we are in a luxury game and if it works then it might be a bargain.
Their schematics don't help me. What does attaching "from the turntable" mean?
My TT has no socketry, my armwire is one piece from cart pins to Straingauge energizer.
So, I can't ascertain where on my TT or arm I could connect this thing.
My TT has no socketry, my armwire is one piece from cart pins to Straingauge energizer.
So, I can't ascertain where on my TT or arm I could connect this thing.
I've already gave you the answer to that mate -it's not exactly rocket science if you are interested in a product and you have an unusual set up and want more info-who do you think could give you the info?
I would need to see your set up but setting up a separate grounding cable with a jaw/clamp connection must surely be able to fit onto some part of your tt-the shaft of your tonearm connection for example.
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So, it grounds to the structure of my TT or arm? I'm only used to signal grounding like my Entreq, which grounds to chassis sockets.
Thanks for helping me get up to speed.
Thanks for helping me get up to speed.
I think it just needs to ground somewhere on your turntable but I would say preferably your tt arm.
Most arm set ups will have some non-moveable aspect you would you just link via a custom cable to the Chord unit-as I say just a cheap grounding cable with a clamp/jaw.
It's a very simple unit with a very simple claim and I would suggest again if you can contact Chord they would be able to advise or maybe even supply a cable as part of a trial or a dealer would.
Getting a trial on these units is not difficult and pretty much risk free bar shipping costs.
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