Am getting the EMT 930 with the EMT 139st tube phono amp.
The reason for the shift is because I have never heard an idler at my place and was keen to experience one. It’s not an upgrade as such. It’s more of a different sound signature. The experts say the 930 sounds best with the 139 tube phono. Hence bought it as a combo. The Thoress is a better phono than the 139 but I felt the synergy between the 930 and the 139 might be better.
All EMT 927 and 930 tables prior to 1967 used to come with the 139 tube phono amp. Post 1967, they moved to SS phono amp. While the inbuilt SS phono amps are very decent, the 139 is supposed to be better.
Hi Prem :
You need to
think well-beyond swapping entire components.
We know things today, that can considerably advance the art of in-home audio reproduction.
From my recent thread on " Defecting from Digital ", anyone who is serious and paid attention in 2023 regarding tube RIAA EQ , should have learned some things or two. 'Just from my direct / posted `experiences,
over these last three months.
Three things Prem, immediately come to mind :
NUMBER 1)
Compared to the EMT 139's build-
time era....1969 ish,
resistors have gotten higher in performance . Quieter and better sounding re: timbres, etc.
So : .....
Upgrade each resistor in any RIAA EQ to the best resistors you can afford. ( Not the $200 each
ALL silver Audio Note 2 Watters .) ...................
" you can afford ".
NUMBER 2)
Doubling up resistors - for each stock resistor spot ( employ two resistors in parallel, at twice the original circuit value each, both precisely matched ). This is " almost always " beneficial, particularly in terms of
finally getting lovely resolution of, and having the maximum possible reproduction of ..............the music's originally recorded DYNAMICS.
Doubling up all resistors was done in RIAA EQs,
over 50 years ago, by boutique Phono Builders
in the USA.
My present mentor bought such a phono EQ - made for him. It had a separate ( CHOKE INPUTTED ) power supply for each audio stage,. His Power Supply chassis alone weighed - in at 90 pounds.
You bet ......it had double resistors everywhere back then.
Have we forgotten ?
NUMBER 3)
Use approximately half inch spacing with rigid Brass PYRAMIDs, to THE MOUNTING TABS OF THE POWER TRANSFORMER, in a tube preamp, with it's power supply chassis.
This is the single method known by mankind, wherein we get to hear the
initial razor - sharp reproduction of a struck percussive note. We finally hear fully - musical entries of a Steinway grand piano, etc.
This simple `Brass Pyramid mod permeates
every aspect of music playback in any tube RIAA EQ. Sadly, we are simply " Out To Lunch " if our tube phono preamp does
not employ this.
The simple fact is, no one builder gets everything right. If you want the best result, you often have to modify what was made .............to get it - to where you are happy. Brass Rigid Pyramids are simply a no - brainer. Absolutely lovely, if all else is also up to snuff.
Well, have fun searching Perm. ' You ever travel to Kansas City, USA ???
