[jfrech]

Hi Jeff, great issue 17.  In your pic of the Lyra Olympus, you have some multstrand leads connecting the Lyra to the SME arm.  What brand are they and do they help over the stock SME leads?  I've always wondered if replacing my stock leads to eek out a lil more music...

Currently I am running a SME 20/2a, SME IV.Vi, Lyra Skala, Purist Proteus Provectus arm cable, Nagra VPS.

Also, I don't have the Nagra VFS, seems like you loved it...I do have the little Nagra cone feet.

Thanks in advance!

[BLS]

I'm also interested in this question. I've got an SME 309 with the stock leads. I did get a great price on the Audioquest Leopard tonearm to phonostage cable. I'm enjoying that.

Of course this never ends, what about the cable inside the arm? SME seems to have solid products but I was so unimpressed with their stock tonearm cable, (It was loose and flimsy) that I seriously wonder about the cartridge leads and arm cable.

I also wanted to ask jfrech how he likes the Nagra VPS? Have you gathered thoughts on how it compares with other phono pre-amps you've used? I love good engineering and the Nagra gear is interesting in that regard.

Thanks and I hope you didn't mind me asking this here.

[jfrech]

Hi BLS,

On my SME IV.Vi arm it has upgraded internal wire, mfg by Magnan.  Hard to say if it's great or not, but the IV.Vi does seem to be a bit better than the other SME arms save the 312s and the V (which the only differerance is dynamic balancing and Van den hul silver internal wire).

I have a buddy with the 312s, and his TT front end is killer.  My guess is the arm, but way to many varibles. 

RE: my Nagra VPS.  It's only about 2-3 months old.  and I LOVE IT.  Holy cow did it bring fun back into my vinyl set up.  I had a all BAT system, VKP10SE super pak, VK51SE, VK150SE's with Wilson Maxx 2 speakers currently.  The Nagra floored me on the transparency, retrieval of stuff in space, and it is just seamless.  Music flows and my toes tap.  Jeff in his current review summed it up pretty well.  For the money, I think it's a steal, you have to really get a Aesthetix Io to beat it, which is where I was headed.  2 tubes vs a pile plus the small footprint and low power usage/heat output.  BAT had me really sold on fully balanced.  I had it from the cartridge all the way to the speakers.  The Nagra isn't balanced, but more dynamic, just as quiet, and frankly more like live unamplified music.  This last aspect, is by far it's strong suit.  If you hear a cymbal live, that's what it sounds like.  Ditto anything else...

My next step is a Nagra PL L or a BAT VK52SE.  The Nagra equipment really draws you in, has no real flaws, very easy to own (low tube cost, low heat, low power) and sound just killer.

I am considering upgrading arms, maybe the new Grahan Phantom II or a triplanar.  I just thought tweaking the leads on my SME IV.Vi couldn't hurt....

[TONEPUB]

The leads on that headshell are SME and came with it, so I don't know what to
tell you there!  I thought they were just standard issue SME!  My other SME arm
has solid leads though..  HMMMM.

As for the Nagra, I'm really loving it too.  I bought the review sample and sold
my ASR Basis Exclusive and couldn't be happier.

If anyone here is interested, I've been using Furutech's tonearm cable for the
SME arms and really excited about that.  Review forthcoming.

Nagra PL-L vs. BAT, that's a tough call.  You will have to listen to that setup,
but I'm suspecting if you liked the VPS, you may really dig the PL-L, especially
with Maxx 2's!  Anxious to listen to what you have to say once you've auditioned
it!

Dave Wilson has a Nagra PL-P (the one with the phono) in his office with
Nagra tube monoblocks and Sophia 2's!  Awesome sound!

BTW, if any of you Nagra fans want a PSA amp, I'm getting rid of mine.  Going
to step up to the Tube mono's one of these days....

[BLS]

My Pathos purchase was temporary as most of my money went towards the TT, cartidge and phono stage. I really am interested in the Nagra gear as a possible upgrade. The Pathos at 70 WPC is a little low power for me.

What's your price on the PSA? How far away are you? I'm in the Orchard area of Vancouver, can I listen to it?

[TONEPUB]

send me an email at [email protected]

lets discuss....

Perhaps I can bring it over one night!

[jfrech]

Hi Jeff,

I had the Nagra PL L home last weekend.  This weekend I have a BAT REX.  Since I am running BAT VK150SE's for amps, I had convinced myself the twice as expense BAT REX would be killer in my system.

Well, it's very good, very hot, definately a step up over my current VK51SE.  Maybe it's not fully broken in.  It's more transparent than my 51se, much better dynamically, better inner detail, more ease to music.

I think I miss the PL L.  It was just more natural, more like life tonality.  Easier to listen to top end.  Better depth and height.  My toes tapped more. 

The only other preamps I think I'd like to hear are the Audio Research Ref 3 and the Aesthetix Callisto.  I know you have/had the Aesthetix, any comments for me?  I don't think I can easily audition these two at home.

All that said, I may just be diggin the Nagra PLL as you say above...And I've heard the Nagra tube mono's.  Wow with the Wilsons.

I am curious on your furatech tonearm cable, I am using the Purist Proteus Provectus tonearm cable.  To me, this cable is just like the VPS...

[woodsyi]

Pretty impressive gear being discussed here.   

Graham Phantom 2 is much more set up friendly than SME IV.  VTA and Azimuth adjustments are so damn easy on the Phantom 2.  I am using the Phantom 2 with Soundsmith re-tipped ZYX Airy 3x on a Teres TT running through an Aesthetix Io2 via the Ag12 cable.  It's a good sounding set up.  I think I will enjoy it for a while.  BTW, ZYX is more "airy" than Rosewood Sig or Ruby 3.  Ruby is creamy and delicate whereas Rosewood Sig is soupy in the good hearty way.  If you go with wine analogy, Airy would be an elegant Chambolle-Musigny; Ruby, a succulent Chateauneuf du Pape; and Koetsu, a chewy Brunello di Montalcino.  They are all good and enjoyable.

Cheers,

[TONEPUB]

Hi Jeff,

I had the Nagra PL L home last weekend.  This weekend I have a BAT REX.  Since I am running BAT VK150SE's for amps, I had convinced myself the twice as expense BAT REX would be killer in my system.

Well, it's very good, very hot, definately a step up over my current VK51SE.  Maybe it's not fully broken in.  It's more transparent than my 51se, much better dynamically, better inner detail, more ease to music.

I think I miss the PL L.  It was just more natural, more like life tonality.  Easier to listen to top end.  Better depth and height.  My toes tapped more. 

The only other preamps I think I'd like to hear are the Audio Research Ref 3 and the Aesthetix Callisto.  I know you have/had the Aesthetix, any comments for me?  I don't think I can easily audition these two at home.

All that said, I may just be diggin the Nagra PLL as you say above...And I've heard the Nagra tube mono's.  Wow with the Wilsons.

I am curious on your furatech tonearm cable, I am using the Purist Proteus Provectus tonearm cable.  To me, this cable is just like the VPS...

Having lived with the Callisto for a couple of years, I must say it was one of my favorites.  It's a pretty even toss up between the Callisto and my ACT2/series 2 from CJ.  The Callisto has a slight touch airier feel than the ACT2, but the ACT2 has more weight and dynamics.

Please keep in mind, we are really splitting fine hairs here.  Both of these preamps are phenominal.

The main reason I sold the Callisto is that it was too much money to have tied up in my second system.  And I didn't want to use it for my main
system because, it was one without remote and also, it took a pretty good expense (about 2 grand) to hand pick all NOS tubes to get it sounding
perfect to my liking.  I have my main system on 12 hours a day, so I'd be eating up those tubes in about a year!

I'll tell you with the BAT Monos, the Preamp I would go for if you don't go with a PL-L (which is very good, but not as powerful sounding as the ACT2, Callisto or REF), is an ACT2 or perhaps even an ART.  I love the ACT2 also, because it only has four 6H30's.  I have four stock sets and two great NOS sets for really special occasions.  It took just over three years of 12 hour a day listening (and some evenings I forgot and left it on overnight!) to go through a set of stock 6H30s'....

Three and a half years later, I still haven't had a preamp in my system that I enjoy more than the ACT2.  The REF is good too, but is going to be closer tonally to your VK-51 and the REX.


I'm really liking the Furutech phono cable in my system...  Extremely neutral and a perfect Match with the Nagra Phono...