Joined in 2023 
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63 About this deal
The Duo seems to be competently designed and attractively priced so I am happy to put it on my recommended list. It’s true that Behringer products can be hit and miss, but we’d call the PP400 a ‘hit’. It’s affordable, and can enhance an inexpensive record player and boost the signal significantly. Not on the top-end of the market, but for home audio enthusiasts on a budget.
Not all records are pressed the same – due to the poor quality of vinyl used, some sound considerably nosier than others. Wear and tear can play its role in reducing the quality, too. With its subsonic filter, the Solo filters out low frequency rumble; reducing distortion and protecting your speakers’ woofers from excessive wear.The THD (total harmonic distortion) is extremely low, and noise levels are incredibly low, leading this preamp to be compared to some models twice the price. The physical limitations of vinyl mean that the original audio signal has to be altered before it can be recorded onto its tiny grooves – low frequencies are reduced in level and the highs are boosted. The curve that governs this equalisation standard was set by the RIAA (Record Industry Association of America) in 1954. My confidence is not high in this test yet but it is something I am going to run in the future until I figure out its limitations/value. Rhythmically, the Alva ST is nowhere near as precise or agile as the more capable turntables from Technics, Rega and Pro-Ject. These five-star rivals marshal each note with more accuracy and authority, basslines are pulled more tautly, while also delivering superb levels of subtlety when it comes to dynamics. They also simply sound more fun. If you’ve already got a suitably talented turntable and really want to hear how good it is, this Cyrus combination is a must-buy.
Been having a good play this morning. As I only upgraded my stylus to Blue (from the Red) earlier this week I’d been wondering whether the Zen has actually had as big a difference as I thought it was. It’s built and specified well, and it makes good on its specification by turning in a low-noise, high-quality performance that plays to vinyl’s inherent strengths. In terms of detail, dynamic headroom and stereo focus, it wants for nothing. That happened to....... In real life it was far noisier in my environment than three other phono stages with a factory spec of ~78dB S/N A-weighted." ----> good point! Of course I will be able to return the product but it will be after I paid customs on it when I received it ): ):Have craving for some good Dim Sum. Nearest place is 35 miles away so I need gas money for that. Please consider donating money using:
The one in red is the same signal now routed through the Cambridge Solo. The measured time now (shown through two red cursor lines) is 1.6 seconds. The 1 kHz 0 dB test tone was at -57 dBFs which amounts to -59 dBu = 2.45 mV pp = 0.87 mV rms. The MC1-S is specified to deliver 0.65 mV, so we're close to that.Some amplifiers don’t offer sufficient grunt. You could buy a new one that does, but it’s likely to be a big upgrade, especially as you might otherwise be happy with your amplifier. So instead, you should buy a preamplifier (or phono stage, as they’re sometimes called). That way, you can get a workable output from your turntable without having to bin off some of your system. Cambridge Audio Duo design – Impressively put together That’s the lot as far as physical features go. There’s a defeatable auto power-down function, which puts the Duo in standby if it’s been idle for more than 20 minutes, and a subsonic filter. There’s a cleanness and a purity of purpose to the way the Alva Duo is turned out – which is oddly, but definitely, pleasing. Cambridge Audio Duo sound quality – Broad, warm character Very little awareness of the subject, I would have to be grateful if I could find here an old model from most of the manufacturers I mentioned above. The smooth, full-bodied performance, coupled with the inclusion of a headphone amp, makes this stylish box certainly worthy of consideration.
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