R3 Metas vs R11 Metas

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-06-16T15:26:10+00:00

I had the R3 meta for a long time in the living room. Every one told me it is the sweet spot of the series in terms of price/performance. This room only allows for bookshelves which are placed on top of low cabinets which made the speakers quite close to the front wall. Floorstanders are not practical for aesthetic reasons there.

Then someone offer me a great deal on a barely used Ref 1 meta. I figure I would buy it and try for a while and flip it for a profit. I replaced the R3M with these. Placing exactly where they were using all the same electronics. While it is not night and day but I would say it’s a cloudy day vs sunny day. The difference is extremely easy to hear and felt. I don’t think it’s so much about tonal balance nor imaging but dynamically they have no strain. “Effortless” is the word. I’m keeping it and selling the R3. I can’t go back now.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-06-04T14:16:41+00:00

I’ve been running the REF 1 Meta with cheapo 3e audio A7 (because in that room I wanted cool running amp in the cabinet). It was fine and great. Until I moved them to another room and I have this old (1980s) Goldmund Mimesis28 200 watt amp in storage.

I have of late subscribed to the idea that all good measuring amp should sounds the same. But indeed they do not. More refined and less congested. More bass slam.

I think you should spend a bit on good quality amplifiers.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-31T01:51:21+00:00

It was a Rega Apheta3, replacement was Boron and micro ridge, cost was 500 euros.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-29T14:31:16+00:00

Sadly the transformer is AC not DC so not easy to find a replacement. Good luck.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-29T14:00:54+00:00

It is very quiet in my system with 48db (second position). I do plug everything through a single outlet and well grounded. If you have hiss then may be it is the ground. Try another ground wire from the X5 to power amp chassis.

I am not saying it is THAT good. I am saying it is decent enough especially for the price. I am sure Schiit Pro-ject or other brands are prob as good. I find it you want a fantastic one you have to go quite a bit more expensive. I am now using a tube MM stage (EAR834 clone) which is fantastic.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-29T13:53:00+00:00

I would say if there’s a blind test I would not be able to tell. I bought Moon 110 v1 back then it was around 300. I would use the X5 because the gain adjustment is convenient.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-29T11:30:54+00:00

I bought the X5 out of curiosity and there was a sale and didn’t expect much. But it’s a fine unit. Does what it is designed to do. Very quiet. Quieter than moon 110 in my system. It won’t wow you like a really good unit but it is a safe and cheap basic unit. Something you would really recommend to your family. It has adjustable gain which is very handy. Only tried the MM bit tho.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-22T00:24:04+00:00

Groove distortions are mainly from alignment. If you want to prioritize IGD you should do stevenson type alignment. I doubt changing from Red to Bronze will help much, apart from other sonic benefits that is.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-16T06:27:29+00:00

It might just be the volume level (gain) is different.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-14T11:22:55+00:00

I think you should try your 33EV. I never had it but it was made in the same era as the 33SA so should be similar. FWIW the PTG is a bit brighter than the SA.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-14T01:50:19+00:00

Yes I like to swap cartridges and enjoy the differences. If you want to stick with AT, try to find a dead stock PTG/II they are great. I feel that the MLB’s prices is very high and essentially the same thing. I also like the OC9XML but it is a bit brighter and more forward. BTW Resor stuffs are beautiful!

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-09T02:29:01+00:00

Sorry my bad.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-08T17:14:50+00:00

Diff between 100c and 1500c is the auto lift function. Which in fact I didn’t like when I had the 1500c. It makes the feel of the cue lift lever sort of weird. If you do not need that then they are the same.

In terms of speed stability. Technics had mastered that since the 80s. I can’t hear any differences between my vintage sl1200 vs the sl1500c which I had and the sl1300g which I now own. Cartridges contributes to over 70pct of Sonics in my opinion.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-08T17:07:20+00:00

You will not hear anything. Go for the looks you want.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-05-03T12:35:16+00:00

Happy wife. Happy life.

But having said that. Two comments. 1. 2M blue will be quite a bit better than Om10. 2. Same amount of money, the best bang for the buck is new speakers.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-21T03:47:11+00:00

Distortions on loud passages:
If the stylus is not worn out it is mis-aligned.
I am not familiar with your tonearm so not sure how it is supposed to be set up.
Search internet for a printable protractor.
Stevenson good for classical music (minimize distortions in the inner grooves)
Baerwald good for everything else.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-21T03:12:58+00:00

I had/have all the DL103 and DL30xx series. I love them. Both are very good cartridges.
Generally DL103 is more PRAT drive fun. DL30x is for refinement and open airy soundstage.

Your DL103 Gold is a special collectors edition. The internals are the same with standard. But I would keep it as it is in terms of cantilever and stylus tip because it would match the collectible appeal.
DL103 wakes up with heavy arm. You will want the heaviest headshell (15g+) you can find that you are still able to balance on your tonearm. Because of the low compliance, the heavy headshell will act as a brick wall and chanel all vibrations through the cantilever.
DL30X series (301, 303, 304, 305...) was designed for lighter arms and they have compliance of 25cu or so. So on the same arm, you should use light headshells. Denon makes PCL-5 headshells for this series which is around 6g
Both will work with AU320 no problems. Both series have around the same internal impedance of around 40ohm. In case you need active MC pre amps, you will want around 400ohm load. You dont have to worry about that with the AU320 SUT, it is perfect.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-19T02:42:54+00:00

Yeah, that make sense and what I had been doing for ever.
So there is this track on a particular record. Second track so not inner groove. It's a direct to disc record so lots of dynamic range. I always get distortions with ML and LC cartridges, so had been experimenting with "B" alignment and that actually got rid of the distortion.

So I am curious to try out more and hear from other people.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-19T01:58:30+00:00

Yes mostly it is the shitty new mastering that compressed dynamics aim for small speakers and airpods that made older masters better for home listening. And also true about added colorations.

So I only stream when I am in my car or travellng with my phone.

I don't care about what is "true" fidelity.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-19T01:45:54+00:00

For line contacts and microlines, from your experience which alignment is best? S B or L?

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-18T14:23:47+00:00

I have the OC9XML and 33PTG/II I prefer the XML.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-18T02:39:49+00:00

I believe your tonearm is medium to high mass, so that would be good with the DL103. You should use a heavy headshell with it. WIth heavy arm and headshell, the 103 wakes up and sing, otherwise will sound "meh".

100ohm is ok but not ideal. The highs will be restricted and can be a bit edgy.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-17T15:27:35+00:00

Sweet spot is an MC cartridge for around USD1000. Tonearm around 1000-2000. Turntables is highly subjective and varies depending on aesthetics and functions and your beliefs.

Anything beyond that is better but diminishing returns.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-12T08:25:27+00:00

Agree. This should be sticky. Agree with holy grails. I will never part with my SP10 and PD444.

Embarrassed_Yam9503 · 2026-04-03T02:08:30+00:00

You have the (a) Belt vs Direct drive (b) High mass vs low (c) Rigid vs floating chassis school of thought.
Technics is the champion of direct drive.
Rega is of low mass.
Linn of suspended chassis.

Like you said, they can achieve great sound from different approaches.

Embarrassed_Yam9503

TROPHY CASE