Stageline MM or MC?

Hi-Fi Corner
1

This is a rather strange one.

Almost 20 years ago I bought the following…
Michell Tecnodec - new
Rega RB900 - ex demo, a few hours use only
Ortofon MC15 Super II - ex demo, again few hours use only

I never got round to buying a phono stage, it’s all still boxed as the day I picked it up.

I’m keen to get this lot out of the boxes after all this time.

Obvious choice might be a stageline s ?

Alternatively buy a stageline and mm cartridge , although the matching of modern mm cartridge with the stageline might be an issue ?

Any thoughts?.

2

Perhaps look out on ePay for some 523 cards for your (very excellent :smiling_imp:) 102?

3

Good idea, and would be cost effective.

Only issue is I hope to buy a 282 in coming months

4

I think you could pick up some 523 cards for around 100 quid. And perhaps a preamp in the hand is worth two in the bush? :grinning:

Can you power a Stageline from a 282? Otherwise you’d need a PS for it.

5

You can.

6

Which I suppose leaves the op in a bit of a dilema.

7

If it was a choice between a NAC282 or a Stageline for your existing system I would go for the latter and spend some money on a new cartridge and improve your source. Your NAC 102 and NAP180 will handle it well and sound great.

I would consider something like a Hana EL or SL Mk2 with a Stageline S. If you wanted to go down an MM route any MM cartridge will match a Stageline N perfectly all MM cartridges have the same electrical properties. That does not mean they sound all the same of course!

8

Ok, there are some who say that the 470pf capacity of the Stageline N is too high for some MM systems.
I can’t say whether this is really relevant in terms of sound.

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9

Not really it makes little difference.

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10

His profile indicates that he already has NAPSC & Hicap powering the 102.

11

Ok I did not see that. Perfect.

12

A Stageline would still require a PS, if sticking with the 102, so FC or HC. Which all adds to the cost. Hence the suggestion of searching out some 523S cards for the 102.

Indeed those nice Naim dealers in St. Albans appear to have 5xx cards in stock (S & K for MC; N for MM) at around 170 quid.

13

Sure internal cards will be just fine but a Stageline better for later purchases of more recent NACs. You are right of course you will need to buy a power supply for it, an I supply or better a Flatcap would do it.

14

The has been discussion in the past whether a Stageline S sounds better/similar/worse than 523S cards. I can’t remember whether a definitive conclusion was ever reached.

15

They are the same circuits, aren’t they, just different boxes? And the sound of the stageline will vary dependent on the P/S used.

16

That is my understanding. So then the sound would/could/should be down to power supplies, in true Naim fashion. One could also hypothesise that removing the 5xx cards from the 102/82 would reduce the load on those preamps’ PSUs.

As I said, there have been discussions in the past on this very topic.

17

Thanks for the replies. I’m really confused about the Stageline s and suitable cartridges. The Naim settings don’t seem to align with modern cartridges.

So confused I’m now wondering whether a Pro-ject phono box 2 ultra might be a safer bet given its adjustability ??

18

Unlike MM cartridges MCs do have a range of specs but the reality the affect of them is subtle at best. It is all too easy to get stuck on finding a perfect match to a phono stage.

I have always recommended to people to find the settings that sounds best rather than what the specs say and in the case of a single setting unit like a Stageline just enjoy.

A Stageline S or a set of 523 boards will be a lot better than the Project box you mention. If you want a good alternative try a Graham Slee Reflex C or Accession model.

3 Likes
19

Thank you, as ever over thinking things !

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20

I have a pair of 523K boards in my 102 now and they sound great - detailed and punchy with very low noise using an AT OC9XSL. I thought the pre would lose a bit of performance on other inputs because of the extra load on the HiCap but I’m not hearing that at all. Highly recommended!