dansomeone
Well-Known Member
Let's not forget why we got into this hobbyTrue. I’ve had three different carts on mine so far in as many months. I should just enjoy the process instead of trying to simplify it. Thanks for talking me down. lol
MoFi UltraDeck / StudioDeck Owners and those interested
- Thread starter AnthonyI
- Start date
Angsty
Well-Known Member
On CDJapan, you can get a MP-200 with Nagaoka headshell for as little as $315 plus shipping.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
I actually think you're further complicating it by trying to do multiple headshells! HahaTrue. I’ve had three different carts on mine so far in as many months. I should just enjoy the process instead of trying to simplify it. Thanks for talking me down. lol
Static Shock
Member
Sorry for the late question. I am having a bit of a problem visualizing where you put the cards ie what do they rest on.
Underneath the cue lever area, there’s a little metal part under the arm that juts out, put them there and the arm can’t fall as long as there’s enough cards!
Static Shock
Member
So do you mean the part with a rubber pad on top that the tone arm rest on when at rest off the record ?
AndreasT
New Member
Static Shock
Member
I see you build them up from the deck to under the support . I was having a seniors moment trying to see what you were suggesting .
I actually put my stack underneath the cue mechanism, that shiny part just next to where Andrea’s has his cards, but I suppose both options work!
Static Shock
Member
I can see how either can work as long as you have good contact with the support and the deck below .
bjshawk1980
New Member
Longtime member here infrequent poster OCD luker. I have had an Ultradeck since 2017 played lots of different cartridges on it mastertracker, Hana EL/SL, AT OC9XML, SAE LT. Recently decided to trade in an old Grado 2 plantinum I had in a draw for a Sonata 3 and all I can say is the wood bodies are great on this deck. I remember my plantinum 2 sounding good but not like this, highly recommend getting into the 3 series woodies if you are on the fence. For reference my current set is Sonata 3 - Sutherland Insight- Rouge Sphinx V3 - KLH Model 5’s.
Just wanted to say not sure I would have tried it without all the information on this board. Most likely would have instead traded in either my Hana SL Or AT for a retip/mod, both of which are great fits as well. Just love the sound coming out of the Grado right now
Just wanted to say not sure I would have tried it without all the information on this board. Most likely would have instead traded in either my Hana SL Or AT for a retip/mod, both of which are great fits as well. Just love the sound coming out of the Grado right now
Portland Sheriff
Well-Known Member
if you’re ok un-lurking again, do you have any compare/contrast thoughts on Sonata3 v the SAE LT
I really liked the master tracker, but I love the LT. I have no need to make a change, but I’m perpetually curious about what something else might sound like.
bjshawk1980
New Member
Betelgeuse
New Member
Greetings all, new user here. Been following this thread for a while as I picked up a Studiodeck about 6 months ago and this thread has a lot of good information in it (so it seemed reasonable to contribute). I noticed a lot of discussion on cartridges selection, thought I'd chime in with my experience because I did go against the grain.
I read about many recomendations here, and researched some others. I was using an Audio Technica VM540ML (transfered from my broken Pro-Ject 1.2 table), which is an amazingly good performer and all rounder, but you have to align it and load it right. It just sings though when you get it dialed in correctly. A bargain for the price and I don't think it's out of it's league on a Studiodeck.
On my short list were the Hana SL, Audio Technica OC9XML, Sumiko Amethist, Nagaoka MP-500 (trying to stay ML stylus and in the 600-ish USD range). I was leaning OC9XML mostly given prior AT experiences, but many of the reviews elsewhere commented heavy arms could be problematic (although the exact value seems to be in dispute, I read the Ultra/Studio deck tone arm is about 25g effective mass). Regardless, many here seem to use the OC9 series successfully which, while encouraging, was still a concern.
Then I found the Audio Technica AT33PTG/II. Same price as the OC9XML and similar specs, except it's a bit lighter* and lower compliance than the OC9XML. On paper this should be a better match for the Studiodeck arm and (resonance wise) should behave similar to the 540 which I knew worked OK. Strangely though, no comments here about it, and in general reviews are hard to come by. Overshadowed by it's popular sibiling I supose.
(*a footnote - as it turns out the lighter mass is probably a moot point as you must use the long screws and nuts to secure it)
Bolstered by a dedicated thread on the Steve Hoffman forums, I took a bit of a gamble and ordered one. It did not disapoint. As compared to the 540, it's a bit more laid back, a bit more detailed, and a bit more air. The AT "house sound" is there as well, just not quite as pronounced as the 540. If you know what the VM540ML sounds like, this is like that but better. Twice the price better? Probably not, but law of diminishing returns is in effect here. It also tracks amazingly well, as every AT ML cartridge I have tried does - distorsion free even in the inner grooves. To my absolute amazement though, I have a pair of albums made in the late 80's that have never sounded right with nasty fingernails-on-a-chalkboard like shrillness and (for lack of a better word) grain. To put it another way, these records when bought new sounded like worn out records. Rightly or wrongly I've always attributed that to a rushed digital mastering during the (first) death of vinyl, and so they sat on the back shelf all this time. But whatever the cause was, wow did those albums ever smooth out and open up with the AT33PTG/II + Studiodeck.
I'm still playing with loading and VTA and will make a final decisions after more break in. For the time being the arm is level and it sounds perfect that way (some say it prefers being slightly 'tail up'). Loading makes a very miniscule (but noticable) impact. For the time being I've settled on 220 ohms (bass gets a bit sloppy lower and a bit thin higher). Exceedingly happy with this decision!
Equipment:
Studiodeck w/ Generic Delrin record clamp
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II cartridge
Sota Pyxi preamp
Blue Jeans LC-1 interconnects
Denon X3500H (as 5.1 pre-pro only)
Outlaw Audio 5000 amp
GR Research AV-1 DIY speakers
ACI Titan DIY subwoofer
Canair 4S11 speaker cables (custom terminated)
I read about many recomendations here, and researched some others. I was using an Audio Technica VM540ML (transfered from my broken Pro-Ject 1.2 table), which is an amazingly good performer and all rounder, but you have to align it and load it right. It just sings though when you get it dialed in correctly. A bargain for the price and I don't think it's out of it's league on a Studiodeck.
On my short list were the Hana SL, Audio Technica OC9XML, Sumiko Amethist, Nagaoka MP-500 (trying to stay ML stylus and in the 600-ish USD range). I was leaning OC9XML mostly given prior AT experiences, but many of the reviews elsewhere commented heavy arms could be problematic (although the exact value seems to be in dispute, I read the Ultra/Studio deck tone arm is about 25g effective mass). Regardless, many here seem to use the OC9 series successfully which, while encouraging, was still a concern.
Then I found the Audio Technica AT33PTG/II. Same price as the OC9XML and similar specs, except it's a bit lighter* and lower compliance than the OC9XML. On paper this should be a better match for the Studiodeck arm and (resonance wise) should behave similar to the 540 which I knew worked OK. Strangely though, no comments here about it, and in general reviews are hard to come by. Overshadowed by it's popular sibiling I supose.
(*a footnote - as it turns out the lighter mass is probably a moot point as you must use the long screws and nuts to secure it)
Bolstered by a dedicated thread on the Steve Hoffman forums, I took a bit of a gamble and ordered one. It did not disapoint. As compared to the 540, it's a bit more laid back, a bit more detailed, and a bit more air. The AT "house sound" is there as well, just not quite as pronounced as the 540. If you know what the VM540ML sounds like, this is like that but better. Twice the price better? Probably not, but law of diminishing returns is in effect here. It also tracks amazingly well, as every AT ML cartridge I have tried does - distorsion free even in the inner grooves. To my absolute amazement though, I have a pair of albums made in the late 80's that have never sounded right with nasty fingernails-on-a-chalkboard like shrillness and (for lack of a better word) grain. To put it another way, these records when bought new sounded like worn out records. Rightly or wrongly I've always attributed that to a rushed digital mastering during the (first) death of vinyl, and so they sat on the back shelf all this time. But whatever the cause was, wow did those albums ever smooth out and open up with the AT33PTG/II + Studiodeck.
I'm still playing with loading and VTA and will make a final decisions after more break in. For the time being the arm is level and it sounds perfect that way (some say it prefers being slightly 'tail up'). Loading makes a very miniscule (but noticable) impact. For the time being I've settled on 220 ohms (bass gets a bit sloppy lower and a bit thin higher). Exceedingly happy with this decision!
Equipment:
Studiodeck w/ Generic Delrin record clamp
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II cartridge
Sota Pyxi preamp
Blue Jeans LC-1 interconnects
Denon X3500H (as 5.1 pre-pro only)
Outlaw Audio 5000 amp
GR Research AV-1 DIY speakers
ACI Titan DIY subwoofer
Canair 4S11 speaker cables (custom terminated)
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Howdy! How’s that Pyxi working out for you with a MC cart? I think you’re the first person on N&G that I have noted using one.
Betelgeuse
New Member
Thanks for the welcome. I'm probably not really qualified to say how it really compares to other phonostages as it's my first outboard phonostage ever. My best point of reference is the built in phonostage in my old Musical Fidelity A3 integrated with an AT440ML I used years ago (now that the kids are grown my wife and I decided to break out the vinyl again after a ~20 year hiatus). I remember the A3 phonostage to be somewhat bright (which might be more the 440 than the 3). The VM540/AT33 pyxi combination is definately more neutral and pleasing than I remember that combination to be.
As for a non-comparative analysis - my first impression was just how QUIET the Pyxi is. MC doesn't make a significant difference for noise even with the extra MC gain. There is very little hum, some white noise, but you have to crank it up well above normal listening levels to even begin to hear either. The Pyxi plus Studiodeck are almost frighteningly quiet, to the point of just dead blackness between tracks (unless the record needs cleaning ... LOL). Since I got this at the same time as the Studiodeck it's hard for me to know if it's the Studiodeck or the Pyxi that is responsible for that. I suspect it's some of each.
The Pyxi, if you were not aware, is based on a DIY project that has turned some heads (there are a few threads over at audio karma, I believe). I had plans to build it, but then Sota started selling it not quite a year ago. As a 'no fuss' solution for the price and reputation it seemed like a bargain so I jumped in shortly after it was released. MM/MC are selected from a front panel toggle switch, which I understand only adjusts the gain of one of the internal stages, otherwise the signal path is the same. It seems equally competent with either MM or MC. The input loading can also be adjusted over a wide range to accomodate either MM or MC. Unfortunately that does mean the adjustments are rather course (but the choices given seem to be well thought out).
My only nit, which I didn't realise when I bought it, is the MM gain is fixed at 45dB and MC is 65dB. It really wants to see cartridges with 2.5mV MM / 0.25mV MC outputs (vs 5mV/0.5mV that seems more common). That makes for a rather hot signal coming out. The Pyxi seems to handle it OK, but it's annoying to have it be so much louder than any other source I have. I actually started toying with running the AT33PTG/II* with the Pyxi set to MM gain which seems to work out better for my case.
*Another footnote - one of the reasons the AT33PTG/II was more attractive to me was at 0.3mV rated output it seemed to be a better match for the Pyxi. However, upon reviewing it the pamphlet that came with it, it appears this is mistated on AT's website. It's 0.3mV output allright, but at 3.54 cm/sec. If corrected to 5 cm/sec, it's actually slightly louder (0.425mV) than the OC9XML. Oh well...
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Angsty
Well-Known Member
Thanks, @Betelgeuse . I had just read Wyn Palmer’s white paper on the Pyxi design this week which is why it particularly caught my eye when you posted. I’m not in the market for new phono, but I do like to learn about differing phono designs.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
@Betelgeuse - welcome, and thank you for posting your findings! I seem to be further enjoying AT carts, so this is great information. Agreed that the SD is a wildly quiet deck, especially at its price point.
AndreasT
New Member
Has anyone had the chance to hear the StudioSilver MC cartridge? I am rather curious about this one. It seems there have only been a few who have the UltraGold. The gist online is that they are based on the AT-OC9XMl and the At-OC9XSL. The Mofi cartridges do seem to be costly in comparison, if they are based on those.
The mofis are MM and those two are MC so they’re using a completely different method of generating signals. Whilst they may be similar shapes and use similar styli they’re completely different cartridges.