DCC Archive Madman Across The Water, more or less...

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by pigmode, Oct 28, 2001.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. pigmode

    pigmode Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    HNL
    It's the Rocket remaster with the CD painted to look like a 45. Pretty good actually, except for one thing: the title cut has some really nasty bass distortion. It basically renders the song unlistenable and the CD a dissapointment despite everything else. The MFSLs go for outrageous prices, so I wonder if there are any alternatives?

    Also, I'm looking for a Bood Sweat & Tears CD, and was wondering about the Mo-Fi ver.?

    I noticed two sealed DCC No Dice CDs went for 15 and 20 plus change today on eBay. It pays to keep an eye on eBay, as stuff does slip through at low to normal prices occasionally.

    chiao
     
  2. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Steve's version of "Madman" on 180g LP was fantastic, the MFSL sounds good, but I liked the Polydoor version the best on CD, IMO.

    I've heard the most recent Legacy issue of BS&T was the best going, although I tend to grab my <-360-> Columbia LP for the most part. I do still have the older stock CBS CD and it sounds great, even still...
     
  3. pigmode

    pigmode Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    HNL
    Thanks, I've got to get a copy of Steve's LP. That record is really important to me.

    I think I need to be more selective on my CD purchases till I get my new turntabe. I need to dust off the vinyl collection and find out where it stands.
     
  4. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Heavilly recommended: A Rega Plantar 3, or a Rega Plantar 25. the RB300 arm is a godsend, and the people who support the Rega stuff in the US, Lauremann Audio Imports, are great people, and stand behind the product 100%. Check Audioasylum.com for opinions on the Plantar line. Possibly the best money I've spent ever, and I've only had one for a year.
     
  5. Unknown

    Unknown Guest

    Plantar? Like the peanut or the wart?
    :D
     
  6. Unknown

    Unknown Guest

    I still seem to be in the minority on this one (for reasons that aren't clear to me), but I think the Rocket remasters suck. That is, assuming they all sound like the GYBR that I sold after I heard the MoFi and Steve's stuff from the DCC GH.
     
  7. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    I can't say much about the Elton John comparison except that the UD1's I own sound great and so does Steves E.J. G.H. just different from each other. B.S.&T s/t on UD1 sounds very vinylish and Bros. and Sisters is no slouch either IMHO.
     
  8. pigmode

    pigmode Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    HNL
    I've pretty much decided on the P3. I guess it doesn't have a strobe and a means to adjust the speed right?
     
  9. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Never. You'll never have to worry. The motor is rock solid, as is the design. You can download a stobe disc from the net, but they're constructed to be sound, musical instruments, those Regas, and not an inch to fool with, except weight and skate adjustments, which are so simple, they border "automatic". The instructions are a few things on one sheet, and you won't need much else, even for more inquiring minds. They try to use as few moving parts on everything for the Plantars. You'll soon understand why the design is the way it is, and you'll love your vinyl much, much more.

    To add though, there are many Rega mods and "upgrades" but you should stay clear of most of them unless you are really itchy to change the original sound, which many people believe is the best. Get a good cart too, at least a Bias. The better cart going on it is the Dynavector 10X4, or for $100 less, a Elys or Super Elys.
     
  10. JPartyka

    JPartyka I Got a Home on High

    Location:
    USA
    I second this emphatically. I bought a Planar (no "T," Sckott!) 3 about eight months ago and I've listened to CDs only about 15 percent of the time since. It's awesome ... and Sckott's right about the Dynavector 10x4 cartridge ... it's a match made in analog heaven. It lists for $350 but I found mine for $225, shipped ... shop around, and don't order online -- CALL people, you can get better prices.

    Sckott, has your RB300 been fixed yet?
     
  11. Unknown

    Unknown Guest

    Some Regas are reported to run fast. See audioreview.com.

    I don't know anything about this firsthand.

    In the meantime, my Linn is in pieces as I affix a sheet of mumetal to the underside of the top plate.
     
  12. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Yes, Jeff and thanks for the rec's as they did a fantastic job with the arm. The basically replaced the elbow fulcrum and rewired it. The 8MM bolt goes in against a very sensitive ring bearing, then glued in with a kind of nail-polish type adhesive. The only people who have the tools tweeked to replace the bearing is Rega in the UK according to Bill there. He said "it's a hit or miss situation, and it's gotta be done right the first time, and we don't have thier kind of torque wrench and parts - but I have a used base and can put the rest of the arm assembly together for $75"

    It looks and performs like new. I woulnd't have known they replaced the base. Not a scratch.

    Sorry for the mispelling of "Planar". And FWIW, my motor does not run fast - ever. I have never turned my head to wonder with suspision, and even put a strobe disc on it to verify. You can get replcement motors, but lately, SOME MC carts are supposed to be so sensitive, they pick up the hum of the motor when the cart gets closer to the center of the record. Again, I do not experience this one bit. The Planar 3 is in the audiophile top 5 of the best bargains ever, considering many of the tables that can be compared in its class are upwards of a grand and up. You may never buy another turntable again.

    [ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: Sckott ]
     
  13. Unknown

    Unknown Guest

    The humming problem is due to unshielded motor + unshielded cartridge. You usually see it with Grado MM carts (I don't know about MC). ARs and Regas are known for this.

    The fix is some mumetal. I had this sheet gathering dust, as I got it for my AR restoration and never used it. For whatever reason, my Linn has been picking up hum, and it gets worse when the cartridge is above the platter.

    Ergo, I am taking the Linn apart and putting this nice sheet of mumetal on the underside of the top plate.

    Regarding the Rega, if it works great for you, great. But there are some downsides:

    -many people have reported the motor running fast
    -lack of isolation
    -lack of VTA adjustment
    -manual switching from 33 to 45

    I'm not saying the Rega is a bad choice, but it pays to be informed. There are other good, inexpensive tables as well. (Not that anyone listens to what I say anyway.)

    Here's the link to audioreview:
    http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/manufacturers/817/
     
  14. pigmode

    pigmode Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    HNL
    I'm chomping at the bit already. I finally went through my vinyl inventory after all these years. A lot of stuff got thrown out, but I guess it could have been worse.

    I want to start ordering some LPs, but common sense tells me to wait. What are your experieces with warps and such with mail-ordered records?
     
  15. JPartyka

    JPartyka I Got a Home on High

    Location:
    USA

    When I got mine (used), the motor did run just slightly fast, but I was able to fix this with some tweaking. No biggie.

    As for isolation ... not a problem as long as it's on an appropriate rack. (It's true that Regas are VERY picky about where they're placed.)

    VTA adjustment isn't easy but can be done (at least when one wants to raise the pivot point) with shims under the tonearm base. I have a 2mm shim under mine as is recommended for the Dynavector 10x4 cart I use.

    Patrick does have an excellent point about the pain-in-the-butt 33/45 switching. You have to stop the table and remove the platter ... makes me miss my good old Luxman direct drive (which had a trusty 33/45 switch, plus a built-in strobe and speed adjustment dial)!

    After all that, I can say I'm really thrilled with my Rega Planar 3 ... but I do eagerly anticipate the day when I'll be able to step up to something even better.

    [ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: Jeff Partyka ]
     
  16. Unknown

    Unknown Guest

    I should add that the problems I mentioned (outside of the 33/45 thing) can be fixed, as Jeff said. I guess it's a question of whether you want to go the effort of installing shims, and so forth. Incidentally, I used bicycle headset spacers and washers to adjust VTA when I had an RB200 on my old AR.

    My Linn, like the Rega, has no suspension to speak of. As to how much of a problem this is -- that's obviously going to vary hugely from person to person depending on where you live and where you place the table. It's been a big problem for me, personally.
     
  17. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    There's a reason for that motor that goes a simple single speed. Again, it's simplicity to a letter that makes the turntable, technically... not operationally. Sorry to disagree, but it's the same philiosphy about less moving parts and moving joints as possible. That's what makes the arm and table so desireable. Although, some people take the RB300 arm to an acrylic "DIY" type table or something similar.

    You lazy butts. Can't lift a glass platter? Where should I mail the vitamins? [​IMG]
     
  18. Dan

    Dan Senior Member

    Location:
    WNY
    I have both BS & T on MOFI. Both sound good.
    The s/t album has a bit of tape hiss but the stereo imaging is fantastic!
     
  19. Unknown

    Unknown Guest

    Uhhh...aren't you the same guy who, on the "SACD" thread, said not to worry about the additional parts involved in a carousel changer vs. a single disc player????? :confused:

    BTW, I play about one 45 every three years, so I don't care one way or the other about what's involved in making the switch.
     
  20. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    I agree it sounds very strange and hypocritical, but vinyl playback is a heck of a lot more sensitive microphonically, and I too was a big doubt-monger about the musical-ability of the arm of the RB300, and what it involves.

    With CD playback, the carosel itself merely transports the disc to the lift, and that section is built so differently from CD player to CD player, if you wanna get right down to it, single-draw Cd players (no matter what you pay for them) mechanically can be just as elaborate as some changers.

    Some people go for designs that employ a better dampening effect, almost doing away with any clamp-style CD players (which are hard to get away from) because of the clunky mechanical top-hub, usually magnetic or merely a weight that holds the CD down on the spindle. I think the new Sony SACD players, you screw-on the metallic top hub to the spindle like the record clamps on turntables.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine