GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Didital Things
In the Thread: Pacific Microsonics Model 2

Post Subject: What was I thinking?Posted by manisandher on: 6/21/2010

Following on from my last two posts, I finally managed to try the Model Two in AD mode. With the Model Two set to 24/4fs and wordclock master, I cannot discern a difference between the source and the source passing through the Model Twos AD/DA. Furthermore, and much to my delight, I cannot discern a difference between the source and the source passing through AD/AES/PC/AES/DA. It's good to know that my RME AES-32 and my 'cheap' Sommer AES cables provide a transparent connection between the PC and the Model Two.

Another nice surprise is that some 16/44.1 files I've recorded from a one-sided 45rpm LPs sound so much better than the CD rips of the same albums. The digitized vinyl files have 'life' - the CD rips sounds 'cold' and 'dead' in comparison. I know that Romy has written extensively about the issue with CD rips, but it amazes me that there can be such a difference, even with a modest vinyl setup such as mine.

In any event, the up-shot of all this is that I will certainly NOT be putting the Model Two up for sale. Instead, I will begin getting hold of as much interesting vinyl as I can, digitizing it and listening to these files. I suspect that this will become my main source of music until more good-sounding downloads become available.

But I have one issue. Using RME's Digicheck software, I can see a fair amount of energy coming off the vinyl right up to ~40KHz (and a gradual decline thereafter). But I'm seeing some periodically varying 'noise' of up to -20dB (!) at ~25Hz. I'm not sure what's causing this. It certainly isn't feedback from the speakers - I do all my recording with the volume set to zero.

Perhaps this is off-topic, but it would be good if someone could just verify if this is resonance caused by using a low compliance cartridge with a 3009 pre-improved. If so, could I improve things by changing to a new plinth and switching to a 3012 (or perhaps a new M2 12-R)? Should I do away with the 103 altogether and get a new cartridge/arm, considering that I want to make high-quality recordings?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Mani.

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