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Thread: Finchampstead System

  1. #1
    MartinT Guest

    Default Finchampstead System

    This is my system as it stands today:



    You can see two of the four TubeTraps behind each speaker and the REL Studio II sitting on a large SubTrap to the right. My most recent acquisition is the Ayre C-5xe universal disc player (top of the stack), an absolutely stunning machine which plays my red-book CDs, SACDs and DVD-As better than I've ever heard them. To my surprise, it has proven a significant step up over my previous Audiocom modified Sony SCD-1. Before the Ayre I bought a PS Audio Power Plant Premier and that made a big difference to the noise floor and overall transparency of the system. The Premier supplies all components including the power amp and sub.

    The system sounds dynamic and creates a satisfying sound stage. Midrange on female vocals is incredibly transparent and bass on classical organ is deep and clean with real texture.

    I plan to upgrade later in the year and the dilemma is: speakers or power amp? Natural upgrade routes would be a pair of Chord SPM-1400E monoblocks or perhaps the new Ayre MX-R monoblocks; for speakers it would be the JM Lab Alto Utopia Be or perhaps the Horning Agathon Ultimates.

    All comments very welcome!

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Posts: 505


  3. #3
    MartinT Guest

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    Thanks, I bought it on eBay and added a Michell TecnoArm(A) to it, complete with Grado Prestige Gold cartridge and Graham Slee GramAmp 2SE.

    It sounds very good but I really need to replace the horrible steel adapter that someone cut for it with a proper aluminium SME-Rega adapter plate. If only I could find one.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Posts: 505

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    Quote Originally Posted by MartinT View Post

    It sounds very good but I really need to replace the horrible steel adapter that someone cut for it with a proper aluminium SME-Rega adapter plate. If only I could find one.
    Hi Martin, yeh looks very nice, the black finished ones look loverly too but you don't see many these days, i used to have a black fully electronic one with big green LED display.was nice...Sold it for a silver manual version like yours

    I'm full of brainy ideas so here you go:
    You can't get the SME base plates drilled to spec anymore, these use to be popular in the '80's..This below firm tho will make you one if you ask, 'Soundsupports' you may have heard of them other than Flea-Bay...

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REGA-MOUNT-PLA...QQcmdZViewItem

    You could either get it drilled for the Rega mounting hole or full length slot which will give you a lot more geometry leeway like the old SME base plates below (without the side slots obviously), personally i would do it this way, avoids them drilling it slightly out of spec:



    Need a bit more height then, plonk one of these SME 'P1' spacers underneith, peanuts off flea-Bay:



    .................................................. ...............................................

    Ps:Is that RATA 'TORLYTE' your using within your set up?
    Last edited by Vinyl Grinder; 15-02-2008 at 04:02.

  5. #5
    MartinT Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Vinyl Grinder View Post
    Ps:Is that RATA 'TORLYTE' your using within your set up?
    Yes, the wall-mount turntable shelf is an old but excellent QED with Torlyte platform. My main system rack is all RATA Torlyte in natural finish. Additionally, the Ayre player is on a Torlyte platform under which are three Aureos bearings.

    Thanks for the baseplate tips, I'm going to contact them and see if they will make me one.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Mid Lincs

    Posts: 1,445
    I'm Buffet-blower.

    Default

    That STD looks rather sweet - it certainly brings back memories.

    Is yours an S or an M? Can't remember what the differences were.
    Richard.

    Round & round bits: LP12/Cirkus/Kore/Herc II/Roksan Nima/Hana EL
    Megabits: Bluesound Node 2i/TEAC UD-H01 dac
    Making it louder bits: Phonostage: Dynavector P75 Amp: Cyrus 8vs/PSX-R Speakers: Royd Sintra II
    Connecting it together bits i/c's: Flashback Premier. Speaker cables: Van Damme Hifi

  7. #7
    MartinT Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gromit View Post
    That STD looks rather sweet
    Thanks! It's an 'M' for manual. I used to use my PS Audio Power Plant P300 to change frequency to 68Hz to play 45rpm records but now that I have the newer Premier (which foregoes adjustable frequency) I have to change the belt over manually! The Michell arm is a great match, a sort of souped-up Rega, it performs very much like the SME IV I used to run on a Roksan Xerxes.

  8. #8
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Mid Lincs

    Posts: 1,445
    I'm Buffet-blower.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinT View Post
    Thanks! It's an 'M' for manual. I used to use my PS Audio Power Plant P300 to change frequency to 68Hz to play 45rpm records but now that I have the newer Premier (which foregoes adjustable frequency) I have to change the belt over manually! The Michell arm is a great match, a sort of souped-up Rega, it performs very much like the SME IV I used to run on a Roksan Xerxes.
    Aha! Thanks for clearing that up - didn't the S have a push button speed change on the right hand side?

    Shame STD went the same way as several other TT manufacturers in the 70's - Dunlop, JBE etc etc.

    Lovely arm the Tecno aswell - a friend of mine uses one on an LP12 and it sounds fabulous; blew the previous Akito into next week.
    Richard.

    Round & round bits: LP12/Cirkus/Kore/Herc II/Roksan Nima/Hana EL
    Megabits: Bluesound Node 2i/TEAC UD-H01 dac
    Making it louder bits: Phonostage: Dynavector P75 Amp: Cyrus 8vs/PSX-R Speakers: Royd Sintra II
    Connecting it together bits i/c's: Flashback Premier. Speaker cables: Van Damme Hifi

  9. #9
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Posts: 505

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    Quote Originally Posted by MartinT View Post
    Thanks! It's an 'M' for manual.

    Martin:
    No not totally true..The '305M' was the original turntable which got too expensive to produce, The '305S' was a cheaper plastic moulded version.The '305D' being the electronic variant of the '305S'..Hence both 'M' & 'S' are maunal..



    .................................................. .

    Here's a black STD.nice





    ......................................

    Nice one with the Torlyte, all my clobber used to be on that.
    Last edited by Vinyl Grinder; 15-02-2008 at 18:19.

  10. #10
    MartinT Guest

    Default

    I used to run an SME III in my STD just like that black one. It's still in the box, must put it on eBay sometime. Good as the SME was (very underrated arm), the Michell outperforms it.

    The Torlyte stand material is excellent, very dead indeed with no chance of resonances being propagated.

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