I just picked up a Darlington Labs MP7B and really like it. I like it so much I’m thinking of returning it and getting the MP8B model and calling it quits on phono pre amps for a while. Need to research the differences between the 2 products.
MoFi UltraDeck / StudioDeck Owners and those interested
- Thread starter AnthonyI
- Start date
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
You would not be the first.
Splunders
Well-Known Member
Manley Chinook. Very happy with it.
Portland Sheriff
Well-Known Member
Elac PPA-2 that I love (as noted earlier today in this thread and previously in other threads), and that will be for sale in 4-5 weeks at a good price for N&G folks bc (also as noted here earlier today) I’m interested in trying new things.
Just ordered Darlington MP8B this afternoon with tax refund $.
Just ordered Darlington MP8B this afternoon with tax refund $.
r0ck33
Member
So this happened today. Couldn’t pass up the deal I got on it so seeing how she sounds compared to the Opus3. Using my UHQR kind of blue for reference and I have to say I’m impressed. Not impressed with how long it took my to set up. My skills are slipping.
Slimwhit33
Well-Known Member
Once I get this speaker situation sorted, my next step is a new cart.. my Master Tracker has about 150 hrs and I’m thinking of going the MC route. Hana M series high on my list.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
The Hana ML has been in my system for a year - it’s not going anywhere until the stylus is spent.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
I have a Hana SL on my Traveler - love it. I actually think it made a better match to the Traveler than the ML did. The ML works better on my Luxman, though.
displayname
Well-Known Member
r0ck33
Member
Picked up an UltraPhono to use with my StudioDeck and really happy with it.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
I do have a Sutherland Insight for sale in the “Buy, Sell, Trade” forum if you are looking.
I have a Jolida JD9, very happy with it but may be the next component to upgrade, after the Hana SL I'm already working on.
I'm intrigued by the Sutherlands, although I'd like to stay in the Synthesis Roma (my amp) family. Their phono stage is crazy expensive though.
I'm intrigued by the Sutherlands, although I'd like to stay in the Synthesis Roma (my amp) family. Their phono stage is crazy expensive though.
Betelgeuse
New Member
Sota Pyxi. Read a couple nice reviews of it and for the asking price I figured it was worth a try. Generally pleased and seems very transparent (which can be a fault, depending on the record). I would like it better if the gain was adjustable. Its pretty "hot" and suspect it's clipping/limiting on loud passages.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Probably your best buy for $300 for a MM/MC phono. Known to have limited headroom, though.
Slimwhit33
Well-Known Member
Love the way light reflects off this table… 
So I have a couple of options to purchase the Hana SL, either new or used. Before I pull the trigger I would like to hear the opinion of who has longer experience with the Ultradeck.
My previous table had removable headshell, and I swapped cartridges quite often. I'd like to go the MC route, sold my DL-103 to a friend, the only one I have now is a DL-110, which I'm hesitant to mount because I'm afraid it's not going to be an improvement on the Mastertracker.
I always wanted to try Hana carts, and I read that it's a very good match for the Ultradeck. Should I also look elsewhere (in the same price point)? I'm intrigued by AT-OC9/III on sale new for $549 (half the original price) and AT-33PTG/2, or this Wayne's Audio I saw on USAM: Wayne's Audio
My previous table had removable headshell, and I swapped cartridges quite often. I'd like to go the MC route, sold my DL-103 to a friend, the only one I have now is a DL-110, which I'm hesitant to mount because I'm afraid it's not going to be an improvement on the Mastertracker.
I always wanted to try Hana carts, and I read that it's a very good match for the Ultradeck. Should I also look elsewhere (in the same price point)? I'm intrigued by AT-OC9/III on sale new for $549 (half the original price) and AT-33PTG/2, or this Wayne's Audio I saw on USAM: Wayne's Audio
The Ultradeck and Hana SL go together like peanut butter and jelly man. I can't see you installing it and then being unhappy with what you're hearing. Great detail retrieval, lovely presentation in every regard, looks great on the arm, it even made my wife go "woah" once I got it playing. Only thing I would be interested in trying if I was starting over and didn't already own the SL is whatever new cart @AnthonyI is running, but I believe thats more at the price range of the ML.
Edit: Oh wait, I meant @HiFi Guy
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AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Actually, the Sonata3 is what I'm currently running and it comes in at $150 less than the Hana SL. That said, if things would have played out a little differently I'd still have the Hana in the stable. But I've been on a "limited" waste mentality, and I've had so many carts at this point that I know what I'm looking for, the Grado checked all the boxes..........so did the Hana, with a bit more detail to it without losing that little bit of warmth. It became a +detail | -warmth VS +warmth | -detail comparison and the difference was minimal at best, so we went with what I find more appealing, warmth.
I've been tempted to pick up the SL again, but talk myself out of it because there is no logical reason to spend the money. The Sonata3 and Hana SL are in the same ballpark, literally standing next to each other, lol. The Hana is my fave MC cart, the Sonata my new fave MI cart.
I'd like to have both at some point, but again, I can think of a few things I could spend that money on instead
CORRECTION NOTED
Hi all! Another newish owner here. Bought a Studiodeck a few months ago and have meaning to join here, but kept forgetting.
Thanks for all your tips, advice and wisdom regarding this turntable! It was super helpful when I was setting it up around the holidays.
Now that it's up and running I have to say this is easily the best turntantable I've ever owned. I've owned and restored several vintage tables over the years, but none have compared to this table. Four months after setting it up I'm still in awe each time I use it at how quiet it is! I've never had table this quiet. The vintage tables I owned were good, but it seemed I always had to futz with something when I wanted to listen to an album. I've literally had to do nothing with this table since I put it together. Just throw on an album, relax and enjoy. Out of the box it was setup almost perfectly. I was up and playing an album with a perfectly setup table in an hour. So simple! I just had to adjust the screw on the lift because the tonearm wouldn't go down. That was pretty much it.
The only downside to the table I can think of is it's caused me to spend a ton of money on other stereo components to compliment great sound coming from it. So one pair of Klipsch Forte IV, a Jolida Fusion tube amplifier, Adcom preamp and a Parasound Zphono XRM later and I'm just amazed at how good everything is sounding! Next step is either to buy a nice MC cartridge or maybe upgrade to the UltraDeck, since prices have come down considerably, and buy a not as nice cartridge. Wish I would have gone with an UltraDeck to begin with, but wanted to dip my toe in the water first.
Cheers everyone and thanks for such an amazing source of information on these tables!
Thanks for all your tips, advice and wisdom regarding this turntable! It was super helpful when I was setting it up around the holidays.
Now that it's up and running I have to say this is easily the best turntantable I've ever owned. I've owned and restored several vintage tables over the years, but none have compared to this table. Four months after setting it up I'm still in awe each time I use it at how quiet it is! I've never had table this quiet. The vintage tables I owned were good, but it seemed I always had to futz with something when I wanted to listen to an album. I've literally had to do nothing with this table since I put it together. Just throw on an album, relax and enjoy. Out of the box it was setup almost perfectly. I was up and playing an album with a perfectly setup table in an hour. So simple! I just had to adjust the screw on the lift because the tonearm wouldn't go down. That was pretty much it.
The only downside to the table I can think of is it's caused me to spend a ton of money on other stereo components to compliment great sound coming from it. So one pair of Klipsch Forte IV, a Jolida Fusion tube amplifier, Adcom preamp and a Parasound Zphono XRM later and I'm just amazed at how good everything is sounding! Next step is either to buy a nice MC cartridge or maybe upgrade to the UltraDeck, since prices have come down considerably, and buy a not as nice cartridge. Wish I would have gone with an UltraDeck to begin with, but wanted to dip my toe in the water first.
Cheers everyone and thanks for such an amazing source of information on these tables!
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Welcome to N&G! Always glad to have more Forte owners on here.