[Bill Epstein]

I'll guess that the transformers the Piccolo smoked at RMAF in Jim's post were the Cinemags.



Lo output coils are SO dependent on loading and that's the problem. I think the luv affair with the Cinemags is based on all these guys similarily infatuated with the Denon DL-103 which seems to want 50 ohms which is one of the 3 Cinemag configs.

50 ohms for my Ace is out of the question and 150 has too much gain; the 3rd step is 600, the gain is right but sounds lousy. I thought about adding an 100 ohm voltage divider resistor to the RCA input for 150 ohms to make 250 and attenuate a bit but finally settled on a 25k input resistor on the board. (BTW, the Holco resistor I used sounds the best between that, an AN tant and a Kiwame) That gives me 250 ohms and sounds really good but still leaves the volume pot below 9 o'clock.

The Piccolo is the answer with adjustable gain and loading. Having the ability to tailor the gain and loading to the cartridge has to sound better. My Nova Phenomena does that as well with even more flexibility and it's a day-to-day thing whether it or the Cornet sounds better. Of course, spending $1000 on the Nova with its 17 loadings and 12 gain settings is useful only if you have a couple or nine cartridges. A Piccolo and Cornet for $400 bucks is equal or better and just as flexible. Change 2 resistors in R1xx and have the perfect gain for the main cartridge and leave the other 5 settings for the rest.   

I think I'm sorry now I tailored the size of the Cornet box to the Cinemags. Especially when I have to reach all the way back the full 17" to power it up or down

I'm going back to the Cornet with the Piccolo. The Cinemags go in the parts bins.

[Steve Eddy]

I'll guess that the transformers the Piccolo smoked at RMAF in Jim's post were the Cinemags.

Which post was that?

se

[anumber1]

The thing with personal taste is...It's personal!!

I have had both the CineMags and the Piccolo, back to back, in the same listening session, in my system.

I preferred the CineMags (wired at 1:36) by a wide margin, but...My cartridge is a Sound-Smith re-tipped DL-103!

I am not saying that the Piccolo is not a fine piece of equipment at all, it just wasn't my cup of tea in my system, with my other components (VPI HW-19 MkIII/SME 309, Clarinet line stage, Cornet2 phono, Heathkit W5-M amps and Altec 846A speakers).

The Piccolo is super flexible and priced right, that's for sure. I do wish I would have tried it with my Ortofon MC20 Super as I have not found a transformer that sounds right with that particular cartridge (it originally came packaged with the Ortofon MCA-76 headamp).

The CineMags are far less flexible and aside from the aforementioned Denon, I have only heard a Benz ACE and my Ortofon MC20 though them.

Drop me a line if you would like to rid yourself of those CineMags as I wouldn't mind another set of trannies for my living room rig. (anumber1 at charter dot net)

[hagtech]

Nope, they weren't the Cinemags, which I have not heard yet.  I'm curious how the Cinemags compare to the Jensen.  Both appear to be good choices, but the winding ratios on the Cinemag seems too high (as my loading is adjustable down from 47k).

jh

[Bill Epstein]

I have only heard a Benz ACE and my Ortofon MC20 though them

What'd you hear with which windings set for your Benz Ace? The 150 was just okay but waaay too much gain and the 600 ohm taps, 1:11 sounded dreadful with mine. Never tried the 37.5. You use that one with your Soundsmith?

Having the Nova Phenomena as a benchmark is helpful. It has 30,40,50,59,80,100,121,150,243,280,380,475,660,1,000,2,000,50,000 and 100,000 ohm settings!

[anumber1]

The ACE was borrowed so I was only able to live with it for a week or so.

I used the 37.5 ohm tap and found ACE to be brighter than the Denon but not as "organic" sounding. The midrange of the Benz was quite nice, the Denon had more bass. The Benz also had a wider and deeper soundstage.

I would like to hear a Dynavector 20xL in my system.