• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Parks Audio Waxwing measurements

The Waxwing won’t fix turntable/arm deficiencies. It can “fix” a cartridges frequency response to some degree.
My question is about specific 'deficiencies' that can be measured such as:
"high unweighted rumble, VTA, arm tracing error, arm and plinth resonances and so on"

Sometimes we find these measurements in Hifi News as well as the better German magazines. There maybe others.

I would rather have a turntable/cartridge/arm/placement, that does not need Waxwing correction, than one that does. To achieve this, I'm not sure that one needs the top of the line. For example, the latest entry level Linn Magik LP-12 seems just fine driving the Waxwing (or the MC Pro) especially if you upgrade the cartridge. Not sure I need the top of the line.

Perhaps I'm looking for Waxwing enhancement of an already good system, not just 'correcting' faults after the fact..

(Parenthetically the top of the line Linn has a digital conversion option I know nothing about.)

Edit: HIGH unweighted rumble.
 
Last edited:
My question is about specific 'deficiencies' that can be measured such as:
"low unweighted rumble, VTA, arm tracing error, arm and plinth resonances and so on"

Sometimes we find these measurements in Hifi News as well as the better German magazines. There maybe others.

I would rather have a turntable/cartridge/arm/placement, that does not need Waxwing correction, than one that does. To achieve this, I'm not sure that one needs the top of the line. For example, the latest entry level Linn Magik LP-12 seems just fine driving the Waxwing (or the MC Pro) especially if you upgrade the cartridge. Not sure I need the top of the line.

Perhaps I'm looking for Waxwing enhancement of an already good system, not just 'correcting' faults after the fact..

(Parenthetically the top of the line Linn has a digital conversion option I know nothing about.)

Arm/Table quality is very important in my experience. Cartridge/Arm compliance matching should also be considered when picking a cartridge. These things are separate from what the Waxwing can help with. Let's say you have a cartridge that has a channel output imbalance - not uncommon. Waxwing has a "fine balance" that can fix this. Let's say you have a cartridge that has higher than "flat" response in bass or treble. Waxwing can fix that too with its adjustability and you have 24 memories to save for tweaks or different cartridges. These things are totally separate from good table/arm specifications.
 
What turntable is this? Seems like it has a vibrating transformer or something. Or an hum interference,? A 100hz notch filter will also filter the 100hz of the music.
Technics SL-QX300
The interference seems to be within the specification of my turntable. Pickup systems with higher output voltages mask this interference through self-noise, a lower required gain, ...
The notch filter is so steep-sided and I haven't noticed any negative sound effects yet.
 
I cannot see any spec regarding such a behaviour. This is likely transformer vibration, If it has rubber grommets damping the transformer, they may have become hard and do not isolate well anymore. Listen to the plinth with a stethoscope, then you will probably hear the 100hz…
Check the transformer fastening
Depending on the volume you play at the 100hz may not be audible …
 
Last edited:
-56 I Wonder at What reference 3.54cm/s?. My understanding of rumble is mainly lower than 100hz much lower I thought, But is seems the weighted Rumble filter definition goes quite high, A way to hide shortcomings and make turntable look better than they are I guess.


My DD 51F with a vibrating transformer before modification
IMG_2422.png


My BeltDrive Michell Gyro SE
IMG_2423.png

Sorry I could not make pictures presentable in Onedrive view…
 
Last edited:
Wow that ruffled some feathers. Chill.

My main point is: it is a very useful piece of software that (most likely) could be used on any computer. Hiding it inside a scarcely available overpriced box is an atrocious thing to do. They could offer both software and solution-in-a-box but they don’t.

Feathers can ruffle when encountering the idea of organising the co-funding of a programmer rather than purchase a completed proven product. More specifically, astonishment.

> Hiding it inside

You do love strong language!
It’s no more hidden than any code inside everyone’s phone.

> a scarcely available

I wasn’t aware of of a supply problem

> overpriced box

* Very small volume … ratio of R&D to sales

is an atrocious thing to do

as well as the * … that’s capitalism.

If I chill some more, will you become less outraged, and think a bit more about how the world works?
 
I've used my Sugarcube with various low headroom preamps and some pops and clicks are emphasized (distortion from preamp) to a point that the Sugarcube can't remove them cleanly. Using a Spartan 15 turned several of my 'must replace' records into keepers. I'm sure the Waxwing would benefit from a similarly beefy preamp.
I see that SugarCube has a "Just play ticks and pops" setting. If you are able/willing to digitize some samples to share, would you please do that so we can compare?
 
Rumble:
-56dB unweighted
-80dB weighted

The very high gain for my 310MC does the rest.
Is there a particular appeal to chose such a low output cartridges?
I'd suspect it may amplify a number of imperfections like distortions (even if noise is well controlled with noise at 400Ohm input).
 
Is there a particular appeal to chose such a low output cartridges?
It just sounds very good ;)
I'm now one step further and Balle Clorin is probably right. The 100 Hz interference was also present with other pickup systems. When I changed to a simple SL-DD20, the interference was no longer present. By adjusting the feet on the SL-QX300, I was able to reduce the interference by about 10dB. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a manual for this turntable. Perhaps the springs, ... of the sub-chassis no longer have their correct properties.
 
I see that SugarCube has a "Just play ticks and pops" setting. If you are able/willing to digitize some samples to share, would you please do that so we can compare?

Yeah I can do that. It'll take a couple of days but I'll record a few samples.
 
Yes unweighted rumble is best; the lower the better.
It just sounds very good ;)
I'm now one step further and Balle Clorin is probably right. The 100 Hz interference was also present with other pickup systems. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a manual for this turntable.
If you want a service manual try Vinyl Engine
 
Sorry, but due to abuse of our free service, the registration system has been permanently disabled.
While we work on a solution to this issue, the service remains open for existing members only.


I have the service manual, but it does not contain any information about the feet settings, if there are any.
 
going back to what magic does to synth, i recorded the str100 sweep while toggling magic on and off. you can clearly hear when i turn it on because it starts to crackle. this is what happens at times with music. ive primarily noticed this in jazz fusion. there will be times on weather report lp's where zawinul's synths will cause this artifact using magic. its lead to me turning it off. i dont know what it is, but if that could be solved in future versions, id upgrade to a waxwing.
hopefully i created this link correctly so its public
 
Arm/Table quality is very important in my experience. Cartridge/Arm compliance matching should also be considered when picking a cartridge. These things are separate from what the Waxwing can help with. Let's say you have a cartridge that has a channel output imbalance - not uncommon. Waxwing has a "fine balance" that can fix this. Let's say you have a cartridge that has higher than "flat" response in bass or treble. Waxwing can fix that too with its adjustability and you have 24 memories to save for tweaks or different cartridges. These things are totally separate from good table/arm specifications.
Does Waxwing help with warped records?
 
It does not really help with warped records but may decrease noise and save some headroom downstream. Warped records are best handled at the source.
 
I'd rather take a shower first rather than just apply deodorant.
What does this look like for warped records?
 
Back
Top Bottom