Did i do a mistake ? | Stereophile.com

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Submitted By: Yiangos

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Location: Cyprus

Joined: Sep 7 2005

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Did i do a mistake ?

Posted: March 17, 2006 - 11:30am

Hi guys

I had a Audiolab 8000ppa phono stage for many years and was quite happy with it,although i never thought of it as something exceptional.Almost 3 years ago,i bought a brand new Tom Evans "The groove" . One i played my first lp,the "groove" still with 0 hours on it and cold,my reaction was something like OMG , i can't believe my ears !
And it was getting better and better through the first couple-of weeks.A few months ago,it suddenly died and stupid me,instead of sending it back to the factory for repair,i decided to get a new phono stage.Anyway,i bought an E.A.R. 324 and my reaction when i played i first lp was something like "on no,this sounds like rubbish" . I know most equipment need break-in time but it wasn't like this with the "groove". Shall i be more patient and give it a few weeks of "burn-in" time or shall i sell it and send the groove for repair ?

Submitted By: Kal Rubinson

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Joined: Sep 1 2005

Posts:

Re: Did i do a mistake ?

Posted: March 17, 2006 - 12:14pm

I would hang on to it for as long as it takes to repair "The Groove." By then, your choice will be clear.

Kal (still happy with his 8000ppa)

Submitted By: Jim Tavegia

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Location: Atlanta

Joined: Sep 1 2005

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Re: Did i do a mistake ?

Posted: March 17, 2006 - 2:00pm

I recall Michael Fremer always talking about synergy between the cartridge you are using and the phono stage. Some stages are mellow and might mate well with a bright sounding cartridge. Kal's recommendation is right on. Live with it a while and do what many of the reviewers do as they write comments down when listening to certain discs. When your stage comes back from repair pull out the sames discs and check that sound with your previous notes. If you really want to go crazy just mention doing a DBT (double-blind test) with the two stages. Read JA remarks in the April issue.

Submitted By: Yiangos

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Location: Cyprus

Joined: Sep 7 2005

Posts:

Re: Did i do a mistake ?

Posted: March 18, 2006 - 11:07am

Thanks Kal

btw,just got the top-of-the-line denon universal dvd player and av receiver.No comments on the receiver (actually just an amp here in Europe) but the dvd is great,especially on sacd)

Submitted By: Yiangos

member

Location: Cyprus

Joined: Sep 7 2005

Posts:

Re: Did i do a mistake ?

Posted: March 18, 2006 - 11:10am

Thanks for your reply Jim
Actually i did not send the "groove" for repair.I thought the e.a.r. would make a good replacement and just needed a kind of assurance from you guys that after the "break-in" period would be better than the "groove". Oh well , let's just wait a few more days and see,i quess !