Nick wrote:Back to somewhere near the topic, there is a question I have from your conclusions Bunsen, "and the SP10 is grey and CD like." I think I can see where you are coming from here, but I am interested if you would expand on the CD like parts?
The gray aspect I suspect is a matter of patterning equipment, especially phono stage, and one persons grey might be anothers neutral.
It was a group test at my house
My PL-71 with SPU gold
I Should Coco's slate plinthed SP10 and magic cartridge
Per Sony Fieds LP12 with a different sub chassis (forgot the name)
And a Torlyte plinthed 401 (forgot the forum handle of the owner)
Phono stage was an nva Phono2 in all cases as ISC valve stage was microphonic and noisy (but was very musical).
The Pl-71 was the best alrounder, the SP10 sounded like the best CD player I had ever heard, but I think the detail and information was more the cartridge, that Audio Note ltd is astonishing. But the turntable was making it a bit grey and lacking musical colours. The 401 was like an east end tart, big and brassy, a bit rough, but always fun, got a bit let down with classical interpretation though. Definitely the best 401 I have ever heard. Worth owning one for the sheer fun of it. Finally the LP12 was the best one I have ever heard but it was still an LP12, and came last!!
So the point for me is musical colour and character, good TTs give it good CD doesn't. CD is arguably more accurate on a technical level, but it doesn't give the feel or fun of a performance, and I felt the SP10 leaned that way in presentation. You could say the SP10 and the 401 were on opposite corners of this musical parameter.
If my old 1210 had been there even with the SPU it would have come last even to that particular LP12.
EDIT - remembered it, the LP12 chassis was a Sole, does that ring any bells?