HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

I do have a solar-panel array for electrics and that often causes audible disturbance in the Hifi. Strangely, since I now have the PSU for the phono section constantly switched on, I haven't noticed that recently.

Finally into a busy work period in the post-lockdown return to a semblance of normaility. Not had much opportunity to mess with Hifi but there are a couple of small improvements to the vintage system - which has, to be honest, been rather neglected through the decades.

Firstly - BMU! Firing up the NVA A40 stereo amp and the phono PSU with balanced mains has enriched, deeped and solidified the soundfield. You can feel the amp opening up and operating more comfortably.

Secondly, the speaker leads were simply bare wire clamped to the binding posts on the Arcam One's and I picked up a couple of smart, gold-plated, Chi-Fi banana plugs from Nedis for 7 euro per pair.



This really did make a considerable impact on the SQ, as if the input to the speakers had been strangled for years by insufficient contact.

Now this venerable setup is sounding far better than ever before and is, in the brief moments I have to enjoy it, making some wonderful music.

Ah well, back to work.

Finally got around to getting the Pro-Ject Debut 2 up and running again:



'Back-to-basics' system with the Debut TT & Goldring Elan, Kenwood KA-4010 amp and NVA Cube2.
Digital is via a Volumio Pi/Allo DigiOne with Cambridge DacMagic Plus and Sbooster PSU.

The Debut TT does go very nicely with the Kenwood amp. Thrown together and proper setting-up still to be done - but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless.

Tweaking the Debut.



A fairly substantial LP weight (280g) plus the Tonar leather mat that I had spare. These help to regulate the Debut's slightly erratic speed and solidify the soundfield.

Other change is the Grado Prestige Green 3 cartridge. Playing an old and battered copy (not mine!) of 'Wish You Were Here' that was lying about, the slight warp in the LP caused a problem with the Goldring Elan - its small body didn't have enough height to keep the arm wiring from touching the record, causing skipping and jumping.
The higher-sized Grado has removed this problem and is working just fine.

Where I now get trouble with is the amp (circa 1990) that has intermittent dirt / loss of connection in the selector switches. I had it previously rigged to bypass all that with a single digital input.

But, all in all, this is starting to sound quite respectable.

So Fret, what percentage of your listening is with anologue and digital ?

I managed to wreck another Apheta cartridge back in Jan (2nd such accident in just over a year).
I wanted to replace it with a Benz Glider SL but they are hard to come by so I sent the Apheta off to a guy in California who replaced the bent aluminium Rega Apheta cantilever with a boron cantilever with a micro ridge diamond stylus and it now sounds better than ever with record's I like. For reasons I never understood, both the Apheta 2 & 3 were prone to skipping even on new LPs ? My modified Apheta tracks perfectly.
Fwiw I couldn't live without my digital sources but vinyl is where I go to immerse myself in music.

karatestu wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:00 am So Fret, what percentage of your listening is with anologue and digital ?

At the moment it is about 80% vinyl with digital mainly as background / work music in the office and kitchen.
The little digi-rigs with network streaming are easy to set up and don't need much space.