I work with retailers specialising in turntables and related products. All my sales are handled through the retailers I collaborate with. Read more.
This can involve anything from checking and fine-tuning the setup of turntables, tonearms and cartridges to optimising the rest of the system, including speaker placement, cable routing and the positioning of other equipment. Read more.
In addition to relying on my ears, eyes and common sense, I also frequently use AnalogMagik V2 analysis software to optimise the setup of the entire vinyl playback system. Read more.
Vinyl record care, including ultrasonic cleaning and flattening of warped and uneven LPs. Read more.
The question that always nags at you, of course, is whether you've truly optimised your setup – or is there still more performance to be had from the equipment you've already invested in? And today, I was about to find out.
After four and a half hours of measuring, adjusting, lifting and analysing, Bengt announced from the listening room that it was time. And there was absolutely no doubt that everything had been taken to another level. It was as though the Bardon, together with the Umami Red, had grown in stature. Everything was presented with even greater authority and scale. What stood out most to my ears was the increased level of detail, with subtle decays lingering longer, creating an even greater sense of space. The bass also became more defined, with greater solidity and substance.
It took a little while to get used to. I think that's because all the subtle details now come through so much more clearly. It was almost overwhelming at first. But now I can hear tonal colours in percussion that I'd never noticed before, a shimmer in the cymbals that was completely absent before the adjustments, and voices seem to have moved closer to the listening position.
Speaking of voices, on some recordings I can now even hear the acoustics of the room where the vocals were recorded, something I couldn't hear before. There's a greater sense of air around the instruments, better separation and, as I said, the level of microdetail is simply astonishing!
Another thing I've noticed is that, since the adjustments, I now prefer Ultra Linear mode on my amplifier rather than Triode mode. The only way I can explain it is that I used Triode mode to ‘tame’ certain harsh frequencies. Everything sounds ‘softer’ in Triode mode, but the music also loses some dynamics and precision. Now it sounds wonderfully smooth and enjoyable in Ultra Linear mode, which is a real pleasure for my sensitive ears.
Finally, I've also discovered that the cartridge now retrieves details even from less-than-perfect recordings and poorer-quality pressings, bringing these records to life and making them enjoyable to listen to again. The stylus tracks exceptionally well, with no noticeable difference in performance between the inner and outer grooves.
So a huge thank you for your help and expertise! Worth every penny. When the time comes to replace the cartridge, I hope you'll be able to come back and help me once again.
I’ve now played through the test record I’ve used most over the years: Test Record 1 from Opus 3. Every track sounded noticeably better than ever before, with all the instruments coming through with remarkable clarity and separation. The voices in the church had a richness and resonance I’d never heard before.
Another report on my listening experience following the cartridge adjustments. I've just finished listening to one of my all-time favourites in classical music on vinyl: Yevgeny Mravinsky conducting the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, recorded around 1960. This recording has always sounded very good, but now it sounds almost unbelievable. The wind instruments are incredibly much clearer and more beautiful than before, the melodies in the strings have tremendous power, and the crescendos reach far greater heights than previously, without the slightest hint of distortion. It was a wonderful musical experience.
I can confidently say that it’s time and money well spent, because what Bengt (Sound by Vinyl) achieves with the help of the software and various specialist tools is far from easy to do yourself.
My experience closely matches what Bigblue describes in his thread. Greater clarity, definition and spaciousness. The tonal balance remains unchanged, while the sound has gained even more authority. What previously felt a little slow and muddy now sounds lively and clear.
Now I know what my relatively modest turntable is truly capable of. I've always liked it from a subjective point of view and felt that it really brought the music to life. But now it has reached a whole new level, with a significantly greater sense of space. Piano notes have beautifully defined attacks, and brass instruments have gained a much more realistic bite when called for. The bass is also far more controlled, with a wonderfully natural decay. Supertramp – Crime of the Century. The track ‘Bloody Well Right’. I've never heard it sound this good on any system. What incredible groove, dynamics and bite! I love this song, and I love the way it sounds now.
As I was already very happy with both the sound and my setup – Brinkmann Bardo, Kuzma 4point9 and DS 003 – I was sceptical that Bengt’s work would make any noticeable difference.
But how wrong I was.
During the hours Bengt spent in my listening room, he began by thoroughly inspecting the setup and adjusting a number of settings. First, using his ears, a magnifying glass and screwdrivers. He then connected his computer, using specialised measurement software together with a test record to analyse which mechanical adjustments were needed to optimise the setup. There was a great deal of fine-tuning here and there before Bengt was finally satisfied.
Then came the moment of truth. The same test records that had been played at the beginning were played again. Among other things, I had written the following in my notes:
For me, this was money well spent, and spending time with Bengt was a real pleasure. I’m very impressed by his expertise and patience in getting everything just right.
Hats off to Bengt, the vinyl wizard!
I simply couldn’t tear myself away; I became one with the music. …all the musical genius went straight to my heart, and I just sat there enjoying every moment… …Bengt, who put this system together, deserves all the credit. He truly knows what he’s doing. …His almost magical ability to match components, worthy of Joe Labero, is undoubtedly the main reason.
It was during my years as a musician in New York in the mid-1990s that the idea of opening a hi-fi shop first came to mind. However, it wasn't until 1999 that SOUND by Vinylbutiken finally opened its doors, with newly pressed vinyl records and some of the finest turntables on the market as its main attractions. Back then, it wasn't quite as easy as it might sound. But the sound was exceptional, and the rest is history.
My experience as a musician, combined with my interest in authentic sound reproduction, forms the foundation of my passion. I love putting together high-quality, great-sounding hi-fi systems that offer excellent value for money, whatever the budget. Everyone deserves to enjoy beautifully reproduced music in their own home. I believe that knowing exactly how an instrument should sound is a real advantage when putting together a hi-fi system. It's not about the specifications on a product sheet, but about the ability of the human ear to recognise and appreciate the sound of real music.
