CAD GC1 or Chord phonoaray?

[RoyGregory]

Just a couple of observations on the PhonoARAY.

I received a very early sample and the price was already fixed, so I can only quess that there was a mistake or assumption somewhere that pitched it at the same price as the other plug-in ARAY units. PhonoARAY is significantly larger than the plug-ins, employs twice the sockets and includes a substantial grounding cable. Purely in material terms, it ain't exactly surprising that it costs almost twice as much.

I've only used the PhonoARAY in line witha tonearm grounding wire, but I have used it with several different phono-stages, including the CH Precision P1 and P10, TEAD Groove SRX and the ASR. In each case the benefits have been significant. I have never had any trouble demonstarting it to visitors and all those who have contacted me about it and subsequently investigated it, have ended up purchasing the unit. Like any grounding device it will be system/situation dependent and there will be scenarios in which it doesn't deliver, or doesn't deliver enough to warrant the cost, but those scenarios seem pretty few and far between, given the enthusiastic anecdotal support.

As Ben Glasgow points out, it's not difficult to try the PhonoARAY. If it doesn't work, then simply return it, but in the vast majority of situations I suspect it will deliver very real musical advantages. I'm also confident that Chord Co. will be more than happy to advise on installation/connection. Contact them directly if in doubt.

 

[spiritofmusic]

So Roy, do I ground this device like Tripoint units, one end via a screw on the chassis of my tonearm, thence the other end to a screw on my Straingauge cart energizer unit or even preamp?

 

[Ben Glasgow]

Just a couple of observations on the PhonoARAY.

I received a very early sample and the price was already fixed, so I can only quess that there was a mistake or assumption somewhere that pitched it at the same price as the other plug-in ARAY units. PhonoARAY is significantly larger than the plug-ins, employs twice the sockets and includes a substantial grounding cable. Purely in material terms, it ain't exactly surprising that it costs almost twice as much.

I've only used the PhonoARAY in line witha tonearm grounding wire, but I have used it with several different phono-stages, including the CH Precision P1 and P10, TEAD Groove SRX and the ASR. In each case the benefits have been significant. I have never had any trouble demonstarting it to visitors and all those who have contacted me about it and subsequently investigated it, have ended up purchasing the unit. Like any grounding device it will be system/situation dependent and there will be scenarios in which it doesn't deliver, or doesn't deliver enough to warrant the cost, but those scenarios seem pretty few and far between, given the enthusiastic anecdotal support.

As Ben Glasgow points out, it's not difficult to try the PhonoARAY. If it doesn't work, then simply return it, but in the vast majority of situations I suspect it will deliver very real musical advantages. I'm also confident that Chord Co. will be more than happy to advise on installation/connection. Contact them directly if in doubt.

I think my point was more the Unit was launched at £600 and not long after some great reviews it was a £1000. That doesn't equate to inflation.
It's a luxury market-all of us know that and I agree most of the anecdotal evidence I have heard has been entirely positive.

My system by any measure is very stripped back and maybe that's the reason why there is no real grounding issues that require a solution.
The fact if you add in another component is maybe not a surprise you are having the potential for more grounding issues.

As a side issue I recently tweaked my isolation by putting another layer in-ceramic tiles painted to match my isolation shelf and that impact was quite noticeable. It's the first tweak/component for a while that has made a difference in my system.

 

[RoyGregory]

I received my unit pre-launch and was quoted the near-£1000 price at that time, by Chord Co. So I'm not sure where a launch price of £600 can have come from, especially if you compare the material content of the PhonoARAY to other ARAY units. This can only be the result of an error, so I think suggestions of profiteering are inappropriate, in this instance at least.

As to installing the PhonoARAY on a tonearm without a separate ground wire:

The PhonoARAY is designed to enhance grounding of the tonearm tube assembly, which grounds down the separate ground wire on most tonearms. If your arm has no seapartae ground wire, you would need, if possible, to attach a ground wire to the arm-tube assembly and carry that wire either to a hardpoint that can then be attached to the PhonoARAY, or directly to the PhonoARAY itself. Depending on the design of the tonearm, a suitable attachment point may or may not be availble, while any wire attached to the outside of the arm-tube also risks interfering with the freedom of the arm's movement.

I'm not familiar with the Trans-Fi arm, but having lived with various Eminent Technologies, Forsell, Rockport and Clearaudio/Souther arms, I'm not confident that you could attach such a wire to the Trans-Fi's suspended element without impacting the sideforce in an unpredictable and probably unacceptable way. Connecting the PhonoARAY directly to the turntable or arm beam is unlikely to have any significant effect (unless the arm's floating element is grounded to the beam/gantry). So maybe the PhonoAray simply isn't for your system. If you can rig a wire, or get one incorporated in the wiring harness and grounded to the floating element, then you'd be in business, but I'm not sure how possible/practical that is.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Thanks so much for that info, yes you're right this extra lash up would snag my LT arm free movement. Oh well, not a disaster, £1k saved lol.

 

[spiritofmusic]

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.

You see Ben, I was right to be unsure in connecting this thing, as opposed to your assumption it would be straightforward.
Roy has pretty much confirmed it won't work I my situation, as I suspected it wouldn't.