Since there are now a few SUPERLINE's about and many are expecting them shortly I thought it would be a good idea to have a thread where we could all contribute our experiences.

Please keep all discussions on topic. The ultimate intention is to have a database of users opinion for each of the various cartridges being used.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

A little note - (from S.S.): -

"The prototypes had 1nF not 1uF i.e. 1000x smaller than he states.
The production units have 100pF built in, that's 10,000x smaller than he says.
If you add the 1nF load plug the combined capacitance is 1.1nF
If you don't have a cap load plug the cartridge sees 100pF"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

A good idea Julian.

I'd also think that it would be helpful if a SuperLine owner states the system make up including arm & table choices, of course.

I'd think that the loading can vary to some degree depending on the system and owner's sonic preference.

A very good idea Julian

Currently, best results I have gained with the Dynavector TK Rua and XV1-s are with a 470R plug and no capacitance plug fitted. (LP12/ARO/Geddon)

Best results with Akiva so far are having the 560R plug fitted and the 1nF plug. (LP12/Lingo/Ekos Se/Keel)

Currently I have about half a dozen different resistive loading plug values additional to what you will currently find in a Superline box (many thanks to Steve S) I'd just like to evaluate another couple of values first and then I'll be in a position to post about my findings.

Kind regards,

Peter

Hi all
Ive started running my 17dmk2 at 500r in the r socket with no cap loading.Sounds stunning to say the least.May change at a laater date after superline has burnt in but will keep you posted.
thx all
mike

Hi Mike

You should try the 5.6nF plug combined with the 500ohms one; this gets you nearer to the "S" boards recommended for Dynavector cartridges previously. Also, I assume there is a 470ohm resistance plug on its way to you?

J

sunds like a new cartridge anyway!!!
did you let yours burn in or did you go straight for those settings
thx again
mike

with the Rua I left it on 470R and briefly tried the low cap plugs. did not like as much so left it to burn in with no cap plug at all. Peter of Cymbiosis may have a suggestion for starting values for the 17dmk2.

The loadings im using are his base settings .He is going to play around over the next 8-10 days and come back with some new values.peter asked me not to reveal anything else about his current experiments.sorry
mike

and related to that I wonder why Naim decided to use fixed value plugs. would it not have been possible to have some form of variable resistor/cap?

Who knows?? what goes on in salsbury,but this is a gem of a box and the experts if left alone will soon sort it out for us mere mortals
now just one more lp then bedtime
see you in 8-10 days
mike

I'm currently using a 500R with my TK Rua. Sounds pretty fab., but I know Dr P. & Jon Honeyball found the 470R better with Jon's XV1s.

I haven't got a 470R yet to experiment with, but anyway I'm surprised 30 ohms should make that much difference.

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
I haven't got a 470R yet to experiment with, but anyway I'm surprised 30 ohms should make that much difference.

So was I Tony, but both Jon and I were left in no doubt through his system.

I am currently experimenting with values between the 220R supplied as standard with the Superline and the 470R special with the XV1-s and TK Rua as perhaps we may get better results?
Dynavector say one can load them down to 30 ohms and the 17D3 100 ohms. Personally, I found the sound with the 220R loading not as good as the 470R hence why I'm now looking at values in between.

I'll post my findings soon.

Kind regards,

Peter

quote:

am currently experimenting with values between the 220R supplied as standard with the Superline and the 470R special with the XV1-s and TK Rua as perhaps we may get better results?
Dynavector say one can load them down to 30 ohms and the 17D3 100 ohms. Personally, I found the sound with the 220R loading not as good as the 470R hence why I'm now looking at values in between.

Agreed–we used a TK Rua at CES with one of the pre-production SuperLines* at 500R||1nF, good but not perfect–the 220R||no capacitance plugs were a bit warmer, fleshing out guitars and drums, but transients began to suffer....using small-enough resistors (twisted together if necessary at one end), one could easily sort out a load anywhere between a nominal 330R and 400R.

Using an XX2mkII at home presently, but a TK Rua might be my next cart!

* - Pre-production units had capacitive and resistive loading ganged by channel (left CR, right CR) rather than by type (left R/right R, left C/right C).

Whilst my Ortofon Rohmann is being fettled by Expert Stylus i'm using a Denon 304 with excellent results with a 500R plug and no capacitance. I will post my findings once the Rohmann is reinstalled and I've played around with the loading.

Lp12,EkosSE,Lingo2,Cetech subchassis and armboard)

I got mine too today as well. Must be flooding out of Salisbury now.
Has anyone tried it with a Benz LP and Avid please.
I think Naim used it with a Benz LP at one of the shows so what did Naim use please.
I started off at 500Ω and 5.6 nF and will wait a bit to get used to it before experimenting.
Got to wait two weeks for LP 12 to be deprefixed and XV 1S to be installed in that deck.

Ian

Just put a 470R plug in the Superline with my "lowly" Denon DL304 (in place of the 500R). Wow!! It may only be a 30R difference but the difference is significant. I feel a late night of music playing developing.

LP12/Ekos SE/Cetech/Lingo2

Ok so far:
Helikon Mono 1k no cap sounds fab.
Koetsu Onyx (current low output version) 100R (no cap) but a little "soft" 220R is too "hard" (distorted?). I am pretty sure I need something in between - 150R? Not sure what the procedure is, will check.

After nearly two weeks since my Superline and (new) Akiva installation I thought I would post some thoughts. I must stress that the following are my preferences in what is a very revealing active system. All references are back to the 560+1 combination.


220 only – flat, muddled, a bit like owning a lesser cartridge.
500 only – appears to be holding back a bit, a slight veil to the music, less depth
500+1 – music appears to be going away from me, lost all sparkle
560 only – a bit hifi, music appears a little less passionate.
560+1 – the most enjoyable homogenous performance
560+5.6 – leading edge definition is lost, bass is soft and looses vitality/drive
560+10 – you’re havin’ a larf
500+220 – extremely detailed but thin


The music for this experiment was the rather wonderful (and beautifully recorded) Tears of Joy by Antonio Forcione.



It’s interesting that after a few hours experimentation how immediately obvious the differences are between (most of) the plug combinations.

The difference between the 560 only and 560+1 is not an easy, carte blanche answer. I imagine some, with less revealing systems, would prefer the 560 alone which gives the cartridge a little more lift. However, the 560+1 works best for me.

If I only had the 500 plug I guess I would have been quite happy with the performance over the Prefix but having heard the lift you get with the 560 all I can say is THANKYOU NAIM.

Julian

At last some time to post :

My findings below are not complete as yet as I am awaiting a 430R which being only a little less than the 470R is going to be very interesting with the Dynavectors in particular!

I think with Julian's excellent post above, we now have enough information to point you all in the right direction.

I'll copy as far as I can, Julians general bullet point layout for ease of reading - More follows shortly:

Akiva:

1K only - Bright, in one's face but tuneful and detailed.
560 only - Better than 1K, sweeter, more tuneful, very detailed, excellent dynamics.
500 only - Sounds tamed versus the 560, lost the edge, slightly veiled, not as musical.
470 only - Flatter, loss of detail and dynamics, a bit ploddy as compared to the above. Yawn.
390 only - Flatter still, more loss of detail, slow - not the way to go, loading wise.
320 only - Even flatter, slower, everythin becoming rather indistinct. Confirmed this is the wrong direction to follow.
220 only - Didn't bother.

Given the 560R was so much better, I have limited myself to checking the capacative loadings with this resistive value only so far. These comments are in relation to 560R and no cap loading:

560 +10nF - Everything sounds tubby, more rounded, slower less tuneful, thick.
560 +5.6nF - Everything sounds a bit more veiled, a bit more rounded, less punch, not as musical, but much better than 10nF*
560 +1nf - Fantastic! everything has clicked into place for me, so musical, bounce, punch, attack, detail all better than before. Musically wonderfully satisfying - could listen for hours

* If I remember rightly, this is the K loading but I preferred less capacitance!

I used a selection of music from the following albums:

Grace Jones, Nightclubbing.
Norah Jones, Come Away with me.
Massive Attack 100th Window.
FGHW
John Lee Hooker, The Healer
Simple Minds, Street Fighting Years.
Susanne Vega, Solitude Standing
Stone Roses, The Second Comming.
Rush, A Farewell to Kings.
Pink Floyd, Final Cut
And a couple of others that now escape me!



Now on to the Dynavectors.

Kind regards,

Peter