Thanks much Darren, this was quite exactly what I was looking for and didn’t find yet in this detail!
Well just a theoretical advocate so far…I still have to try it and see what’s the effect.
Certainly the final steps have to be done by ear, but how many of you out there have tried in small steps all variations between say -4mm and +8mm tonearm basis adjustment? I guess most have experimented with slightly above or below parallel and found something they prefer.
I think at the high end of vinyl playback much is about precision mechanics, accuracy and perfectionism. Maybe it’s my engineering soul that convinces me, there can only be one narrow optimal spot where the scanning by the needle is not just preferred by an own taste, but right. I wouldn’t do my car’s wheel alignment just by ear or driving experience (even if I had the skill), if I can measure it (because measurement simply rules within such a mechanical topic).
For some, perfectionism already ends before placing speakers accurately, for others it ends before adjusting azimuth for their cartridge. My experience with the big importance of azimuth and a demo of a perfectly adjusted cart led me to finally go the microscope way for SRA.
I asked 2 major cartridge manufactrers in the multi thousand $ range, if they can roughly say how SRA comes out with their certain cartridges in average. What they said was, that even in one batch of a certain cart, each is an individual product and SRA respectively tonearm height adjustment can theoretically vary between +/-2 degrees, so within a 16-20mm range of tonearm lift or lowering.
So I agree, that if someone tried all those SRA variations by ear, he should have found a noticably superior point and maybe you hit it. I so far with my old cart just did it as most do: find a preferred option somewhere near parallel (which is most probably not the really optimal position in most cases).
IMO it’s sound quality thrown away, not to try to really optimize this one of a few mechanical topics in cartridge alignment, having in mind the money spent on that otherwise very sophisticated stuff. Maybe a bit like buying a Stellar phono and not setting the cartridge load right.
But for sure, thousands of listeners who never even adjusted the basic cartridge alignment right, have fun and don’t miss anything…and that’s just fine. Not everyone has to be so anal about all that…it ends for each of us at another point. I’m for example much less willing to get deep into what comes before the DAC with all its options of optimization, than into such mechanical basics.
If you want to get anal—and can’t get on the schedule with Fremer, call Jeff Harris at https://referenceanalog.com/ He’ll make a trip to your house and set up your cartridge. For a fee, of course.
I’m about 20 hours into SPP break-in. Still fighting “hiss”.
Wish there was a meter for getting the two channels set at the same impedance since it can’t be done from the remote.
JD
I would be willing to hire someone like that if I wasn’t sure to get it myself quite good. Currently I decided to spend the 200 on the scope first before spending ~500-1k? for external support.
Mainly because usually such is not a one time job. Something always changes 
What scope did you get?
I’ve ordered a Dino-Lite.
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I recommend the Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope as the only true audiophile alternative. You can get a refurbished S-4700-II for $60,000… so less than a loom of true hi-end cables.
The recommended one, Dino-Lite AM3113T
I’ll need the Really Very Extremely Wide Angle Lens for that as well… ; )
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Is there ways to control Stellar Phono Preamp without the remote?
I’ve just received my new Stellar Phono but it came with the wrong remote, it’s for DirectStream Power Plant. Obviously I can’t do anything with it.
I’ve already reported it to PS Audio, hope they will send me the correct remote soon.
I’m currently using Soundsmith the voice MI cartridge, so I may be able to listen (default after power on SPP is MM @ 47K ohm with Low gain) if I can unmute it.
I just received a Stellar Phono and the Remote bag looked like it was previously opened and taped back up. Anyone else has something like that? I was wondering if I ended up with a return…
Press and hold the standby button for a second or so, that should mute/unmute
Mine was exactly the same. It did make me this about that too.
Interesting…Can PS Audio comment?
I suspected that it was opened to include the batteries for shipping.
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That was my thought too. Were any of your RCA posts slightly tilted? I have a slightly tilted post and the engineer in me is concerned about stressing the solder joint over time.
Thank you very much, it works.
I am certain you did not get a return as we’ve not had but one or two since it shipped. That said, it is possible the shipping folks pulled out units that might have been set for 230 volts and switched to 120 volts, or some such last minute change and then
neglected to use new packaging. I have a note into our production manager after reading these and will get to the bottom of what happened. I am certain, however, they are brand new units.
To be continued.
Same here. Remote was retaped. Works fine.
Certainly it makes you feel bad but not as bad as me got the wrong remote.
Power plant remote is useless for the Stellar Phono preamp.
Unless they send you the remaining regenerator with the remote for the Stellar Phono Pre Amp😉
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