YNWOAN
100% Analogue
I think I have this demo unit at my house. I've certainly just been loaned an Arkless modified Cambridge. I genuinely haven't read any of the proceeding thread so, when I plugged it in yesterday, I really didn't have a clue what to expect. Well, that's not entirely true because I have heard a standard Cambridge stage in my system and two heavily modified ones. Unfortunately this is some time ago, when the Cambridge was launched. Since then I have had a bunch of much more expensive and ambitious stages in the system.
So, I see that the previous MM sockets have been reconfigured to act as cartridge loading plugs (excellent idea) and, so far, I haven't configured them to best serve my cartridge (though I intend to and have the bits).
I plugged it in, connected my arm earth and.... Nothing - in the sense of no negative - no hum, very little hiss, plenty of gain but not too much - spot on in fact.
I sat back to listen. Now you have to bear in mind here that I have been in search of 'the best' phono stage for some years now and recently settled on a design called the Paradise, a very elaborate and ambitious design - as a result, my sights are set beyond the natural place of the Cambridge. Nevertheless, my first reaction was to be impressed. Dynamic swing was good, particularly bass which had very good extension and weight. The standard unit struck me as very dry sounding and this modified one seems significantly more sophisticated and developed its presentation. It very much reminded me of the Linn Uphorik, which is considered by many to be good value at 2K.
Negative aspects, well it isn't the last word in stereo focus or ambience retrieval. Also, whilst it's all there information wise, it isn't ordered with quite the level of sophistication that some (not all) much more expensive stages can manage.
Of course, all of this is with the wrong cartridge loading so we shall see how things change/improve when the loading is better matched.
Will update
- but I would already say it is something of a bargain!
So, I see that the previous MM sockets have been reconfigured to act as cartridge loading plugs (excellent idea) and, so far, I haven't configured them to best serve my cartridge (though I intend to and have the bits).
I plugged it in, connected my arm earth and.... Nothing - in the sense of no negative - no hum, very little hiss, plenty of gain but not too much - spot on in fact.
I sat back to listen. Now you have to bear in mind here that I have been in search of 'the best' phono stage for some years now and recently settled on a design called the Paradise, a very elaborate and ambitious design - as a result, my sights are set beyond the natural place of the Cambridge. Nevertheless, my first reaction was to be impressed. Dynamic swing was good, particularly bass which had very good extension and weight. The standard unit struck me as very dry sounding and this modified one seems significantly more sophisticated and developed its presentation. It very much reminded me of the Linn Uphorik, which is considered by many to be good value at 2K.
Negative aspects, well it isn't the last word in stereo focus or ambience retrieval. Also, whilst it's all there information wise, it isn't ordered with quite the level of sophistication that some (not all) much more expensive stages can manage.
Of course, all of this is with the wrong cartridge loading so we shall see how things change/improve when the loading is better matched.
Will update
- but I would already say it is something of a bargain!
