Angsty
Well-Known Member
Got an email from Music Direct today - now selling the UltraDeck, new without cartridge, for $1499. With MasterTracker - $1999.
MoFi UltraDeck / StudioDeck Owners and those interested
- Thread starter AnthonyI
- Start date
Static Shock
Member
It will interesting to understand what is up , is the UltraDeck also being updated or replaced ?
Made some adjustments to my Hana SL
Overhang and azimuth were slightly off. I can already tell it sounds better. I guess this one is fussier to set up properly.
Imaging and channel separation are excellent. My only complaint is a lot more clicks and pops than I would get from the Mastertracker, and some extra surface noise.
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Overhang and azimuth were slightly off. I can already tell it sounds better. I guess this one is fussier to set up properly.
Imaging and channel separation are excellent. My only complaint is a lot more clicks and pops than I would get from the Mastertracker, and some extra surface noise.
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Do you have a record cleaning solution? Like a Humminguru or something?
Angsty
Well-Known Member
What gain are you using with the SL?
I have an ultrasonic cleaning machine and I also have a Chisto spray that I use with records I haven’t listened to in a while and show a little extra dust. I think I’m doing all the right things to keep my records as clean as possible.
On my JD9, known for having a lot of gain, I have it set on the MC High using hi-out. Not sure what the exact gain is, maybe 70db? I tried lower gain (MM setting) but I would have to turn the volume on my amp well past the middle to reach decent listening volume, normal volume would have the knob at70%.
I know it shouldn’t be an indicator, but my current setting matches the volume level of my DAC input.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
The heightened sound of clicks and pops can also be due to overload in the phono. This causes clipping in the phono amp, creating a form of momentary distortion. Many phonos these days have abysmal overload margins, so clipping can happen a relatively low gain.
70dB gain is probably too much for the SL, which is likely to play best at 55-60 dB gain. 70 dB is ten times more voltage gain than 60 dB. The maximum gain on my Sutherland Insight was 60 dB. I think I ran the SL at 55 dB.
Bob from Florida
New Member
From my experience, the Hana SL likes gain in the area of 60 db. I looked up the JD9 and the gains at different settings are not real clear. Then I looked up the limited schematic info available and I believe have an understanding of your pops and clicks. The JD9 is using the tubes as output devices, not part of the RIAA gain stage. The primary gain is provided by OP AMPS - not necessarily a bad thing. You do miss out on the headroom provided by an all tube phono but probably have less noise. The Hana is a pretty quiet cartridge with the Shibata stylus profile, most likely the overload recovery characteristics are the reason for your pops.
I appreciate the explanation. The JD9 is indeed very quiet.
I know the opamps play a big role, last week I ordered some Burson V5i which are supposedly great in the JD9.
I’m going to try the low output jacks, should be about 7-8db less gain. I also have 6db attenuators I could use on the phono input, but I like the low out solution better
I can’t believe it was that simple!!!
Switched to lo-out jacks and what an improvement! I never use the low because the manual says to use hi-out if connecting to an integrated amp. I only played with the dip switches in the back. I guess the gain was the real issue here.
not only clicks and pops are reduced to an acceptable level, but the sound improved overall, much better bass response and better focus. Loving it!!
Thank you for the tip!!!!
Do you still have this .
Angsty
Well-Known Member
No - I just sold it last week.
Hello. How did you go about setting up the Sonata on your Ultradeck? Anti skating?...tracking force...tools to set the cart on the arm?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
I would appreciate any help
Thank you
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Didn't have the Sonata when I had my UltraDeck, but I did have an Opus3, same setup though.
Mounted the cart first, having a threaded body makes things a lot easier. Used a GeoDisc to align it, connected my cartridge leads and set the anti-skate to the 1st notch, this would be the one closes to the tonearm assembly. Lastly adjusted the VTA and VTF. The VTA on the UltraDeck is easy, but be careful. There is a small set screw on the collar of the tonearm assembly, loosen it WHILE HOLDING THE TONEARM ASSEMBLY. If you don't the tonearm assembly will drop straight down.
Grado have an "odd" anti-skate theory that goes against the norm, so don't be thrown off by my notch 1 comment. I currently have a Sonata3 on my 1210G and the anti-skate set to 1. It's always worked perfectly.
Hope this all helps.
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scorpio333
Member
I used a JD9 for 4-5 yrs. You can also run 5751 tubes in there. 5751’s have 70% the output of 12ax7’s. If you’re curious about them, look for a cheaper matched pair before splurging on the pricey ones. It’s NOT for everyone, but if you want to back the gain off more, they do work.
I actually tried NOS RCA 5751s, and EH 12AT7.
They do work for the gain, but the sound was not as good as the 12AX7 Mullard or the new JJs I recently installed.