Hey!

I am now enjoying my birthday present...

My girlfriend gave me a phono preamp. It's the first time I listen to my MMF-5 on my Naim. It sounds fantastic! I had forgoten how good an LP can sound... Especially on Naim Gear I guess... Of course it's not a stageline bu it's a Cambridge 640P and I think it sounds very good for the price.

Now can any of you tell me about the difference between a moving magnet and a moving coil? Will the dynamics improove? What about the bass? Will it be deeper? I have a few records from the 80s and they sound flat...

Thanks!

Cheers!

Vince

sorry, I can't help you to much on your question between the MM/MC but glad to hear your sound has opened up. I just returned from having a new cartridge mounted on my TT and my next step is to upgrade my Phono pre-amp, but wasn't sure about needing to spend the money. Sounds like it might be in my best interest to allocate the money as I have a $130.00 Phono pre-amp now. I believe your sound will improve from MM to an MC cartridge according to the dealers explanation today. I was not ready to spend the $450.00 on a lower end MC cartridge, so I was told to mount a Rega Bias2 for now until I ugrade to a new TT or fono-pre.

P.S. Great girl you have there, buying you a Phono-pre and all !!
rega1

Thanks Rega1

Great girl indeed!

Cheers!

Hi Blakey

Like you,I'm just getting back into vinyl. Considered the Cambridge but plumped for the ProJect phono stage at around the same price. Like you equally impressed with the result bearing in mind the cost. Unfortunately I had to buy my own ! !

Anyway, hope you're enjoying your viyl as much as I am at the moment.

Nigel

The Cambridge would IMO sell for twice the money it does.
Its a very good mm/mc phono stage with a PSU.
I used one for a while when i got my LP12 last year until i went to a Stageline.
I think its better than a Project.
And you can sell them on when you go for something better.
They also hold there price on the second hand market.

Thanks guys!
However still nobody can tell me if going to a MC is worth the price?

Cheers!

Yes it is worth it IMHO, but only if you sorted the TT, TT-PSU, Arm and Phono-Stage first.

A DV20XL/Super-Line is better, IMO, than a MM cartridge with a Cambridge Audio phono stage

Whether you think it is worth the extra is your call, I'm afraid.

ATB Rotf

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Yes it is worth it IMHO, but only if you sorted the TT, TT-PSU, Arm and Phono-Stage first.

A DV20XL/Super-Line is better, IMO, than a MM cartridge with a Cambridge Audio phono stage

Whether you think it is worth the extra is your call, I'm afraid.

ATB Rotf

that is a spot on reply!!!

Should it be taken as read that all external phono amps are superior to Naim on-board boards (or anybody else's for that matter)? or is it the case that on-board boards are perfectly adequate in some systems?

No it should not be taken as read.

quote:

or is it the case that on-board boards are perfectly adequate in some systems?

The internal Naim phonoboards aren't that bad at all.

The phonostage of the Nait-2 (or-1) is also a nice example of being quite adequate.
Forum-member Willem is happily using a top-spec LP12 with a Nait-2 for years.
(so,...it must be pretty decent then imho )

regards,
Alco

quote:

Originally posted by shaunlindsay:
Should it be taken as read that all external phono amps are superior to Naim on-board boards (or anybody else's for that matter)? or is it the case that on-board boards are perfectly adequate in some systems?

Perfectly adequate. The Prefix was originally a pair of boards mounted as close as possible to the cartridge. The Stageline was made, in part, to allow us to offer amplifiers with turntable as an option - rather than compulsory.

In addition - power supply options for these two devices can raise them to higher levels than those built in - and, by freeing it of the additional drain of powering the internal boards, improve the performance of the rest of the preamplifier.

I've enjoyed the on board phono cards in my 82 for around nine years but this year have migrated to a Pure Sound P10. At £400.00 it represents good value. Love to audition the Superline - but no way could I afford it.

A word of warning about the P10 - it's valve and requires careful siting - although am getting this checked out by my supplier.

quote:

Originally posted by Alco:
Forum-member Willem is happily using a top-spec LP12 with a Nait-2 for years.

Forum member Willem is using a Prefix/HiCap with his Nait Two . The Prefix' output is at line (Tuner input) level. I've used the Two's phonostage with a Linn Adikt cartridge, which I found to sound more musical than Stageline 'N' with HiCap.

Regards,

Willem

Since September last year when i got my LP12.
I have used the Cambridge just to get me going.
Then two Stagelines both with a Flatcap psu one N for the K9 and K for the Klyde.As of a couple of weeks back i now have a K Prefix with a Hicap.
The only better sounding phono stage IMO i have heard my LP12 through is the Superline.
Stuart

Superline would mean yet another box next to LP12, totalling three...

I'd like to add to my previous contribution that I wouldn't mind a high output MC like DV20XH on my Nait's MM phono, just to reduce the box count and simplify my system.

quote:

Forum member Willem is using a Prefix/HiCap with his Nait Two

Whoops,...sorry Willem. (I guess I still lived in the past a bit too much)

quote:

Originally posted by Blakey:
Thanks guys!
However still nobody can tell me if going to a MC is worth the price?

Cheers!

Without going overboard, the Denon 103 is a highly regarded MC cartridge that has withstood the test of time (almost 50 years, to be precise). However, it's a low output MC so you would need a step-up transformer to go with your Cambridge. It will definitely bring the "life" back into you vinyl (which I also find "flat" with a MM cartrdge).

Keith