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July 15, 2009 - 11:52am
#1
What am I hearing?
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You DO need to break in the Dyna for a fair comparison. What happens if you turn the volume up with rock with the Dyna? It's probably the more "accurate" of the two and if you want more impact with your rock you'll just need to turn it up.
How do they compare on well recorded vocals? I generally go with this as my most important test. I think, based on your description, that you'll hear more nuance and detail with the Dyna and the Rega will gloss over that a little more, but why don't you tell us?
Dave
You're very perceptive, which makes me think you're onto something.
Yes, vocals sound more accurate and everything is more detailed. This is definitely an improvement, and with orchestral material, I don't see any advantage with the Rega except lower surface noise. I specify "surface noise" because the Dyna otherwise has a low noise floor, even though I have to turn the volume up louder (which says as much about the phono pre, line preamp, and power amp as it does about the cart). As another aside, the Rega picked up some sort of frequency from the motor when it approached the center of a record (and thus got closer to the motor). This happened even when I took the belt off and turned on the motor, and even if the stylus wasn't touching the record (i.e., it wasn't vibration). It wasn't that noticeable, but I don't get that at all with the Dyna.
When I turn up the volume, it almost feels like the sound just goes out, rather than at, you. Maybe this is more accurate, I don't know. I'm positive better speaker placement would help because they are lined up on the long wall, but unfortunately that isn't workable (and I had the same speaker placement with the Rega cart).
I'll definitely allow some break-in time before passing judgment. And for other readers of this thread -- please note that I'm not criticizing the Dyna. Not yet, at least.
or how about the Occams razor explanation.
you dont like the dyna because it doesnt sound as good.
break in..bah. what you hear now is pretty much what you are going to hear later.. plus or minus a little... if you dont like it now, you wont later.
Thank you Michael and others.
After switching back to the Exact and Dyna, and following up on the load issue(something I admittedly know very little about) I've determined that the matching must be the problem. The sound is so dramatically different that I just don't think any amount of break-in will remedy it completely.
So now I'm on the hunt for something to make my Graham Slee work with the 10x5. I have no interest in getting rid of the Slee, but I'd like to see the 10x5 work, because I love the resolution and the way certain instruments just sing. I'll report back.
Another lesson in synergy and a reason to pay attention to specs (and hope the specs are accurate).