mrdon
09-10-2007, 07:27 AM
Like many forum members I really do love this cartridge for the price, but like all things it has its drawbacks - such as the "tipped-up" highs. While I am in-between jobs, I've had time to experiment and see if I could tame the 440MLa. I was not very successful with cartridge loading solutions. Instead, I have found 3 other "remedies" I would like to share with my fellow SH forum members.
1. First, if your phono stage or preamp uses Telefunken 12ax7's as input tubes (V1 position) you may want to think about replacing them with tubes that would be characterized as sounding "warm, rich, and smooth," like RCA's or Mullard's. I had Tele's in my preamp and yes, I am aware that Tele's are the holy grail to some (including our esteemed host). Nevertheless, in certain circumstances where a component is known for a detailed and crisp presentation, Tele's may not be the best match with the AT440MLa; that is, unless your amps and speakers are extremely warm on the muddy side or your hearing is shot from all those rock concerts you went to over the years.;)
2. Second - I was recently reading a July 1990 Stereophile article written by J. Gordon Holt titled Tweaking your Record-Player (http://stereophile.com/reference/170/). In article he discussed how different platter mats affect the sound of a TT. He says A platter mat will tend to sound the way it feels to the touch. A relatively hard, stiff material will reflect a lot of energy back to the disc, making the sound crisp and detailed or, if you don't like it, hard and analytical. A soft, rubbery mat will make the sound richer and warmer—that is, "more musical" if you like what it does, or "less lively" if you don't. Considering the AT440MLa is already "crisp and detailed," one needs to find a mat which on the softer side. One mat I tried with great sucess is a DIY favortie called the Spotmat #10 (http://www.theanalogdept.com/spotmat_10.htm). In my version, I used cork spots instead of the foam ones as suggested in the recipe. Putting this on the platter made a dramatic improvement to the AT440MLa. To my ears, it didn't necessarily tame the highs as such but rather put more emphasis on the mids which distracted my ears away from the crisp highs of the AT440MLa.
3. Continuing with Holt's article, he says that dampers and spikes can also modify the sound of a turntable. I originally had my TT on a child's bicycle inner tube but swtiched it out for four shiny brass cones on brass discs. This really tightened things up but drew my ears back to the crisp highs of the AT440MLa. I then placed some cork circles on the bottom of the brass discs and the crispness was relaxed and the mids came back.
1. First, if your phono stage or preamp uses Telefunken 12ax7's as input tubes (V1 position) you may want to think about replacing them with tubes that would be characterized as sounding "warm, rich, and smooth," like RCA's or Mullard's. I had Tele's in my preamp and yes, I am aware that Tele's are the holy grail to some (including our esteemed host). Nevertheless, in certain circumstances where a component is known for a detailed and crisp presentation, Tele's may not be the best match with the AT440MLa; that is, unless your amps and speakers are extremely warm on the muddy side or your hearing is shot from all those rock concerts you went to over the years.;)
2. Second - I was recently reading a July 1990 Stereophile article written by J. Gordon Holt titled Tweaking your Record-Player (http://stereophile.com/reference/170/). In article he discussed how different platter mats affect the sound of a TT. He says A platter mat will tend to sound the way it feels to the touch. A relatively hard, stiff material will reflect a lot of energy back to the disc, making the sound crisp and detailed or, if you don't like it, hard and analytical. A soft, rubbery mat will make the sound richer and warmer—that is, "more musical" if you like what it does, or "less lively" if you don't. Considering the AT440MLa is already "crisp and detailed," one needs to find a mat which on the softer side. One mat I tried with great sucess is a DIY favortie called the Spotmat #10 (http://www.theanalogdept.com/spotmat_10.htm). In my version, I used cork spots instead of the foam ones as suggested in the recipe. Putting this on the platter made a dramatic improvement to the AT440MLa. To my ears, it didn't necessarily tame the highs as such but rather put more emphasis on the mids which distracted my ears away from the crisp highs of the AT440MLa.
3. Continuing with Holt's article, he says that dampers and spikes can also modify the sound of a turntable. I originally had my TT on a child's bicycle inner tube but swtiched it out for four shiny brass cones on brass discs. This really tightened things up but drew my ears back to the crisp highs of the AT440MLa. I then placed some cork circles on the bottom of the brass discs and the crispness was relaxed and the mids came back.