First 1210 upgrade

[Cliff]

Hey Biff,

Yes, I have/am thinking about the fluid damper. I almost bought it at the time of my tonearm rewire, but decided to take it slowly and make sure that I thought it worthwhile to continue investing more into the Technics. Well, after the rewire (and new cartridge), I do, most definitely.

I liked the brass cones under the table with the stock wire, but I had no idea just how dull and just plain bad the regular wire was until I had it replaced.
I am not going to even bother with the brass cones now, don't think it would be a good match.

I was ready to get a set of three stillpoints with risers for the table, but I am glad I waited, because now I think I have decided to go with the squishy ball thingies. It will be cheaper and, maybe, a better sonic solution for the way the table sounds now.

Might get the damper and balls together if I decide on KAB's balls(that sounds a wee bit strange).

And thanks for the kind comments on the system.
Cheers,
Cliff

[MartinT]

I was ready to get a set of three stillpoints with risers for the table, but I am glad I waited, because now I think I have decided to go with the squishy ball thingies. It will be cheaper and, maybe, a better sonic solution for the way the table sounds now.

Hi Cliff

The Foculpods (made of sorbothane) are certainly better than the Technics feet and I ran my deck with them for a year. They represent a median step between the plain awful Techie feet and Isonoes, which give such complete isolation that it's hard to believe.

[Ammonite Audio]

Just wanted to add that I just had my SL 1200 tonearm rewired and I am shocked at the transformation. It made more of a difference than the (limited) footer experimentation I had done with things I have around the house.

Seconded. When I had my SL1210, I had the tonearm rewired by Johnnie at Audio Origami, and that made it much nicer to listen to. He can also fill the armtube with foam, which may be worthwhile although I have no experience of that. The modest cost ( around £100 iirc) is amply repaid - the Technics arm will never be in the same league as the Jelco but it is definitely worth improving until funds permit replacement.

Mats are very much a matter of taste, since they change the deck's overall sound quite significantly. I would lean towards a 5mm Achromat, lightly stuck to the platter with a very thin smear of Vaseline (it really does need to be stuck down to work properly). Feet are a much more complicated matter: I know that many here advocate Isonoe feet, but I tried them twice and twice found that they did isolate the 'table well, but robbed the musical feel. The best support that I tried was three Stillpoints, pointing upwards and located directly into the alloy base of the deck. Not very practical, but it did sound good!

Finally, Martin is correct in saying that giving the deck a decent external PSU is the most important thing. I used Timestep and latterly Paul Hynes PSUs, but it is quite easy to knock up a DIY PSU for not too much money.

[Cliff]

Hi Hugo,

That input is very much appreciated. Looks like I might have to reconsider the stillpoints. I had thought for quite a while that they should work really well just like you experienced.

I have always had reservations about those isonones(?) for various reasons and never really considered them. My biggest problem with them is that they appear to use the threaded inserts, which I don't think is a good idea.

Was wondering if anybody has had any experience using the soft copper cartridge stabiliser made by Jelco, I believe, and available from Sound Hifi, I believe is the name? And that would be with Denon 103 and stock Technics headshell. I think I need it for VTA and probably a little extra mass, though the 8 grams of that one seems maybe a little much.

Cliff

[Cliff]

Just wanted to add for the OP that, although an MC, I really dig my new Denon DL A100, which is an anniversary edition of the DL 103.

I am getting much better results than I did with the Denon DL 103sa. How much of that is attributable solely to the tonearm rewire and not the cartridge is anybody's guess, but I do know that this cartridge did some things right out of the box that the other one never did for me. I like this one so much that I might buy another.

Cliff

[Tarzan]

Hi Jamie, for me the Isoefeet, and Sumiko headshell were my first upgrades, the Isoefeet made a dramatic upgrade for me, and at around £100, they for me are great VFM, they really are works of art, they really do there job, and the Sumiko headshell also made a nice difference for the money, on the cartridge side, Nagaokas work well, Denons, Ortofons, depending on your phono stage etc, anyway have fun

Sorry meant Isonoe feet

[JRS]

Lots of good advice which I've already taken. I've ordered the Isonoe legs from west end dj. Got them for £87. Wish I'd known about this deal though...http://www.oki-ni.com/Music/Isonoe-I...nvt/iso0001slv
Wasted on OKI-NI hipsters. I hoping I wont need the rubber feet and £45 bits of glass Still thinking about the mat. What's the idea behind copper?