[dkd7]

After playing around with my alignment on the 1200 Mk5, I was narrowing down the settings on the Phonomena 2. I didn't pay attention to the first dip switch for capacitive loading and mistakenly set the loading to 47K instead of 1K.

I listened to a few albums and even the wifey was taken away with Delicate Sound of Thunder. Not sure why it sounded good but I believe this is not the correct setting to use. Reason I'm asking is what's happening when this cart is played at 47K? I'm assuming with the album being live the 47K setting had a positive effect but again I can't imagine I should be over 1K.

The TT was going to the phono pre, then a Yamaha CX-1000, on to the B&K ST-202. I just recently swapped out the CX to my Denon 3300 which I'm now using as my preamp and I can say for certain, the Denon is much cleaner and I suspect because of the aging materials in the Yamaha...I could be wrong but it's definitely an improved sound. I'm using the 3300 strictly as a preamp, not a phonostage.

Gain on the Phono2 is at 57.5.

[Audiovista]

I will guess that high frequencies get a boost and that appears as adding more air. I think that cart needs to be loaded with about 200 ohm for flattest response. That's the theory - what is really important is that you were willing to experiment and have found what sounds best to you.

Enjoy,
Boris

[tomytoons]

Hmm, I would have never thought of loading the DL301 MKII that high. I may try a 500 Ohm when it arrives.
At 1k I was wowed and it just came to life. Depth a seperation was better than the 10X5.
It depends on your system and taste. Amazing the tuning you can do and not always to Mfg. recommendations. You can really squeeze the best out these cartridges.

Right now I have resistors to load at:
20k
13k
24k
30k
16k
33k
39k
36k
These high ones for MM cartridges mostly which I do not have. I use all MC's
So on the way from Mouser
1.5k
200 Ohm
300 Ohm
500 Ohm
750 Ohm
56 Ohm
68 Ohm
75 Ohm
All these lower ones to try with the AT OC9ML II

AND yes, Jack and I bought the bending tool for $5

The 10X5 being HO should be fine at 47k but sounds superb again at 1k.
Ya never know.
You would be losing the best sound unless you experiment.

[neobop]

Loading a LOMC is quite different than loading a HO cart.  Frequency response, top to bottom balance remains largely unaffected.  What changes is, more focus/detail when loaded down and more wide open dynamic sound as you approach 47K.  There's no right and wrong and results are taste and system dependant.  As you play more records you should find a load where the balance between the minimum recommended load and 47K sounds right on just about everything.
neo

[dkd7]

Well, here's the specs on it...I'm sure a lot of you have these memorized but for the thread I figured I would post it.

Output: 0.4 mV
Output Impedance: 33 ohms
Stylus: special elliptical tip
Frequency range: 20 Hz to 60 kHz
Tracking force: 1.2~1.6g
Compliance 13 x 10-6 cm/dyne
Weight: 6.0g

I'm using 5' of Blue Jeans LC-1 from the TT to the phonostage, (I removed the factory technics cables and soldered the LC-1 directly to the board inside the TT), then 3' of Kimber Hero to the Denon, then 5' of LC-1 to the amp. Not sure if that makes much of a difference but maybe we can narrow down the proper loading based on the specs.

I understand it's also dependent on personal taste but wanted to get as much system info as possible.

One concern I have is the movement of the stylus, is 47K a bad thing and can it damage the cart? Just trying to understand fully what's going on with different loadings.

[neobop]

Dkd7,

"Not sure if that makes much of a difference but maybe we can narrow down the proper loading based on the specs."

That's what I was trying to tell you, there is no "proper" loading.  Why don't you start at around 10x the output impedance, or 300 ohms, and take it from there. 

Electrical damping of the stylus isn't a factor, don't worry about it.  With a LOMC you don't have to worry about capacitance either, use whatever cables sound best.  How do you like the 301?
neo

[dkd7]

Dkd7,

That's what I was trying to tell you, there is no "proper" loading.  Why don't you start at around 10x the output impedance, or 300 ohms, and take it from there. 

  How do you like the 301?
neo

I will try again around 300 but I remember it sounding slightly dull around that setting, but this time I will ensure the dips are set correctly.

I really like the 301, would love to try a 103 but I haven't had many carts after getting back into vinyl. I started with the 110 and it was nice, not too bright and had some snap. The 301 just adds the warmth and the mids are smooth, really put a grin on my grill after some hours. Using it at 47K I really think it may have come to life but time will tell.

[raysracing]

I will try again around 300 but I remember it sounding slightly dull around that setting, but this time I will ensure the dips are set correctly.

I really like the 301, would love to try a 103 but I haven't had many carts after getting back into vinyl. I started with the 110 and it was nice, not too bright and had some snap. The 301 just adds the warmth and the mids are smooth, really put a grin on my grill after some hours. Using it at 47K I really think it may have come to life but time will tell.

read my thread on "jonesing a traveler..." for my experiences with the DL103. It had ended (or is continuing) happily and I love the 103 now, but it required confiscating my dad's turntable (he never uses it) and some luck.  Good gawd it is amazing now, but it was so "veiled" on my own turntable.

[dkd7]

Hard to think it's been this long since I addressed this issue but once school was near spending time with the kids was on the front burner.

I made a small error on the opening post, the setting is 50K instead of 47K, not too much but wanted to clarify.

What can I put on the TT to test for any high frequency anomalies using the 50K settings? While judging by ear is ideal, I'm curious if there is a more scientific method.  When I keep reading of people being happy from 150K to 500K, one needs to suggest that if my hearing isn't going... there must be something I'm missing.

[neobop]

The  Phenomena 2 has a setting for 50K ?  Doesn't make much difference anyway.

Playing music is the best way to test it.  You could get a test record with frequency sweeps, but what would you do with it?

Trust your ears.  Other people don't have your conglomeration of components.  Didn't your wife marvel at the SQ?  Women usually have better hearing than men.  How do other sources sound, is there a difference in balance?  Change the wires and it will sound different.  Think it could sound better?
Plugged into an aux input on the preamp, rather than a tape input? 

If you have a setting for 20 or 30K you could try that, but if it sounds good on a wide variety of records don't fix what's not broken.
neo