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Path: utzoo!utcsri!utai!utflis!molnar
From: molnar@utflis.UUCP (Tom Molnar)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Spring cleaning Preamps
Message-ID: <141@utflis.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-May-85 12:14:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: utflis.141
Posted: Wed May 15 12:14:03 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 01:32:26 EDT
Reply-To: molnar@utflis.UUCP (Tom Molnar)
Distribution: net
Organization: FLIS, University of Toronto
Lines: 40
Keywords: Old preamps, Oracles, CD players

[..]

It has been almost a year since I have last listened to my sound system,
but now that I have the time, I would like to ask Audiophiles a few questions. 

After purchasing Stax Sigma ear speakers, I noticed a significant
difference in the clarity of the sound when bypassing the preamp
section of my Luxman tuner amplifier (model: R1120A).
The source I am using is an Oracle Delphi turntable with a SAEC WE407
arm (Stax head shell), Fulton cables through the arm, SAEC cable to 
prepreamp, and a Dynavector Ruby Cartridge.

Years ago (two or three) bypassing the preamp section did not result in
such a significant difference. Could it be that the Stax ear speakers
are so superior to my old ADS L910s? Or could it be that the preamp
pots have become soiled (volume control, tone controls etc)?

I have purchased the Cramolin contact cleaners ($50 for two cans of spray??!!)
and cleaned all the external contacts I could reach. The sound did improve
(I think, or are my ears trying to justify the money spent on Cramolin?)
but I was wondering if anyone had bothered to clean the pots inside a
preamp, and if they had, what precautions should be taken?
My Luxman is 5 years old now, but it still sounds acceptable. Rather
than suggestions to trash the unit and buy a newer unit, I'd appreciate advice
on how to spring clean the unit.

One final question: Any Oracle/Linn/similar owners out there compared
good quality CD players with one of the above turntables (with a good
mc cartridge such as the Koetsu or Diamond etc.)?  What are your opinions?
For convenience sake, I am contemplating the purchase of a good CD unit....
The discussions I have read so far (and I have only been able to read
three weeks worth of net.audio) seem to indicate that high end analogue
just might still "sound" a little "better"  than CD units (I find it hard to 
qualify "sound" and "better" with more descriptive terms).

				Thanks for reading this far,
						Tom Molnar
-------
"I've stopped listening to trains and cannon shots, and started listening
 to the music..."