Technics SL1200GR2 with VM740ML cart.... which ADC and phono stage?

[Allsop]

There is no point getting a table with built in pre amp - and then trying to use it with an external phone pre. That will never work.

Just use a standard preamp, rather than a phone preamp to get volume control. Or even just a passive volume control.

yes I know this now. The dealer really should have told me but did not.

 

[antcollinet]

yes I know this now. The dealer really should have told me but did not.

Yes they should.

 

[Allsop]

That's my recording/measurement setup too
The USB converter should arrive today.

I connected the Waxwing via an optical connection. My remote Bluesound HUB forwards the 96/24 signal to my NAD M33.
The power supply for the Waxwing currently runs via the HUB. When I get the chance, I'll power the Waxwing and HUB with a battery. This option and the optical signal connection mean that interference can be prevented as far as possible.

View attachment 388909

Nice!

I note you have what i assume is an optical cable. I have not ordered one yet. Is there any recommendations?

thanks

 

[antcollinet]

Nice!

I note you have what i assume is an optical cable. I have not ordered one yet. Is there any recommendations?

thanks

It doesn't matter much. I've never had one that didn't work, and if you get one that doesn't it will be instantly obvious (pops/clicks) and you can return it.

I just purchased this - because I needed the 10m length and I needed the flexibility to go through corners in trunking. It works fine. Completely unknown brand, and as cheap as chips.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F9P6SG6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[Allsop]

It doesn't matter much. I've never had one that didn't work, and if you get one that doesn't it will be instantly obvious (pops/clicks) and you can return it.

I just purchased this - because I needed the 10m length and I needed the flexibility to go through corners in trunking. It works fine. Completely unknown brand, and as cheap as chips.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F9P6SG6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Perfect, I overlooked this so it is great to get that sorted out! Thank you

Just need it all to be delivered now I cannot wait

 

[tcpip]

yeah that looks amazing but way out of my reach, £500 for the waxwing is pushing it but doable.

I've also learned of one more option from replies I got here. It's less expensive than even the Waxwing. It's the Wiim Ultra. It offers a USB output, and it has an ADC. It also has a phono input, if you don't want to use a better phono preamp. So, in the simplest setup, you can feed your MM cart output straight to the Wiim Ultra, and pull data out over USB. It won't do 32-bit AD, I'm quite sure, though.

And just ONE MINUTE AGO, I discovered another option, affordable, now shipping. https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/adept Seems like the dream item for all vinyl digitisers.

 

[markstein]

Interesting new product.

Feature wise the Waxwing is a much nicer package though.

 

[tcpip]

Interesting new product.

Feature wise the Waxwing is a much nicer package though.

Yes it is. Other than the (probably) better THD and SNR of the MiniDSP, the Waxwing seems to win on almost all fronts. I was so disappointed when I realised that the MiniDSP does not expose any of its DSP chops for the user to tune the sound. It has DSP but it only uses for its own pre-decided curves and tweaks. And it does not have LX crossfeed, or any attempt to do pop-click removal. I found it disappointing -- opportunity wasted.

 

[pogo]

The miniDSP only has 4 presets. That would be too few for me. Only L/M/H are offered as analog gain stages and position H would be too low for my LOMCs. You would have to use the digital gain here, which can also be used for the intermediate values. The Waxwing, on the other hand, offers an analog gain in 1dB steps before the ADC.