Sutherland Club House

Your directions were correct, please allow me to buy you a cup of tea or joe via Venmo.

Can't be certain but I believe there were two errors. My L/R were definitely switched on the 20/20, which seems easy to do since the RCA jacks are all white. Also, one of the cables was not completely seated on the DAC so it wasn't making the connection.

THANK YOU, all. Now, I just need to defeat this VPI ground loop with their tech support once they return from holiday.

Happy New Year, folks. 🥳
One thing to try with the ground loop. If you have a ground cable, or really any kind of cables, try connecting one end to your amp body and another to the underside of the VPI Classic plinth on the large metal canister holding the spindle bearings. Blue tac would likely help with this, and if that doesn't work try going from the table to the 20/20. See if either of those connections kill the loop.
 
Your directions were correct, please allow me to buy you a cup of tea or joe via Venmo.

Can't be certain but I believe there were two errors. My L/R were definitely switched on the 20/20, which seems easy to do since the RCA jacks are all white. Also, one of the cables was not completely seated on the DAC so it wasn't making the connection.

THANK YOU, all. Now, I just need to defeat this VPI ground loop with their tech support once they return from holiday.

Happy New Year, folks. 🥳
Well done Mather! Yes, Happy New Year to all N&G members.
 
One thing to try with the ground loop. If you have a ground cable, or really any kind of cables, try connecting one end to your amp body and another to the underside of the VPI Classic plinth on the large metal canister holding the spindle bearings. Blue tac would likely help with this, and if that doesn't work try going from the table to the 20/20. See if either of those connections kill the loop.
Ok, and I'm serious about the coffee or tea.
 
I appreciate the offer however since I'm in Canada the service charges alone could probably pay for a dozen coffees and doughnuts... so instead I will consider this my one good deed for the year.

-checks date-

Woah... just got in under the gun on that one....
Mather, you are going to have to drop below the 48th and do a tour of N&G members who appreciate your input and accept your coffees, teas and 🍺🍺. We know shipping to the great white North is as expensive as hell so bring a cargo van and save us all a few bucks sending you stuff. 😎
 
Mather, you are going to have to drop below the 48th and do a tour of N&G members who appreciate your input and accept your coffees, teas and 🍺🍺. We know shipping to the great white North is as expensive as hell so bring a cargo van and save us all a few bucks sending you stuff. 😎
I'd love to do this, only issue being I don't drive so it would be either the most epic bus trip ever or it's $10,000 in airfare. But trust me, I appreciate everyone here's help over the years an immeasurable amount as well. I dig you folks
 
I'd love to do this, only issue being I don't drive so it would be either the most epic bus trip ever or it's $10,000 in airfare. But trust me, I appreciate everyone here's help over the years an immeasurable amount as well. I dig you folks
You don’t drive? Have I missed this story in previous posts? Saul Goodman but do tell if this hasn’t been a topic of ridicule before.
 
You don’t drive? Have I missed this story in previous posts? Saul Goodman but do tell if this hasn’t been a topic of ridicule before.
He rides the bus and has very fancy iems he plugs into his fancy portable dac while wearing his fancy pants and hopefully fancy hat to work on his fancy board at the fancy television building.
 
Having now spent about four intentional hours with semi-accurate A/B tests on the LPS, here's my conclusion:

I cannot with good conscience say there's sonic improvement with the LPS, but I can attest to feeling more at peace with it.
Again, I found mine on the local marketplace for just less than half its normal cost. This helps me feel affirmed with its addition.
At regular retail I might be more reserved to make the "upgrade" on the 20/20.

I kind of liken this to hybrid technology. If you recall, when it was first brought to market there was an awful lot of concern about battery life.
For me, that's what it felt like was the risk with my 20/20.

Not necessarily saying this is sage perspective, just that I wasn't sure if battery power alone was going to carry me through without concern.
I'd researched Ron Sutherland and felt very comfortable investing in his wares, but it's hard to completely bypass the skeptic in me.
Even when there's no sound logic for why I might doubt certain technologies/et cetera, I seem to carry irrational fear into certain situations.

So, if you're able to secure a discounted LPS I'd say it's well worth your time/money. However, you might think twice at full MSRP.
Hope this helps at least somebody out there make the right decision for themselves.
 
Having now spent about four intentional hours with semi-accurate A/B tests on the LPS, here's my conclusion:

I cannot with good conscience say there's sonic improvement with the LPS, but I can attest to feeling more at peace with it.
Again, I found mine on the local marketplace for just less than half its normal cost. This helps me feel affirmed with its addition.
At regular retail I might be more reserved to make the "upgrade" on the 20/20.

I kind of liken this to hybrid technology. If you recall, when it was first brought to market there was an awful lot of concern about battery life.
For me, that's what it felt like was the risk with my 20/20.

Not necessarily saying this is sage perspective, just that I wasn't sure if battery power alone was going to carry me through without concern.
I'd researched Ron Sutherland and felt very comfortable investing in his wares, but it's hard to completely bypass the skeptic in me.
Even when there's no sound logic for why I might doubt certain technologies/et cetera, I seem to carry irrational fear into certain situations.

So, if you're able to secure a discounted LPS I'd say it's well worth your time/money. However, you might think twice at full MSRP.
Hope this helps at least somebody out there make the right decision for themselves.
Great feedback! Guess that leaves a little more cash for cables :)
 
Do you folks use any kind of anti-static wristband or rubber tweezers or something when changing the internals?

I've got a pretty dry apartment and fear touching the board and shocking it and doing some damage.
 
Having owned the Sutherland 20/20 and the Duo I can say from experience that Ron Sutherland is a phono stage genius. From the Vibe to the Loco every step in his line is superb and a bargain as well.
I love my Aesthetix Rhea Signature with its ten tubes but will soon be playing around with a Little Loco mk2 and a rewound low impedance Benz Ruby Z to introduce myself to the world of transimpedance phonography. Like @Mather I find that tubes can be a source of dyspepsia. Sutherland products can be a set and forget it source of great pleasure.
@OMC - How’s that Little Loco?
 
Anyone in here that left the Sutherland clubhouse for another brand? If so, I’m curious what pulled you away, and any long term impressions, buyer’s remorse, etc?

I can’t slip and I’m getting the itch, lol.
 
Anyone in here that left the Sutherland clubhouse for another brand? If so, I’m curious what pulled you away, and any long term impressions, buyer’s remorse, etc?

I can’t slip and I’m getting the itch, lol.
When I got the "itch", it was more so looking to move up the Sutherland ladder from the Insight, and after a very long conversation with one of Upscales reps, we landed on the Manley. It was a 20/20 v Chinook debate, at the time the price points were only a couple $100 apart, the Manley being a little more. This was also a time when I was enjoying trying different things for myself, so the idea of taking a little leap of faith with something new was fun................it worked out, 0 regrets ;)

I liked the idea of the tubes, I liked the amount of flexibility in the Manley, at a time when carts were coming and going at a clip, it was appealing to be able to handle just about anything. That said, I still consider the Insight the sweet spot if you have the budget for it and are looking for a rock solid, end game piece of gear that isn't cheap, but won't push you into the stratosphere price wise.

There are only 2 pieces of gear I truly miss, the Insight and the UD.
 
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