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At lp5 turntable, bellari phono preamp and premium cables
A) THE SETUP
Got some time to "test drive" the AT LP5 turntable with related equipment, now that AT LP120 is upstairs out of sight. LP5 not yet in its final location but made sure all was ok, also using a level to make it right.
This is a no frills TT, all manual, no automatic arm return (not must have but nice), compared to the many features on the AT LP120 though more suited for DJ work. It seems less features, along with more money, is what it takes from AT to get a decent tonearm (J-shaped) and direct drive system, plus acceptable cartridge .
The LP5 looks generally well made, but the primary on/off switch is located on the back of unit and somewhat hidden. A secondary one is located near the platter. Since the TT has a rated power consumption of only 6 W (LP 120 11W), then I guess it would be tempting to leave the main back switch on and use only the easy access secondary switch with 33/stop/45. However, when using stop only power remains on all the time as indicated by a small blue light near the secondary knob...
The turntable comes with a pre-mounted AT 95EX cartridge ($90.CAD) whereas the AT LP120 TT came with the AT95E ($70.CAD). So basically the 95EX is a 95E improved for $20. more, and AT says it was designed specifically for LP5 and is exclusive to it. The rubber mat, said to be 5 mm thick, measured 4 mm (the old Technics SLQ2 rubber mat I kept has 3.5-4 mm).
For a $700.CAD retail price (paid less) AT could have provided a cartridge one step above the 95EX in my view. But in my tests it did perform correctly, sounded good, no particular issue to report. The LP5 also comes with a cardboard cartridge adjustment protractor, contrary to the LP120 (on Internet). I checked the cart's factory adjustments, needle ok with the two dots, but cart body a tiny bit off vs the parallel lines it should match. "Jeweller's" work, no time right now, I'll take care of this at the same time I switch the Shure V15 IV from a Technics headshell to an extra AT original LP5 headshell bought with that TT. Low-tracking force V15 IV and others never got near the LP120 tonearm (S-shaped), as explained below, hence why its still on a Technics headshell inside a nice clear protection box they made.
Tonearm friction with LP5 is a lot better than LP120 and setting the correct tracking force is now quite easier/straightforward, like it should be. Interestingly, the older SLQ2 Technics turntable had a tonearm friction specification in the owner's manual (lateral and vertical), but neither LP5 or LP 120 does.
When installing the AT 91 cartridge in LP120 for my wife I had another taste of the poor precision that tonearm offers, staying up or down when a small change is made on tracking force. Arm never seems to be able to move up or down during balancing process, unless one uses a larger mass correction. Screwing around again for way too long to achieve the expected tracking force number. That also led me to purchase a small precision digital scale to double check quickly on the mini B & O scale I use. Shure's SFG-2 more elaborate scale is used for cartridges worthy of it, not for a $40. one as in that case...
The LP5 RCA/GND wires supplied for hookup look better, more so at 24 AWG, than standard cheap ones but I haven't used them for testing. Instead I went with the Ultralink cables from turntable to powered little red box Bellari VP 549 phono preamp (with ground wire of my own), then Monster cables from phono preamp to a stereo channel on the Mackie mixer using Switchcraft RCA to 1/4" adaptors, finally the Digiflex cables from mixer outputs to power amp along with RCA to 1/4" adaptors at both ends.
TT's internal phono preamp was bypassed. The Bellari's adjustable phono preamp capacitance was set to 220pf to account for AT cart's usual 100-200pf plus some for wiring. The onboard 20hz rumble filter was on all the time, and as suggested by Bellari the phono preamp's gain control was set to "0" gain to start with, in absence of further testing done yet by me re that gain control (e.g. hot cart may subtract, lazy cart may add).
The Rolls MOSFET amp used for the test has both RCA and 1/4" TRS inputs but I prefer using the sturdier and more reliable 1/4" connectors (TS here). So that testing installation only is unbalanced all the way (it would normally be balanced between mixer and amp). Even then no noise heard despite some AC power cables being close to RCA cables in that setup. That's what I wanted when purchasing better made/shielded RCA cables.
Next time comments on how it sounds...
Richard
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Addendum to at lp5 protractor adjustment
When preparing the turntable for testing I put the AT protractor on the TT and checked quickly cartridge settings, noting it was a bit off re parallel lines it should follow. No further questions asked to get going...
However, I discovered afterwards the AT protractor's spindle hole is wrong size vs TT spindle which may well introduce some errors in cart adjustment results! Not glorious work from China, and no rocket science.
Turntable spindle is pretty much standardized at 7 mm diameter, same on LPs I checked, but the protractor's hole is a good 8 mm diameter! Meaning the protractor can move a little on the platter while adjusting cart without really noticing it, being busy turning the platter slowly with one hand and putting the needle correctly on the dots with the other hand, also watching the parallel lines vs cart body...
As shown on the first two pics there's quite a bit of loose between TT spindle and the factory made protractor hole on the unit provided. Phono cartridge correct alignment is precision work and its important to get it right to benefit from the cart's best performance.
So I printed a number of protractors from the Internet and double checked the AT95EX adjustments. The next hassle was the punches I have, to make a nice spindle hole in those paper protractors, aren't larger than 5 mm... Then decided to use a scalpel (real surgical precision) to do the cutouts myself for the 7 mm spindle, with no loose this time, though some shade seen near spindle (2 pics). Papers cut on a smooth piece of plywood.
Since the verification using three other protractors (Stevenson's, Shure's and Styli.co.nz, the latter not shown being copyrighted), revealed the cart was well adjusted, but for a minuscule thing fixed. I assume the factory must be using a reliable template when adjusting cartridges in headshells, better than what is given with the TT.
Fortunately, it doesn't change the audio test made, but a waste of time this checking has been.
For precision, the faulty protractor given with the LP5 can't be relied on, therefore another one must be used. And I was initially happy getting a real cardboard one, instead of an Internet paper copy!
Note the spindle hole size indicated on the Styli.co.nz is too small for a standard spindle so it needs to be enlarged carefully. I've also printed the Baerwald and Fluance protractors but have not used them yet. For the wife's LP120 the applicable AT protractor was previously printed and used for cart alignment.
Richard
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Phono cartridges/headshells
Kind of an on-going "musical chair" thing with cartridges and headshells, being short of two shells for the carts I have. Not for long since I ordered two more nicely made AT HS10BK headshells, plus their retail price has dropped from $75. to $50. CAD since my last purchase, that's even nicer. The AT shells are used with the better cartridges and the other ones are on shells from the factory (AT 95E & 95EX) or going on shells I already have, like the universal Technics ones.
I switched the Shure V15 IV from a Technics headshell prior shown here to an AT one (looks good), freeing the Technics for an idled AT 408 cart. More left to do: AT 408 on Technics will move to a new AT shell when I get these, same for Shure M95ED cart now on Technics shell. AT's ATP-3 (DJ) will leave the present generic silver colour shell for a Technics one, while Shure's SC35C (DJ) will get that silver shell (wide/fat body cart on a larger shell), and a Shure/Realistic white cart found will be mounted on the remaining Technics shell.
I've tried various cartridges over the years, not necessarily chasing an elusive perfect one, since there may be as many "references" as there are audiophiles. The carts represent most of what I bought over the years, except the Shure/Realistic, also had a Grado long ago. Many genuine carts or stylus from Shure or AT are NLA or difficult to find, so when the needles for a cart will reach the end of their life, and a proper option is unavailable, cart is out and others still used, for better or worst. Kept the 260 or so LP records throughout the digital craze, no intention yet to let these go, therefore need stuff for that music to continue playing.
Shure having abandoned cartridge and stylus manufacturing mid 2018, the few originals left on the market going rapidly, now one must think "strategically" regarding optimization of their use/needles' life. Using the best ones first until worn-out would mean going downhill later, with only "inferior" ones left to use. Then I prefer doing some rotation type use of the carts to prolong the pleasure with some, hence the number of headshells needed to make this turnover easier.
Google cart searches refer to a number of E-Bay pages, looked quickly at a few since I don't usually shop there. Seen many abusively priced carts, some not in good condition, quite a few with no stylus. I guess people try to make money at the expense of "desperate" LP lovers. A good reason to keep my cartridges.
More to come with pics.
Richard