All Quiet On The Pt Front!

[tim_bissell]

Not much going on here it would seem.... I've just compared some ripped Vinyl against the original; paths are:

PT1 / Helius Scorpio 2 / AT32EII
Musical Fidelity XLPS
Marantz DR6000 + TOSlink to Mac G5, Audacity 1.39, burned to CD-R
...
TMA CD20 / DAC20
...

vs.

PT Export GTi / Rega RB250 (incognito rewire) / AT33PTG
Audiolab 8000PPA
...
and guess which sounds better?!


Well, no surprises, except I hadn't expected the difference to be so great, with the CD sounding more more muffled and grey. So I wonder what causes the most difference; the PT1 vs. Export? The Tonearms? The Cartridges? The Phono Stages? The Audacity software (I 'normalised' the file after recording)? Or the conversion from CD to analogue in the CD/DAC?
The CD doesn't normally sound too bad with CDs, so my guess is the arm (specifically the old OEM wire), the phono stage and the ADC conversion process.
I'm planning on getting the arm serviced and rewired, so I guess one of these recordings would be a good before/after test!
I wonder if a USB Soundcard like an EMU0404 would be a better bet; plugged into the second outputs on my 8000PPA, and into a laptop for recording.

Anyway, the recordings aren't bad as such, just not as good as the original, and are convenient for when I am feeling lazy or want to flick between pieces...

Just got a couple more LPs today; Jethro Tull or Band of Gypsys -- spoilt for choice!

Sorry for the minimal PT content, I'll try harder next time!

-- Tim

[bastlnut]

hallo,

i bet it is the cheapo Toslink connection that is the biggest contributor to the lousy resolution.
i use iMic from Griffin and the accompanying Final Vinyl software.
the software is freeware from Griffin, you can get it from their website.

you can use any A to D converter with a USB connection to your Mac,
and this will give you the best interface for ripping.
connections are via any IC's you have from any line level output from your amp to the A/D to USB interface/converter.
even the tape out of the Marantz will do.

regards,
bas

[GerardA]

Hi,

I was hoping to rip from my PT Anni too.
But of course in the best possible quality.
Then if the PC/software is OK for regular CD-playing (XXHighend) and the
phonopreamp (Phonclone 3) is ok for listening and recording, the only
bottleneck to me seems to be the ADC.
In a german forum they recommended an ADC from Lake People for 700 euro's. More space and detail....
Maybe I'll make a DIY one to find out.
For the moment I'm using a Terratec Phase 24FW.
It was supposed to have a very good ADC, but if you start ripping a lot of records you don't want to have to do it twice!

[ProfTournesol]

there's been a long thread related to this on stereonet recently. One of the problems with CDs is that many of them are mastered differently from vinyl with more brickwalling, resulting in a louder and less dynamic album. ironically most vinyl albums have greater dynamic range than CDs and so sound better.

[GerardA]

Professor, I tried to find this on stereonet but in what part of the forum is it hidden?

Regards,

Gerard

[tim_bissell]

I can check if the TOSlink/Mac/Audacity part is degrading the sound by recording directly to CD in the Marantz; when I get round to it I'll let you know (although this may belong on the ripping subforum!)

-- Tim

[ProfTournesol]

Professor, I tried to find this on stereonet but in what part of the forum is it hidden?

Regards,

Gerard

Hi Gerard
sorry for the delay. Look
http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/showthr ... -transfers

and
http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/showthr ... unds-worse

and this is a really great book that every music lover should read
http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/showthr ... nd-Forever

[tim_bissell]

After a pause... I noticed my stylus tip was coated in an even layer of gunk (not fluff) so I cleaned it off and re-recorded - an immediate improvement (And I now have one of those Onzow Zerodust gadgets - very good!)

I then moved the CD recorder upstairs and recorded to CDR from my PTE, so I could eliminate the TOSlink and turntable differences, and isolate the CDR differences.

OK, so Vinyl vs. CD recording, the CD sounds a little harsher at the top-end, just not as pleasant and smooth (this is 2009 recording, and a digital mastering). Much as you'd expect.

PTE + rewired RB250 + AT33PTG + Audiolab 8000PPA - CDR
vs.
PT1 + Helius Scorpio2 + AT32EII + Musical Fidelity XLPSv3
- CDR

The PTE recording sounds better; smoother, a bit more space round the instruments and more 'presence' to the voice (sorry, I'm not much good at describing differences).

So I'm going to Vector the PT1 (spare parts for sale as and when!) and put my (ex-Marra) serviced Helius Orion onto it, and see what difference that makes. I would be great if I could sort out a second turntable shelf, but sadly that seems unlikely.

And I'll record onto CDR/CDRW from the PPA for the best sound quality, although I'd like to try a 24/96 or 24/192 ADC/DAC for better recording and playback sometime.