Does Your Hi-Fi System Sing?

[Michael Leigh]

Does your system sing?

When a HI-FI system is set up correctly it should Sing. Some Audiophiles call this Synergy or Audio Nirvana. When the audio system sings it is quite easy to know: for when you look at your speakers they will completely disappear and all you will hear is the music, which will be presented to you in three dimensions: Width, Height and depth. On a good HI-FI system that's set up correctly you should be able to pick-out where the musicians are placed in the room and there should be a clear demarcation between the instruments. Close your eyes and you will get the feeling that you have been transported to another realm metaphorically speaking.

The hairs on the back of your neck will feel raised and you'll feel goose bumps along your arms and legs. The better the HI-FI system the more pronounced these sensations will be. Please don't think that I'm kidding because I am not, I am quite serious. All that I've said is achievable and more but your system has to be set up correctly along with other important factors, which I will explain below. This will determine how much of this effect will be presented to you.

The first thing is to make sure your audio equipment is placed on dedicated good quality equipment stand. This will help to keep vibrations from the floor caused by the speakers reaching to your Amplifier, turntable, ancillary components and deteriorating the sound. Please don't discard this as nonsense for I assure you it isn't and cannot stress enough the importance of isolating your audio equipment. When done correctly the rewards will be huge. If you are able to place your Turntable on a dedicated turntable wall shelf, consider it.

Interconnect and speaker cables can make or break a system. Please audition these in your system and buy the best that you can afford. I use cables made by the Chord Company, simply because I have found them the best. However, each person will have their preference as it's a matter of what sounds best to you. If your HI-FI equipment has a detachable mains cord, then I advise upgrading these to good quality HI-FI screened cable you will hear the difference and often it's not subtle. This will help screen mains interference. In addition to this, mains conditioners are a must in my opinion in order for your system to shine as they will supply clean electricity and you'll soon realise the benefits.

I also use Nordost Quantum QX4 and QX2 mains purifiers. They will work with any existing mains conditioner and won't degrade sound quality. Please don't underestimate these, once you hook them up to your system, you'll realise what you've been missing! A a more open sound-stage better separation between instruments and a lowering of the noise floor. Music will have better focus, lucidity and be more pleasant to listen to.

Room acoustics can make a big difference to the sound of your HI-FI . Plenty of information about this online. I have two audio systems with one room acoustically treated. Whether one uses solid state or tube/valve amplification is a personal choice but I prefer tube/valve as I perceive the sound to warmer more musical and pleasing to the ear. My preference is 300b and KT88 tubes. An amplifier using El34 tubes sound good too.

Many Audiophiles consider 300b power tubes to be the best and again this is individual preference. Some brands of this tube can be very expensive and have an ardent following for those in pursuit of audio nirvana. They run hot and operate in pure class A. The sound is warm smooth and very musical, often without a hint of harshness heard in the mid-range and treble frequencies. Once you hear a 300b amplifier either push-pull or single-ended you may never want to go back to a solid state amplification.

Positioning of speakers is important whether they are stand-mount or floor standing. I do not believe in pulling the speaker too far away from the rear wall and have it in free space, particularly stand mount monitors as this often results in loss of bass and some people add a sub-woofer which I personally don't like, especially using it with quality speakers like ProAc tablettes which usually sound better placed near to back wall for bass reinforcement.

A Linn dealer told me this years ago when I had a pair of Linn Kan speakers. Speakers like ProAc Tablettes, Linn Kan, Harbeth P3ESe and LS3/5A typically sound better when set up this way. My ProAc D28s, in a video on this forum are placed either side of a bay window and around 6 inches from the wall. The bass is full and well proportioned without sounding overblown or boomy. Midrange and treble frequencies are clear and open. Although it may not be apparent listening and watching the video on your computer, for it was taken with a mobile phone using it's on-board microphone, there is a deep three dimensional sound-stage with very good imaging.

Michael

 

[Luman]

All good advice, from Michael.

I would just like to mention that a good center channel speaker , usually used for 5.1 home theater sound, can work wonders with older monaural recordings. I've used a center channel speaker and dedicated amp (bridged for mono) since 2013 in my 5.1 surround setup, but never tried it for music alone, until recently. It wasn't even properly broken in for music listening, which I did this week. So far, one of the best recordings I've heard on it, in terms of sound and performance, is Pet Sounds, by the Beach Boys, available on the 1999 Columbia CD which includes Brian Wilson's original mono recordings of the tracks. The vocals on this record sound far better than on a stereo system, whether played in mono or stereo, and the instrumental, Let's Go Away for Awhile, Brian Wilson's personal favorite composition, is excellently rendered through the center channel speaker, as well. This is prompting me want to acquire a lot more mono music from the 1920's through 1960's, of many genres.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you for the good information Luman. I will certainly pass it on to members at the Audiophile groups I attend, as they may not be aware of your setup.

Well done.
Michael

 

[Ed209]

Does your system sing?

When a HI-FI system is set up correctly it should Sing. Some Audiophiles call this Synergy or Audio Nirvana. When the audio system sings it is quite easy to know: for when you look at your speakers they will completely disappear and all you will hear is the music, which will be presented to you in three dimensions: Width, Height and depth. On a good HI-FI system that's set up correctly you should be able to pick-out where the musicians are placed in the room and there should be a clear demarcation between the instruments. Close your eyes and you will get the feeling that you have been transported to another realm metaphorically speaking.

The hairs on the back of your neck will feel raised and you'll feel goose bumps along your arms and legs. The better the HI-FI system the more pronounced these sensations will be. Please don't think that I'm kidding because I am not, I am quite serious. All that I've said is achievable and more but your system has to be set up correctly along with other important factors, which I will explain below. This will determine how much of this effect will be presented to you.

The first thing is to make sure your audio equipment is placed on dedicated good quality equipment stand. This will help to keep vibrations from the floor caused by the speakers reaching to your Amplifier, turntable, ancillary components and deteriorating the sound. Please don't discard this as nonsense for I assure you it isn't and cannot stress enough the importance of isolating your audio equipment. When done correctly the rewards will be huge. If you are able to place your Turntable on a dedicated turntable wall shelf, consider it.

Interconnect and speaker cables can make or break a system. Please audition these in your system and buy the best that you can afford. I use cables made by the Chord Company, simply because I have found them the best. However, each person will have their preference as it's a matter of what sounds best to you. If your HI-FI equipment has a detachable mains cord, then I advise upgrading these to good quality HI-FI screened cable you will hear the difference and often it's not subtle. This will help screen mains interference. In addition to this, mains conditioners are a must in my opinion in order for your system to shine as they will supply clean electricity and you'll soon realise the benefits.

I also use Nordost Quantum QX4 and QX2 mains purifiers. They will work with any existing mains conditioner and won't degrade sound quality. Please don't underestimate these, once you hook them up to your system, you'll realise what you've been missing! A a more open sound-stage better separation between instruments and a lowering of the noise floor. Music will have better focus, lucidity and be more pleasant to listen to.

Room acoustics can make a big difference to the sound of your HI-FI . Plenty of information about this online. I have two audio systems with one room acoustically treated. Whether one uses solid state or tube/valve amplification is a personal choice but I prefer tube/valve as I perceive the sound to warmer more musical and pleasing to the ear. My preference is 300b and KT88 tubes. An amplifier using El34 tubes sound good too.

Many Audiophiles consider 300b power tubes to be the best and again this is individual preference. Some brands of this tube can be very expensive and have an ardent following for those in pursuit of audio nirvana. They run hot and operate in pure class A. The sound is warm smooth and very musical, often without a hint of harshness heard in the mid-range and treble frequencies. Once you hear a 300b amplifier either push-pull or single-ended you may never want to go back to a solid state amplification.

Positioning of speakers is important whether they are stand-mount or floor standing. I do not believe in pulling the speaker too far away from the rear wall and have it in free space, particularly stand mount monitors as this often results in loss of bass and some people add a sub-woofer which I personally don't like, especially using it with quality speakers like ProAc tablettes which usually sound better placed near to back wall for bass reinforcement.

A Linn dealer told me this years ago when I had a pair of Linn Kan speakers. Speakers like ProAc Tablettes, Linn Kan, Harbeth P3ESe and LS3/5A typically sound better when set up this way. My ProAc D28s, in a video on this forum are placed either side of a bay window and around 6 inches from the wall. The bass is full and well proportioned without sounding overblown or boomy. Midrange and treble frequencies are clear and open. Although it may not be apparent listening and watching the video on your computer, for it was taken with a mobile phone using it's on-board microphone, there is a deep three dimensional sound-stage with very good imaging.

Michael

I would say the single most important part of a good listening experience is the room itself. It has to have proportional dimensions, without a ceiling that's too high or too many reflective points. A high ceiling can create too much low end and echo, and a typical modern home has a ceiling height which can create a horrible comb filtering effect, and this can really mess up the stereo imaging. To alleviate these problems, one should invest in bass traps, acoustic panels, and sound diffuser panels. The most expensive Hi-Fi's and speakers in the world will not solve these problems for you, and a bad room can make such kit sound cheap.

This is why mixers spend a serious amount of money on the room's acoustics first. You simply cannot mix in an untreated room because the sound isn't "honest." After that, good quality gear can take you from an average Hi-Fi sound, to audio nirvana.

 

[Stuart-T]

Hi Michael.

I have just bought a used Rega Planar 2 turntable from a RP dealer (£350); it's a recent model.

It took me a while to decide on what to upgrade to for less than my £500 budget. There are some very nice-looking players out there, but what swung it for me was the RP being a genuine Hi-Fi turntable with a reputation for quality sound—recognized by audiophiles—and British-made. I think for the money I have spent, it would be hard to get better. I have a 3-month warranty on it.

Here it is:

 

[Luman]

It's a beautiful deck, and I think that it will sound fantastic. Turntable technology has greatly advanced over the past few decades, much more so than the making of vinyl records.

Have fun spinning those old and new recordings!

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have just bought a used Rega Planar 2 turntable from a RP dealer (£350); it's a recent model.

Hi @Stuart-T.

Ever since I became interested in Hi-Fi, I have been reading rave reviews about the Rega Planer 2 and 3 turntables, although I have never owned one. I think you have made a good purchase. All you need now is a good phono stage, turntable support, amplifier, and speakers.

It all starts with the source, which in your case is the turntable. If this is not set up right, your system will not sing! If the turntable didn't come with a cartridge, I recommend the Ortofon 2M Red or the Blue. These are splendid cartridges and will make your Rega 2 shine.

To get the best out of the RP2, you will need to place it on a dedicated turntable wall shelf or a good purpose-made Hi-Fi stand to isolate it from floor and air-borne vibrations, particularly from speakers. Please do not skimp or overlook this important factor, with the belief that placing it on a sideboard or self-assembly MDF table will yield good results. I promise you that they won't, for you will lose vital information from your records.

I don't know whether your Cambridge integrated amplifier has an internal phono stage fitted. If it hasn't then you will need to buy one. I recommend those from Graham Slee or Project phono stage.

Since you mostly listen to classical music, when you're able to, consider upgrading to valve amplification. No solid-state amplifier can match the smoothness and shear musicality of valve/tube amplification. I use three different types of valve/tube amplifiers: 300b Push-Pull, 300b Single-Ended, Bewitch 6550. They are all made in China. These are very good amplifiers and reasonably priced. Comparable British models or those from the US, you are looking at over £3k. When you are ready, check out Yaqin Audio.

There are some g00d British speakers to choose from. Consider ProAc. The mere mention of the name to any Hi-Fi dealer, you will see a nod of approval, as these speakers have a huge following and respect amongst serious Audiophiles. I have the D28 floor standing and the Tablette Reference 8 Signatures. They demand the finest ancillary equipment that one can afford and will reward you with many hours of musical enjoyment.

Whether you buy ProAc, Harbeth, Linn, or another high-quality pair of speakers, please do not hook them up to any cheap speaker cables. All my Interconnects and speaker cables are from the Chord Company. AudioQuest, Kimber, and QED are good too.

When you are ready, consider adding a good-quality mains conditioner to your system. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.

All the best,
Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

Hi @Stuart-T.

Ever since I became interested in Hi-Fi, I have been reading rave reviews about the Rega Planer 2 and 3 turntables, although I have never owned one. I think you have made a good purchase. All you need now is a good phono stage, turntable support, amplifier, and speakers.

It all starts with the source, which in your case is the turntable. If this is not set up right, your system will not sing! If the turntable didn't come with a cartridge, I recommend the Ortofon 2M Red or the Blue. These are splendid cartridges and will make your Rega 2 shine.

To get the best out of the RP2, you will need to place it on a dedicated turntable wall shelf or a good purpose-made Hi-Fi stand to isolate it from floor and air-borne vibrations, particularly from speakers. Please do not skimp or overlook this important factor, with the belief that placing it on a sideboard or self-assembly MDF table will yield good results. I promise you that they won't, for you will lose vital information from your records.

I don't know whether your Cambridge integrated amplifier has an internal phono stage fitted. If it hasn't then you will need to buy one. I recommend those from Graham Slee or Project phono stage.

Since you mostly listen to classical music, when you're able to, consider upgrading to valve amplification. No solid-state amplifier can match the smoothness and shear musicality of valve/tube amplification. I use three different types of valve/tube amplifiers: 300b Push-Pull, 300b Single-Ended, Bewitch 6550. They are all made in China. These are very good amplifiers and reasonably priced. Comparable British models or those from the US, you are looking at over £3k. When you are ready, check out Yaqin Audio.

There are some g00d British speakers to choose from. Consider ProAc. The mere mention of the name to any Hi-Fi dealer, you will see a nod of approval, as these speakers have a huge following and respect amongst serious Audiophiles. I have the D28 floor standing and the Tablette Reference 8 Signatures. They demand the finest ancillary equipment that one can afford and will reward you with many hours of musical enjoyment.

Whether you buy ProAc, Harbeth, Linn, or another high-quality pair of speakers, please do not hook them up to any cheap speaker cables. All my Interconnects and speaker cables are from the Chord Company. AudioQuest, Kimber, and QED are good too.

When you are ready, consider adding a good-quality mains conditioner to your system. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.

All the best,
Michael

Thanks for all your comments.

I am a minimalist where Hi-Fi is concerned, and the Rega does not even have speed controls - you have to adjust the belt manually from one pulley notch to another. I only listen to LP 12 inch, so that is not a problem. No 45s or 78s.

The Rega has a Rega Carbon cartridge fitted. I have no idea how good it is, but I will, of course, be upgrading when funds allow. For now, I will need to make do with what I have. Yes, the Cambridge Audio Topaz AM does have a phono stage (there is a cheaper Topaz without a phono). It will do for now, but yes, I agree that valve gear is the way to go. I had a Croft pre/power combo back in the old days.

I used to have a Target wall-mounted turntable support. At the moment, I have nothing much to buy furniture, so I will be looking at various options to isolate from vibration sources.

I have a friend with a spare pair of Rogers LS4s, which are bound to be better than my Eltax bookshelf speakers. I could maybe borrow them until I get kitted out with my own speakers.

Regarding the Cambridge amp - could I not bi-pass the phono stage and buy one of those you suggest and hook up to my amp via the aux inputs?

I will post back when I have it - later this week.

It's a beautiful deck, and I think that it will sound fantastic. Turntable technology has greatly advanced over the past few decades, much more so than the making of vinyl records.

Have fun spinning those old and new recordings!

Yes, I was tempted to buy an old 70s deck and was offered a Thorens TD160 for £150 - with original arm and cart. But when I thought about the old bearings in that deck, etc. - and the need to have it meticulously set up and serviced - and the old motor whirring away and the belt slipping - I realized something recent would be the best option.

I paid £300 in the early 90s for the Systemdeck IIX plus moth arm and Goldring 1042—which in today's money is about £600+—so the R2 for £350 looks like a good deal compared with that.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I am a minimalist where Hi-Fi is concerned, and the Rega does not even have speed controls - you have to adjust the belt manually from one pulley notch to another. I only listen to LP 12 inch, so that is not a problem. No 45s or 78s.

You obviously have a good grasp of Hi-Fi @Stuart-T, going by the equipment that you have mentioned. I read a lot about Croft back in the day. Therefore, I'm not going to tell you how to suck eggs. However, times have moved on, and to avoid making costly mistakes, please consider my advice below. My Clearaudio Emotion turntable's speed is also manually adjusted like your Rega 2.

Rega makes fine turntables, but I suspect their supplied cartridge is just to get the buyer up and running. I found this with my Clearaudio Emotion turntable, which was also supplied with a cartridge. When I upgraded to the Ortofon 2m Red, the difference was night and day.

Although it's possible to add a dedicated phono stage via the auxiliary input, as you suggest, if I were you, then I wouldn't do this. Instead, use the phono stage already built into the Cambridge amplifier. The most important thing at the moment is to get your turntable to sound the best it can because once information is lost at the turntable, it can never be retrieved by adding a phono stage, amplifier, cables, or speakers.

Therefore, concentrate on placing your Rega 2 on a dedicated turntable wall shelf or a good Hi-Fi equipment stand. Believe me, you will hear the difference. The Rogers LS4a are good speakers. They need to be placed on good-quality speaker stands to sound their best. I advise stands that can be filled with either lead shot, sand, or my personal favorite, Atabites. The filled speaker stands to add stability and will reinforce the bass. Try not to fill the stands more than 3/4. Otherwise, you'll get a dead sound. Some experimentation is needed to find out what suits you.

As mentioned in my previous post, use good-quality speaker cables. My favorites are those from the Chord Company. If the speakers are Bi-wire, then I suggest you use single-wire speaker cables and add short jumper cables to link the bass and treble binding posts. Contrary to what some people believe, Bi-wiring speakers always sound inferior to single-wire. The Chord Company told me this many years ago and I have found this to be true!

Take care,
Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

You obviously have a good grasp of Hi-Fi @Stuart-T, going by the equipment that you have mentioned. I read a lot about Croft back in the day. Therefore, I'm not going to tell you how to suck eggs. However, times have moved on, and to avoid making costly mistakes, please consider my advice below. My Clearaudio Emotion turntable's speed is also manually adjusted like your Rega 2.

Rega makes fine turntables, but I suspect their supplied cartridge is just to get the buyer up and running. I found this with my Clearaudio Emotion turntable, which was also supplied with a cartridge. When I upgraded to the Ortofon 2m Red, the difference was night and day.

Although it's possible to add a dedicated phono stage via the auxiliary input, as you suggest, if I were you, then I wouldn't do this. Instead, use the phono stage already built into the Cambridge amplifier. The most important thing at the moment is to get your turntable to sound the best it can because once information is lost at the turntable, it can never be retrieved by adding a phono stage, amplifier, cables, or speakers.

Therefore, concentrate on placing your Rega 2 on a dedicated turntable wall shelf or a good Hi-Fi equipment stand. Believe me, you will hear the difference. The Rogers LS4a are good speakers. They need to be placed on good-quality speaker stands to sound their best. I advise stands that can be filled with either lead shot, sand, or my personal favorite, Atabites. The filled speaker stands to add stability and will reinforce the bass. Try not to fill the stands more than 3/4. Otherwise, you'll get a dead sound. Some experimentation is needed to find out what suits you.

As mentioned in my previous post, use good-quality speaker cables. My favorites are those from the Chord Company. If the speakers are Bi-wire, then I suggest you use single-wire speaker cables and add short jumper cables to link the bass and treble binding posts. Contrary to what some people believe, Bi-wiring speakers always sound inferior to single-wire. The Chord Company told me this many years ago and I have found this to be true!

Take care,
Michael

It arrived today. It looks new, and it has all the original packaging, manual, etc. The Glass platter weighs 1.7 kg. I have placed it temporarily on top of the unit that holds my LPs pending proper support.

I have balanced the tonearm. The tonearm assembly has a bias adjuster. The instructions say to set it at 0 for tonearm balancing, but they give no further instructions. Should I leave it on 0?

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have balanced the tonearm. The tonearm assembly has a bias adjuster. The instructions say to set it at 0 for tonearm balancing, but they give no further instructions. Should I leave it on 0?

Congratulations, the turntable looks great.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube that show how to set up a Rega 2 or 3 tonearm and apply bias. For most turntables, the bias (anti-skate) is usually set to the same values as the tracking weight of the cartridge. I believe the tracking weight for your cartridge is 1.75 grams. If this is the case, then set the bias to 1.75.

Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

Congratulations, the turntable looks great.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube that show how to set up a Rega 2 or 3 tonearm and apply bias. For most turntables, the bias (anti-skate) is usually set to the same values as the tracking weight of the cartridge. I believe the tracking weight for your cartridge is 1.75 grams. If this is the case, then set the bias to 1.75.

Michael

Thanks. I checked out pictures of your turntable; looks awesome design - beyond my budget.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thanks. I checked out pictures of your turntable; looks awesome design - beyond my budget.

Thank you.

The Emotion turntable suits my needs. It was the entry-level turntable in Clearaudio's lineup. Much like your Rega P2, it received good reviews in the Hi-Fi press. I am starting to rediscover my vinyl records since buying the Akai reel-to-reel tape recorder. The simplicity and ease of listening to digital audio have taken hold of me for quite some time.

You may or may not be aware that it's important to have solid-state amplifiers, DACs (digital to analog converters), etc., powered up all the time. If you plan on only switching on your Cambridge amplifier when you want to listen to music, whether listening to records or from a CD player, then your system will not sing!

Switching on a solid-state amplifier from cold sounds quite horrible. They need to be powered up for at least 2 to 3 hours before sounding their best. I didn't know this for years until a Hi-Fi dealer enlightened me, and I found it to be true.

When I owned an Audiolab 800a solid-state amplifier, I was completely blown away after it had been powered up for 3 hours. The sound stage completely opened up, expanding way beyond the distance of my small Linn Kan stand-mount speakers, which were 7ft apart. The depth and height of the sound stage also grew. The music was much more engaging, emotional, and melodious. I felt I was part of the performance and the musicians were playing in front of me. It was then I began to realize, what the Hi-Fi journalists and Audiophiles called synergy, as I have described at the start of this thread.

It is not practical for valve/tube amplifiers to be powered up all the time. The valves would burn out quickly, and there's also the risk of fire, leaving such an amplifier unattended since they run quite hot. A valve amplifier needs to be powered up for 30 to 60 minutes to sound their best. When they have reached optimum temperature, they make music sound absolutely wonderful.

Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

Thank you.

The Emotion turntable suits my needs. It was the entry-level turntable in Clearaudio's lineup. Much like your Rega P2, it received good reviews in the Hi-Fi press. I am starting to rediscover my vinyl records since buying the Akai reel-to-reel tape recorder. The simplicity and ease of listening to digital audio have taken hold of me for quite some time.

You may or may not be aware that it's important to have solid-state amplifiers, DACs (digital to analog converters), etc., powered up all the time. If you plan on only switching on your Cambridge amplifier when you want to listen to music, whether listening to records or from a CD player, then your system will not sing!

Switching on a solid-state amplifier from cold sounds quite horrible. They need to be powered up for at least 2 to 3 hours before sounding their best. I didn't know this for years until a Hi-Fi dealer enlightened me, and I found it to be true.

When I owned an Audiolab 800a solid-state amplifier, I was completely blown away after it had been powered up for 3 hours. The sound stage completely opened up, expanding way beyond the distance of my small Linn Kan stand-mount speakers, which were 7ft apart. The depth and height of the sound stage also grew. The music was much more engaging, emotional, and melodious. I felt I was part of the performance and the musicians were playing in front of me. It was then I began to realize, what the Hi-Fi journalists and Audiophiles called synergy, as I have described at the start of this thread.

It is not practical for valve/tube amplifiers to be powered up all the time. The valves would burn out quickly, and there's also the risk of fire, leaving such an amplifier unattended since they run quite hot. A valve amplifier needs to be powered up for 30 to 60 minutes to sound their best. When they have reached optimum temperature, they make music sound absolutely wonderful.

Michael

Thanks - I will try leaving my amp on all the time. I tend to turn it off at night. I suppose it costs a minimal amount of money to keep it powered up anyway.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thanks - I will try leaving my amp on all the time. I tend to turn it off at night. I suppose it costs a minimal amount of money to keep it powered up anyway.

You are right, the cost to keep your amplifier powered up all the time is minimal. Most solid-state amplifiers are fitted with toroidal transformers, which don't draw a lot of electrical current.

I have two 300b amplifiers. One is a Push-Pull design and the other is Single-Ended. They sound completely different, and both have 4 large 300b valves fitted. They generate a lot of heat because they operate in pure class A. When the amplifiers are powered up, my energy smart meter doesn't show much wattage being used.

While we are on the subject of electrics, whatever manufacturer of speaker cables you decide on buying to connect to the Rogers speakers, make sure the dealer allows you a home trial. Speaker cables need time to burn in to sound their best, approximately 100 hours. The same applies to good-quality interconnect cables. A good Hi-Fi dealer will be able to burn in the cables for you using a burning machine.

My Chord Signature speaker cables are made from thick, solid copper and other materials. They are incredibly rigid and specially made to order for each customer. The cables ruthlessly reveal any imperfections in a Hi-Fi system, so demand the best one can afford. When connected to a Hi-Fi system, they need two weeks to burn in naturally, or Chord will burn them in for 48 hours using their burning machine.

You might want to consider buying a Tacima 6-way mains conditioner connection block which has surge protection. It has received good reviews in the Hi-Fi press. Available from Amazon and other outlets.

Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

You are right, the cost to keep your amplifier powered up all the time is minimal. Most solid-state amplifiers are fitted with toroidal transformers, which don't draw a lot of electrical current.

I have two 300b amplifiers. One is a Push-Pull design and the other is Single-Ended. They sound completely different, and both have 4 large 300b valves fitted. They generate a lot of heat because they operate in pure class A. When the amplifiers are powered up, my energy smart meter doesn't show much wattage being used.

While we are on the subject of electrics, whatever manufacturer of speaker cables you decide on buying to connect to the Rogers speakers, make sure the dealer allows you a home trial. Speaker cables need time to burn in to sound their best, approximately 100 hours. The same applies to good-quality interconnect cables. A good Hi-Fi dealer will be able to burn in the cables for you using a burning machine.

My Chord Signature speaker cables are made from thick, solid copper and other materials. They are incredibly rigid and specially made to order for each customer. The cables ruthlessly reveal any imperfections in a Hi-Fi system, so demand the best one can afford. When connected to a Hi-Fi system, they need two weeks to burn in naturally, or Chord will burn them in for 48 hours using their burning machine.

You might want to consider buying a Tacima 6-way mains conditioner connection block which has surge protection. It has received good reviews in the Hi-Fi press. Available from Amazon and other outlets.

Michael

OK. One question about cables. The left and right phono cables that come from the Rega tonearm, do they not need upgrading first? They look like standard cheap interconnects.

Do you know a firm called Black Rhodium?

 

[Michael Leigh]

OK. One question about cables. The left and right phono cables that come from the Rega tonearm, do they not need upgrading first? They look like standard cheap interconnects.

Do you know a firm called Black Rhodium?

I know about Black Rhodium and the upgrade cable service they provide. If you intend on upgrading your Rega tonearm cables yourself (something I don't recommend) or asking a company like Black Rhodium to do this, I strongly advise you not to pursue this route.

With that being said, you do make a valid point about interconnect cables. My turntable uses a Clearaudio Satisfy tonearm. It allows the ability to try different interconnect cables because it's fitted with phono connections. Many tonearms do not have this, as some believe the inclusion of additional connections could degrade sound quality. There is a strong argument that it's better to have one set of leads attached to the cartridge, then traveling inside the tonearm and connected directly to the phono stage without a break in the signal. There is also some truth in this.

Setting up a Hi-Fi system and getting it to sing can be complex and extremely expensive if one gets it wrong! I believe I have relayed the correct procedure at the start of this thread to get it right the first time. It has been acquired over many years of experience in Hi-Fi. I have made mistakes, but hopefully, others won't who are interested in putting an audio system together and decide to follow some of my advice.

As I have previously advised, you need to concentrate on your main source, which at the moment is the turntable. Get a dedicated wall shelf or equipment stand to isolate it from vibrations. If the equipment stand can house your amplifier, it needs to be good enough to stop vibrations from reaching it because they will degrade sound quality.

Once this is done, it is now time to address the speakers. If you are going to use the Rogers or other stand-mount speakers, make sure you use good-quality stands that can be filled. Good quality speaker cables are a must, and I recommend those from The Chord Company. They are very musical and will not add or detract anything from the music. They will simply disappear. Something like the Rumour X or Shawline X cables should suit you. You can email the cable doctor at Chord. Explain the system you have, and he'll give you some good advice on cables.

I strongly advise that you consider adding the Tacima 6-way mains conditioner connection block or better.

When the time is right, you might want to upgrade the cartridge. Be careful here because you don't want to get something that's not compatible with the Rega tonearm and turntable. This is the reason I have advised the Ortofon 2m Red or Blue.

Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

I know about Black Rhodium and the upgrade cable service they provide. If you intend on upgrading your Rega tonearm cables yourself (something I don't recommend) or asking a company like Black Rhodium to do this, I strongly advise you not to pursue this route.

With that being said, you do make a valid point about interconnect cables. My turntable uses a Clearaudio Satisfy tonearm. It allows the ability to try different interconnect cables because it's fitted with phono connections. Many tonearms do not have this, as some believe the inclusion of additional connections could degrade sound quality. There is a strong argument that it's better to have one set of leads attached to the cartridge, then traveling inside the tonearm and connected directly to the phono stage without a break in the signal. There is also some truth in this.

Setting up a Hi-Fi system and getting it to sing can be complex and extremely expensive if one gets it wrong! I believe I have relayed the correct procedure at the start of this thread to get it right the first time. It has been acquired over many years of experience in Hi-Fi. I have made mistakes, but hopefully, others won't who are interested in putting an audio system together and decide to follow some of my advice.

As I have previously advised, you need to concentrate on your main source, which at the moment is the turntable. Get a dedicated wall shelf or equipment stand to isolate it from vibrations. If the equipment stand can house your amplifier, it needs to be good enough to stop vibrations from reaching it because they will degrade sound quality.

Once this is done, it is now time to address the speakers. If you are going to use the Rogers or other stand-mount speakers, make sure you use good-quality stands that can be filled. Good quality speaker cables are a must, and I recommend those from The Chord Company. They are very musical and will not add or detract anything from the music. They will simply disappear. Something like the Rumour X or Shawline X cables should suit you. You can email the cable doctor at Chord. Explain the system you have, and he'll give you some good advice on cables.

I strongly advise that you consider adding the Tacima 6-way mains conditioner connection block or better.

When the time is right, you might want to upgrade the cartridge. Be careful here because you don't want to get something that's not compatible with the Rega tonearm and turntable. This is the reason I have advised the Ortofon 2m Red or Blue.

Michael

Thanks for all the advice.

I only mentioned Black Rhodium as I know the guy who owns it - Graham Nalty - socially. We go back to the late 80s. He started out with a firm called Audiokits in the 70s - selling amplifier kits for enthusiasts to build their own. Then he went into the amp business with Sonik Link. He seems to have found his niche, though, and I understand he is doing very well with the cables. He is getting on though - like 80 years of age.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I only mentioned Black Rhodium as I know the guy who owns it - Graham Nalty - socially. We go back to the late 80s.

That is nice to hear. If you want to talk with him about rewiring your Rega tonearm, certainly do so. However, if I were in your situation, I'd leave it well alone. I'll explain.

The designers of your Rega P2 turntable have spent many hours listening to the prototype before it went into main production. Most Hi-Fi manufacturers do this. Go to YouTube and watch the tour through the Rega factory. It is based in Essex. The P2 has been set up to give a flat response. The moment you try to get more out of it than it can deliver, it upsets the balance of the turntable.

This can occur using high quality cables and wires in the arm that it wasn't designed for and hence, alter the turntable's characteristics. The sound might become too bright and forward, or adding sibilance, even coloration in the midrange is possible. There is no guarantee what might happen. I have corresponded with Audiophiles who have done this and regretted it.

Some even remove the speakers from their cabinets and then rewire them to the crossover using high-quality silver cables. Or they remove the crossovers completely from the cabinets and place them in a separate shielded metal enclosure, believing the sound will be improved. More often than not, they are not pleased with the results.

Hi-Fi, like any other hobby, can become seriously addictive to the point of obsession. I know, for I was once on this merry-go-round, but no more. A dealer once told me that Audiophiles are never happy with their systems. I am thoroughly happy with my two systems. I no longer buy Hi-Fi magazines, and I stay away from dealers.

Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

I have had two Audio-Technica cartridges recommended - the AT-VM95ML at £150 and the AT-VM540ML at £220.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have had two Audio-Technica cartridges recommended - the AT-VM95ML at £150 and the AT-VM540ML at £220.

Audio-Technica makes very good and high-end cartridges like Ortofon.

However, I respectively disagree with the person who has given you this advice. I will explain.

In my opinion, the Audio-Technica cartridges are too good for the Rega P2 turntable because they cost nearly half the price of the P2. In addition, the phono stage in the Cambridge amplifier may not be good enough to realize Audio-Technica's full potential.

What is likely to happen is that Audio-Technica will reveal the limitations of the Rega turntable, arm, and phono stage in your amp!

Remember, everything starts at the source. It is better to start off with a cartridge that will suit your turntable, arm, and phono stage in your amplifier first.

Again, you need to place your turntable on a dedicated turntable wall shelf or good equipment stand to thoroughly isolate it from external vibration, airborne, and from the floor. Otherwise, your system will not sing.

Go to YouTube and watch a 20-minute video about the Greek Audiophiles from Athens. Be prepared to be amazed.

Michael