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09-09-2009, 02:30 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denver
Posts: 410
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Vinyl through cans...OH YEAH!
Being a high-end audio guy, I put together a pretty nice headphone rig to primarily to listen to MP3 files on my computer in the morning as I replied to email. Once again again being a high-end audio guy, I couldn't leave well enough alone and started wondering about spinning records on the headphone rig. One thing lead to another and and I ordered a Clearaudio Emotion CMB (perfect size for my smallish headphone rack), Meastro cartridge, and Smartphono phono pre to give a whirl...
OMG! I have to say that I am BLOWN away by a relatively affordable ($3K) analog rig through my headphone setup compared to my pretty serious digital front end. I think I might have to go vinyl with headphones almost 100% of the time now. 
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09-09-2009, 03:06 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: 91042
Posts: 3,539
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hm.. i dont get that oh yeah on my clearaudio emotion
do i need an upgrade on the cartridge 
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09-09-2009, 03:12 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 22
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Yeah. I do love spinning vinyl on my more modest VPI HW-19 Jr (modified) through headphones. Especially now that my subwoofer is off in the shop. Breaking in my HF-2's this way.
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09-09-2009, 03:17 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Rotterdam / Zürich
Posts: 698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cantsleep
hm.. i dont get that oh yeah on my clearaudio emotion
do i need an upgrade on the cartridge |
^what cartridge do you use? what is your preamp?
My clearaudio ambient cmb /Lyra Helikon SL/ASR Basis Exclusive is unbelievable, I agree with the OP, vinyl is the sh*t! Ive never heard any digital source that approaches the sound of analogue, sadly, I mostly use my headphones with digital, having a TT in my office is a no no.
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my LAST.FM / member of The NL Group
007A / 4070 <– Woo GES Maxxed Caps, EAT Cool Damped 12AX7 Mullards <– Aqvox USB 2 D/A MKII
001mkII <– SRM-001(UltraFatCat+) <– Ipod Classic7
EM3Pro(TWag) / Ed.8 / JH13Pro(TWag) <– Custom Siemens c3g / iQube v1 / ALO Rx <– Audiocom Lv.2 Benchmark DAC-1 or Ipod Classic7
Speaker System My Feedback
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09-09-2009, 03:19 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: The Beach, California
Posts: 15,568
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Yep. This is why I stopped using and eventually sold my computer-as-source setup. Vinyl is that good. SACD similarly put in a deep hook. If you ever get the itch, try some SACDs, too.
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UNCLE ERIK
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it." Lord Kelvin
Orbe SE -> SME IV -> Fi Yph -> Zana Deux/Si2A3
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ProAc Response 2.5 (cloned), Verhagen Ribbons, Quad ESL-63, Linkwitz Orion+ (under construction)
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09-09-2009, 03:32 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco bay area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyDebord
sadly, I mostly use my headphones with digital, having a TT in my office is a no no.
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Me too! I can only listen to digital source with headphones at work and must confess that I don't use my turntable nearly as much as my ipod! 
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Sources: Garrard 401 /SME IV/Goldring Elite;
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Headphone amps:CI Audio VHP2 + VAC1; Melos SHA-Gold;HPA-1;HPA-2
Headphones:Sennheiser HD650/cardas cable;Grado GS1000;RS1(2008);RS1(brown headband);HP-1;HP-2;HF-1;HF-2;Black SR325;SR225;SR200;SR80;Ultasone Edition9;Ultrasone HFI650;Sony Mdr V6.
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09-09-2009, 03:59 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: 91042
Posts: 3,539
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i use ortofon super OM thru emotiva preamp.
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09-09-2009, 05:19 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Rotterdam / Zürich
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cantsleep
i use ortofon super OM thru emotiva preamp.
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You definitely need to change cartridge first, and then the preamp!!! For me the highest standard in affordable cartridges its set by the Denon 103R, if its still to much, in the low low end the Shelter 201 also cuts it. You will hear so much difference that you may think you bought a new table 
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my LAST.FM / member of The NL Group
007A / 4070 <– Woo GES Maxxed Caps, EAT Cool Damped 12AX7 Mullards <– Aqvox USB 2 D/A MKII
001mkII <– SRM-001(UltraFatCat+) <– Ipod Classic7
EM3Pro(TWag) / Ed.8 / JH13Pro(TWag) <– Custom Siemens c3g / iQube v1 / ALO Rx <– Audiocom Lv.2 Benchmark DAC-1 or Ipod Classic7
Speaker System My Feedback
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09-09-2009, 08:51 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denver
Posts: 410
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cantsleep
hm.. i dont get that oh yeah on my clearaudio emotion
do i need an upgrade on the cartridge |
Keep in mind that 90% of the sound comes from the cartridge and the phono-pre, not the table (but the table is still very important).
So a cheap cartridge and phono stage on a killer table will sound bad but a killer cartridge and phono stage on a cheap table will sound fantastic.
I would obviously go for a good balance and in my case it was a $1000 cart and $600 phono stage for the headphone rig.
Based on what I am hearing from it, I am tempted to go to a much better cartridge and phono pre.
So replace your cartridge and enjoy!
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09-09-2009, 08:53 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: 91042
Posts: 3,539
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ill do that 
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09-10-2009, 02:53 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Philippines
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik
Yep. This is why I stopped using and eventually sold my computer-as-source setup. Vinyl is that good. SACD similarly put in a deep hook. If you ever get the itch, try some SACDs, too.
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I have a similar experience. I was desperately trying to find a good usb dac for my flac files that was reasonable in price. I managed to setup my VPI and a Dynavector 10x5 while searching and started on my small collection of LP's. After barely a week with my analog setup i gave up on the dac and invested on a better cart (XX2Mk2). My system has never sounded this musical before. A different level of experience altogether. 
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09-10-2009, 03:02 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
aka JP-nums or JP-numbers
Lead Organizer for Can Jam '09
Moderator
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: East Bay, CA
Posts: 3,060
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinan
Keep in mind that 90% of the sound comes from the cartridge and the phono-pre, not the table (but the table is still very important).
So a cheap cartridge and phono stage on a killer table will sound bad but a killer cartridge and phono stage on a cheap table will sound fantastic.
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this is categorically untrue and probably the most repeated audio misinformation. Motor, plater and plinth are crital to sound and changes in any of these can yield large sonic changes and upgrades. The tonearm can make or break you as well.
I'd take a lesser phono pre and cart to step up to a better table, remembering that in analog price and quality can be deceptive.
I'd take a denon 103 on an aries 3 over a shelter 7000 on a scout
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09-10-2009, 03:34 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: 91042
Posts: 3,539
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as for pre phono, i think my emotiva is alright.
im now thinking about upgrading the cartridge.
any recommendations, besides denon 103?
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09-10-2009, 03:43 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,786
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cantsleep
as for pre phono, i think my emotiva is alright.
im now thinking about upgrading the cartridge.
any recommendations, besides denon 103?
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Emotiva?
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09-10-2009, 03:52 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: 91042
Posts: 3,539
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