The Etsuro was setup properly but I had to weigh the headshell down with blu tack and he hated that. Otherwise it was setup correctly and it was perfectly fine to play.
david
Doctor's Orders-Part Two-The New Listening Room Of Steve Williams
- Thread starter Steve Williams
- Start date
The Etsuro was setup properly but I had to weigh the headshell down with blu tack and he hated that. Otherwise it was setup correctly and it was perfectly fine to play.
david
it's been a very busy week for me and my system both on the digital as well as the analog side
The big treat in the digital side of things was Emile (Taiko Audio) and his team creating the Taiko Audio server as well as a monumental modification of Roon as to sound quality. It has been my opinion that not only does Roon have it's old charm and pizzaz back but IMO it is by far the best sound I have ever heard with Roon. In fact the sound now from Roon IMO is virtually indistinguishable from the Taiko Audio server so great things lie ahead for digital as Emile continues to make better the Taiko Audio server
The big news on the analog side was a visit last week from DDK who came to move my VDH MSS and my ZYX Premium to opposite tone arms, For the past several years the ZYX has been y reference and I rarely used the MC Anna on the 10" Graham Phantom Elite tone arm. I have become a believer in the SME 3012R and 3010R tonearms and I acquired an NOS SME 3010R and a VDH Master Signature Stradivarius. It sounded amazing on the 10" arm and I was a happy camper until David convinced me to move the MSS to the 12" arm and the ZYX to the 10" arm. With great reluctance I acquiesced as David said the MSS performs much better on the 12" arm especially with better defined bass.
All I can say is that David is a master when it comes to arm and cartridge set up. For me it was apparent that accurate and meticulous set up of the MSS was essential especially with respect to SRA as, according to David, if SRA is incorrect sibilance and poor sound can result. Plus that long cantilever on the MSS was for me an accident waiting to happen. So David flew in last week and spent the day doing his magic. We all have heard of David's trick for SRA using a special deck of cards. I have watched him many times both at his house and at mine setting up the cartridge and specifically the SRA. I believe that given the opportunity I probably could have come close to his set up however I learned that day that just when I thought it sounded perfect as did David, and I was ready to quit, David said, "one more card just to be sure" It was a revelation because that one extra card locked in the SRA so perfectly that the sound lit up my ears.
WE listened to many classical pieces with one arm and then the other to determine what sonic changes we heard.
First off David was right on regarding the bass. I have never heard in my system bass sound so good when playing vinyl. The MSS seemed to come alive. It is a brutally honest cartridge and if set up is right this cartridge is amazing. I am thrilled to have accepted the challenge and mount it on the 12" arm. As to the ZYX Premium on the 10" arm it continued to perform in an exemplary fashion and had given up very little. It was apparent which cartridge would be best served according to the music played.
It was a real learning experience for me as David has set up more cartridges in a day than I have in a life time. What's my point? For me it was knowing that the MSS was a very stpecial cartridge and, expertise that I lacked was necessary to achieve a great result. I would strongly recommend that if anyone is considering set up of something beyond their expertise then it is really essential to have someone who has the expertise do it for you and don't feel insecure to have to ask someone to help you with it.
So a big shout out to David who did me that favor and flew in for a day. The clouds parted and happiness reigns supreme for me and my analog rig.
When we finally had everything set up and home from dinner we did some serious listening. David, as he always does, listened very carefully as he moved to different spots in the room. At the end of his evaluation, he made a recommendation to me that in a million years I would never have thought of, let alone consider. I intend on discussing this in the next 4-6 weeks as I make some small changes to my system but what I did so far after taking his advice was nothing short of sensational. I will leave this one in the bag for a while as I become accustomed and can make further comments
The big treat in the digital side of things was Emile (Taiko Audio) and his team creating the Taiko Audio server as well as a monumental modification of Roon as to sound quality. It has been my opinion that not only does Roon have it's old charm and pizzaz back but IMO it is by far the best sound I have ever heard with Roon. In fact the sound now from Roon IMO is virtually indistinguishable from the Taiko Audio server so great things lie ahead for digital as Emile continues to make better the Taiko Audio server
The big news on the analog side was a visit last week from DDK who came to move my VDH MSS and my ZYX Premium to opposite tone arms, For the past several years the ZYX has been y reference and I rarely used the MC Anna on the 10" Graham Phantom Elite tone arm. I have become a believer in the SME 3012R and 3010R tonearms and I acquired an NOS SME 3010R and a VDH Master Signature Stradivarius. It sounded amazing on the 10" arm and I was a happy camper until David convinced me to move the MSS to the 12" arm and the ZYX to the 10" arm. With great reluctance I acquiesced as David said the MSS performs much better on the 12" arm especially with better defined bass.
All I can say is that David is a master when it comes to arm and cartridge set up. For me it was apparent that accurate and meticulous set up of the MSS was essential especially with respect to SRA as, according to David, if SRA is incorrect sibilance and poor sound can result. Plus that long cantilever on the MSS was for me an accident waiting to happen. So David flew in last week and spent the day doing his magic. We all have heard of David's trick for SRA using a special deck of cards. I have watched him many times both at his house and at mine setting up the cartridge and specifically the SRA. I believe that given the opportunity I probably could have come close to his set up however I learned that day that just when I thought it sounded perfect as did David, and I was ready to quit, David said, "one more card just to be sure" It was a revelation because that one extra card locked in the SRA so perfectly that the sound lit up my ears.
WE listened to many classical pieces with one arm and then the other to determine what sonic changes we heard.
First off David was right on regarding the bass. I have never heard in my system bass sound so good when playing vinyl. The MSS seemed to come alive. It is a brutally honest cartridge and if set up is right this cartridge is amazing. I am thrilled to have accepted the challenge and mount it on the 12" arm. As to the ZYX Premium on the 10" arm it continued to perform in an exemplary fashion and had given up very little. It was apparent which cartridge would be best served according to the music played.
It was a real learning experience for me as David has set up more cartridges in a day than I have in a life time. What's my point? For me it was knowing that the MSS was a very stpecial cartridge and, expertise that I lacked was necessary to achieve a great result. I would strongly recommend that if anyone is considering set up of something beyond their expertise then it is really essential to have someone who has the expertise do it for you and don't feel insecure to have to ask someone to help you with it.
So a big shout out to David who did me that favor and flew in for a day. The clouds parted and happiness reigns supreme for me and my analog rig.
When we finally had everything set up and home from dinner we did some serious listening. David, as he always does, listened very carefully as he moved to different spots in the room. At the end of his evaluation, he made a recommendation to me that in a million years I would never have thought of, let alone consider. I intend on discussing this in the next 4-6 weeks as I make some small changes to my system but what I did so far after taking his advice was nothing short of sensational. I will leave this one in the bag for a while as I become accustomed and can make further comments
Congrats Steve. I also have a MSS, not yet mounted on my 3012RG. One question, since my 3012RG didn’t come with a head shell, is the SME the one to get or are there others, e.g. Acoustical Systems’ Arche head shell that might be equal or better?
It's always a blessing to spend some time with friends Steve! Thank you both, Kathy & you for the great dinner and the hospitality! Big changes coming when we nail the next part down
!david
Howie, just get the SME original head shell as it is intended to use with the arm. I say if you have chosen to use the 3012R with the Master Sig (Which is a brilliant choice btw.) use its own head shell. The cart and the arm have the sound in similar nature...naked. Don't try to put a bikini on it. But if you really itch to put on a bikini I have a new Arche sitting somewhere in my room. Tell me if you want to try I will Try to find and send. I also sent one to Christian. I don't think he is using it on his 3012R.
It's always a blessing to spend some time with friends Steve! Thank you both, Kathy & you for the great dinner and the hospitality! Big changes coming when we nail the next part down
david
as I said your suggestion caught me by total surprise and i would never have given that a thought ,yet over this past week, in albeit a perfunctory fashion, your suggestion has been a huge positive. AS you know next week an integral part of that puzzle arrives so it will give me a better chance to evaluate your suggestion. So far however, it has been a huge plus
Now you're just teasing us Steve....
Thanks Tang. I think i will go get the SME. I seem to recall a photo of your Arche with some comments about what appeared to be a gap between the headshell and the cartridge due to the shape of the headshell or it not being flat on the underside?
Howie
I have to be able to wrap my head around this suggestion. by David I have many anecdotal stories however from listeners in my room that have posed the same suggestion. You know I adapt slowly but over the past year I’ve been listening to what you all said
1. after so many people proved to me the lack of need for subs I finally sold my Fathom 113’s
2. at the behest of David, Ked and mobiusman I achieved better sound by parting the drapes along my side walls
3. regarding the present experiment, it came in a big way from David but in an indirect way from LeifS, Damon Von Schweikert, Gary Koh and asiufy when they’ve been to my house. So stay tuned and give me another week
I have to be able to wrap my head around this suggestion. by David I have many anecdotal stories however from listeners in my room that have posed the same suggestion. You know I adapt slowly but over the past year I’ve been listening to what you all said
1. after so many people proved to me the lack of need for subs I finally sold my Fathom 113’s
2. at the behest of David, Ked and mobiusman I achieved better sound by parting the drapes along my side walls
3. regarding the present experiment, it came in a big way from David but in an indirect way from LeifS, Damon Von Schweikert, Gary Koh and asiufy when they’ve been to my house. So stay tuned and give me another week
Will remain patient but I thought part of the suggestion would definitely involve removal of some acoustic absorbing material in the room. I will wait in anticipation.
Well I know what the room sounds like without and I know what the room sounds like with the acoustically treated drapes. I can say there are trade offs with both but overall the sound is better with albeit somewhat damped. So the drapes aren’t going. Perhaps at some point separated elsewhere in the room but this only peripherally as what has caught my attention has truly made an impression
Congratulations, Steve! And infinite kudos to David for his unparalleled cartridge alignment experience, skill and expertise!
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