- Does a phonostage require burn
in?
Burn in can make subtle improvements in the
component function that, depending on the quality of your system and your own
personal priorities, could translate into big improvements in performance. With
rare exception, most audio designs have components, especially capacitors, that
never see a stabilizing bias voltage. These components benefit most from
burn-in. Burn in is the application of asymmetrical signals which have a
tendency to "charge" these components and, for a time, stabilize their
performance. The process should be repeated every 3-6 months.
- Do Record Clamps Really
Help?
Yes. This is simple to understand. When the
stylus is sitting in the record groove, the record behaves like a microphone
picking up sound in the room and vibration from the turntable body and support
system. Clamping the record firmly, reduces the record's ability to freely
vibrate allowing the needle to "read" the groove more accurately. The
improvement is a clearer soundstage and better bass performance.
- How Can Different
Interconnects Improve The Sound?
Part if this is
purely better materials and construction. machined connectors and split center
pins, ensure a more reliable longer lasting connection than more common
designs. Gold plating is more reliable and less resistant to oxidation than
other finishes. The other more subtle part is wire stranding techniques.
Isolating strands and using varying width conductors is known to make subtle
improvements and, depending upon your personal priorities may translate into
big improvements in your musical enjoyment.
- Do Sorbothane Footers Really
Work?
The best example I can give here is my own
experience with our Technics 1200 turntable. With the stock feet and with the
needle on the record, if you tap the turntable on top, very little sound is
heard through the speaker, but if you tap it on the side... A bump.. bump..
bump is heard. When I replace the stock feet with the SD50 Sorbothane footers,
the side tap is just as suppressed as the top tap is. I know that tapping is
not quite the same as vibration from sound, but the result gives me a little
more peace of mind.
- Are Contact Enhancers Worth
All The Effort?
Electrical contacts degrade very
slowly over time. Most audiophiles hear big improvements when they use a
contact enhancement product for the first time. It is best to apply contact
enhancers when you first connect a new piece of equipment. In this way, you
will slow the rate of degradation, and minimize the hassle.
|
| TOP |
