Your Newest Member.....for now..

I'm a long time vinyl fan and have have been called a luddite and dinosaur many time's over the years, but looks looks like I might get the last laugh as record's now look likely to see the demise of CD's.

That's not not say I don't use digital media, its so convenient to stream it around the house, and to that end have a music server with 7000+ titles on it.

So I'm looking to improve my Phono stage and since I met the lovely guys at 'Devine Audio' who there own words, "sell hi-fi for the ordinary man/women with a family and can't justify spending for the sake of it". Anyway after talking about spending hundreds getting a re-tip for my Supex SD900 MC cartridge  and wanting a cheap MM to cover the absence while away, I had what was necessarily at the time a shortish A/B dem. MC versus MM the difference in performance between the MC and MM (a good one) was shown to be really quite small (been a mechanical engineer 30 years, ears probably not what they were)and didn't justify the extra outlay and you had the convenience of a simple stylus swap when required and not having to send the cartridge away for 4-6 weeks. 

So for the first time in many a year purchased a MM cartridge, namely an Audio Technica AT-VM95SH. I also purchased a cheap Creek MM only phono stage off ebay to get me going 

So the above was all Pre-Covid. Now as good as the little Creek is, I know could do better and started researching MM phono stages reading reviews and the Graham Slee ones consistently got great reviews in the group tests. Having come on to the site and reading some of Graham's own comments it is all starting sense, especially the bit about an MC phono can't become an MM one just by flicking a switch. A good few years ago I had Musicmaker (Len Gregory), it did and still does get good reviews but my goodness in my set-up back then it was 'oh so Bright'. I was using a very expensive MC phono stage that could set for MM. I now realise that it was the most likely the Phono stage and not the cartridge that was likely the problem. I have my eye on a Reflex or Accession, and with Covid restriction's likely to continue in some form (my opinion) for a while yet, the loan option makes so much sense.

Be safe everyone.

Thanks for joining us Michael. I have had similar experiences of overly-bright MM stages in the past, my MM3 was used a Reflex M and the sound was very good indeed. I also found my older cartridges become more listenable. I recommend trying a GSP preamp that you'll get many years pleasure from, buy now for the future rather than an upgrade in a few years. I hope that helps.