"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
Don Pearce wrote:


OK, I've used a V15 in the past on my SME 3009II arm, and I know it
is
a good cart, so I can only think that it is simply a really bad
match
to your arm. I can't think of any reason why two testers -
admittedly
I was the only unsighted one - put them in essentially the same
order,
with the V15 at the bottom.

Did Keith optimize the load capacitance? V15's are pretty sensitive
to this.



No, he just stuck it on the end of the tonearm like all the others...

(What he *did* do later on, was run it into his EAR phono stage which 'put
it back on track', so a bit of research will have to be done in the light of
this interesting little pointer....)



Other than that, my take would be that the V15 being more accurate
than the rest, did a better job of reproducing the audible distortion
that is inherent in vinyl.


I bet you were just *itching* to say that!! ;-)

"Don Pearce" wrote


No idea on any of the above. As I say, my memory of V15 sound is hazy
at best, and the kind of music on the samples was not at all of the
kind which would expose the undoubted strengths of the V15 above the
others. My suspicion - as I voiced it to Keith - is that there was
something amiss. Whether that was a poor match with the arm, or as you
suggest inappropriate capacitive loading, I can't guess. I suspect the
former as my perception was not simply that of a tilted frequency
response, but some actual problem at the top end.



I've kinda/almost tracked it down to my new WAD phono stage. I put it
through my EAR834P last night (same deck/arm) and it was immediately back on
song. (Might be the Colonial Curmudgeon is on to something.....??? :-)

(It actually hasn't been used a lot lately - counting a few 'basket cases'
there are 14 carts here atm!)

See new comparison tracks shortly....

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:46:05 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote


No idea on any of the above. As I say, my memory of V15 sound is hazy
at best, and the kind of music on the samples was not at all of the
kind which would expose the undoubted strengths of the V15 above the
others. My suspicion - as I voiced it to Keith - is that there was
something amiss. Whether that was a poor match with the arm, or as you
suggest inappropriate capacitive loading, I can't guess. I suspect the
former as my perception was not simply that of a tilted frequency
response, but some actual problem at the top end.



I've kinda/almost tracked it down to my new WAD phono stage. I put it
through my EAR834P last night (same deck/arm) and it was immediately back on
song. (Might be the Colonial Curmudgeon is on to something.....??? :-)

(It actually hasn't been used a lot lately - counting a few 'basket cases'
there are 14 carts here atm!)


Entirely your own fault for having a removable headshell - no
sympathy!

d

Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com