Playground for practical listening exercises

[Tony Tune-age]

Back to Black Ash vs Oak. Now the Oak deck is fitted with a Goldring refurbished Troika...

Cool comparison; thanks for posting. Feels like a head v heart kind of choice; precision v passion; original lineup v quality cover band (giving it their all). Tough call - the Troika could do with loosening the reins a bit; the Adikt has been at the stash...

It is a tough call, and perhaps the Troika will settle in a bit more over time.

Cheers

[Spannko]

The Troika has been my all time favourite cartridge, but on this occasion I’m preferring the Adikt.

[Charlie1]

+1 ... give time to Troika, if I my suggest, don't make fast decision ...

It is a tough call, and perhaps the Troika will settle in a bit more over time.

Will do!

Cool comparison; thanks for posting. Feels like a head v heart kind of choice; precision v passion; original lineup v quality cover band (giving it their all). Tough call - the Troika could do with loosening the reins a bit; the Adikt has been at the stash...

Good analogy! :) Let's see what happens.

The Troika has been my all time favourite cartridge, but on this occasion I’m preferring the Adikt.

Yep, the GR-Troika is a bit flat, especially in the bass region. Not too much of an issue on these tracks but I can imagine some music will really suffer.

Do you think it shares any attributes with the original?

[Spannko]

The Troika has been my all time favourite cartridge, but on this occasion I’m preferring the Adikt.

Yep, the GR-Troika is a bit flat, especially in the bass region. Not too much of an issue on these tracks but I can imagine some music will really suffer.

Do you think it shares any attributes with the original?

That’s a hard question to answer. From a musical coherence point of view, the Adikt is closer to the Troika than the GRT, but the Adikt lacks the Troika’s refinement, which the GRT seems to retain.

Have you been able to compare the Krystal to the Adikt on similar turntables? I’ve got a vague memory that you have and that the Krystal is more musical, but I could just have easily dreamt it!

[Charlie1]

That’s a hard question to answer. From a musical coherence point of view, the Adikt is closer to the Troika than the GRT, but the Adikt lacks the Troika’s refinement, which the GRT seems to retain.

Have you been able to compare the Krystal to the Adikt on similar turntables? I’ve got a vague memory that you have and that the Krystal is more musical, but I could just have easily dreamt it!

Yep, i compared them. Both very tuneful but I don't get on with the Krystal in these vintage systems. I can't 100% relax into the music for some reason.

Listening today and this GRT tracks really well, much better than thd Adikt, although the vm95e tracks better than the Adikt.

This GRT has the foot tapping 80s linn/naim thing dialled up to 11. I really don't need to be tapping my foot this compulsively 😁 Just shows there is a balance to everything. Must admit despite the flatter tune I've really been enjoying it. Its a complex world, this hifi game.

Ps Not sure I can ever forgive Linn for stopping the K9 / K18 mk2

[Charlie1]

I'm getting used to the Troika plus it's got a little better. Also sacrificing some timing for tunefulness and using the Lingo 2 now. Adikt deck is still more fun. The oak deck's main bearing has some wear but the black deck has very little for it's age so there's that as well as any number of other differences such as the plinth wood.

Adikt deck/L1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/i533e3d2qfejy ... 0.mp4?dl=0
Troika deck/L2: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bvaxk8o0idiem ... 3.mp4?dl=0

[beck]

Yes, I do think that the GR Troika is a keeper. You have many ways to make the finer adjustments to be fully satisfied with the result. :-)

[V.A.MKD]

Troika is improving ... very good.

[Defender]

I like both and would like to have the musical qualities of both combined. The Adikt is nice and rocky - the Troika more clear and refined.

[tokenbrit]

The Adikt does Pump It Up, maybe a bit too much. The Troika has an undoubted Attraction.
Not sure how much is down to the deck/plinth, and what is due to the cartridge(s) alone.
Hoping the (Goldring-)Troika continues to learn how to party, as I don't think the Adikt will go in to rehab.

[PetterS]

Troika for me

[Tony Tune-age]

I agree, the Troika does seem to sound a little better now. By the way, is the Troika a rebuild through Goldring?

I'm getting used to the Troika plus it's got a little better.
Adikt deck/L1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/i533e3d2qfejy ... 0.mp4?dl=0
Troika deck/L2: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bvaxk8o0idiem ... 3.mp4?dl=0

[tpetsch]

The Troika for me too doing what the Troika has always done, plays the Tune.

[Spannko]

Blimey! The Troika asn’t arf come on! Very nice indeed!

[Charlie1]

Thanks for the feedback folks.

@tokenbrit, agree Adikt can be a little too much in this system at times. I think system building takes a lot of work to get thd way you want it. Maybe it's easier these days as components are more neutral.

[Spannko]

Hear’s the latest version of the Henri power supply compared to the standard Netgear power supply feeding my Netgear GS108T v2 network switch.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B12GI9HKKtzUUEz

[lejonklou]

Hear’s the latest version of the Henri power supply compared to the standard Netgear power supply feeding my Netgear GS108T v2 network switch.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B12GI9HKKtzUUEz

I love that you keep working on this power supply, Spannko! Is that a giant toroidal transformer hiding behind the left speaker?

Sadly I must say that I think Henri sounds very nice, but Netgear makes more musical sense. There is something that's lagging in Henri, like it can't quite keep up with the signal.

[Charlie1]

I hear things the same as Fredrik. Couldn't really get into the rap nr but it was quite obvious on the classical piece at the end. Keep it up though. Hopefully 2 steps forward one step back.

[matthias]

Interesting thread regarding LPS vs SMPS:

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/ ... ngs.33164/

Matt

[matthias]

There is something that's lagging in Henri, like it can't quite keep up with the signal.

I had exactly the same impression after listening to Henri (before listening to the stock supply).

Matt

[V.A.MKD]

I hear things the same as Fredrik. Couldn't really get into the rap nr but it was quite obvious on the classical piece at the end. Keep it up though. Hopefully 2 steps forward one step back.

+1, if I may suggest ... use smaller value caps (lower value ESR) for faster reaction on demand ...

[matthias]

... use smaller value caps (lower value ESR) for faster reaction on demand ...

.......or try a better SMPS. Fredrik uses SMPS in his products as well. There might be a reason.

Matt

[Spannko]

Thanks for your input guys. I’ll certainly keep working on it 👍

Well spotted Fredrik! Yes, it’s a custom wound toroid.

[ThomasOK]

Yep, the Netgear keeps the music together. Sorry Henri!

[ThomasOK]

I'm getting used to the Troika plus it's got a little better. Also sacrificing some timing for tunefulness and using the Lingo 2 now. Adikt deck is still more fun. The oak deck's main bearing has some wear but the black deck has very little for it's age so there's that as well as any number of other differences such as the plinth wood.

Adikt deck/L1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/i533e3d2qfejy ... 0.mp4?dl=0
Troika deck/L2: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bvaxk8o0idiem ... 3.mp4?dl=0

The Troika is sounding good but I'm enjoying the Adikt more on this track. It is the one I go back to listen to again. I certainly wouldn't mind the best attributes of both.