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70.59.70.115
would you go with a LO MC or something else? I was daydreaming of a Dynavector 20X2-L. But am open to suggestions in the $1K area.
thanks
Follow Ups:
I would go with the new Audio Technica AT-ART9XA, which has 0.2-mV rated output. I've discovered over the years that LOMC cartridges with ultra-low coil inductance sound better than those with higher coil inductance. At just 2.5-uH, the AT-ART9XA has only one-tenth the coil inductance of normal 0.3 and 0.4-MV moving coils. I'm currently using the AT-ART7 with 0.12-mV rated output and 8-uH coil inductance, but the AT-ART9XA has higher rated output and lower coil inductance so it should sound even better. My AT-ART7 is one of the best sounding cartridges I've ever heard and I've owned the original Ortofon MC-2000 and the Dynavector XV-1, both of which are much more expensive than my AT-ART7 or the AT-ART9XA. Therefore, if your new Chinook can handle a cartridge with a rated output of 0.2-mV, I would not hesitate to buy the AT-ART9XA at a cost of $1290.
You are about to receive a preamplifier/phono stage that is highly flexible. So I would choose any cartridge that suits my desires in a cartridge. The beauty of your situation is that you have practically no restrictions on your choice. With my Manley Steelhead, which has similar gain characteristics to the Chinook, I have gone as low output as an AT ART7, wiht 0.12mV. That's probably the lower limit. (I am assuming you are about to receive the later version of the Chinook that can supply 65db of gain.)
I did order one capable of 65db gain. I currently run a Denon 103r on the Technics EPA 100, and was pondering an upgrade. There are a few I've considered over the years, I've been on 103R's since my Grado Statement Sonata died about 10 years ago.
thanks
Personally, I am no big fan of the Denon 103 or its variants, but I certainly agree it's a candidate, if that is what you like. I don't know how the Chinook allows for load adjustment, but the Steelhead (I own v2.0) allows a maximum of 400 ohms for loading MC cartridges, which is to say when you select the 65db gain setting. I have forgotten the internal resistance of the DL103R, but you might want to consider whether 400 ohms is sufficient in magnitude. (Now I think of it, I recall that many 103 aficionados load them with well under 400R,even though that seems to violate the rule of thumb that says you want the phono load to be about 10X the internal resistance, or greater.)
the chinook is a nice phono stage, will work well with most LOMC carts, including the A-Ts, the benz carts, and Koestu carts. Over the years have owned two of them. Also sounds very good with MM carts, so don't limit yourself to LOMC carts.
I know you are just getting the unit but the chinook is easy to upgrade. If you replace the load resistors with Vishay bulk foil, you will drop the noise floor down even lower. see pic. Same with the bypass caps that are located next to the opamps.
best of luck
Opus 33 1/3
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