Welcome home

[Zoidburg]

Looks rather sexy!

[m10]

Thanks. I think the black and gold 309 was a bit of a lucky find - looks well on the 1210

One happy bunny.

My lunch break managed to include Elgar's Cello Concerto (Jacqueline du Pre on Testament/EMI) which sounded wonderful. Without losing the 1210's natural punch, it seems to have cleaned up the bass - tauter and with greater impact. I also spun a 7" 45 of Kiri Te Kanawa's original version of the ITV Rugby theme World in Union - an unlikely reference perhaps but it has a delicious bass-line which came across beautifully.

[Tarzan]

First observation: zero microphony. The only thing coming through this baby is what's on the record.

Spinning an original Dean Martin This Time I'm Swingin' on my lunch break. Reserving all judgements but it suddenly sounds very serious.

Had aN SME on my Techie a while back, sounded blooming nice- someone say authority, control and musicality, enjoy the techie Malcolm

[m10]

authority, control and musicality

I like the sound of that - proper session when I finish work I think

[m10]

In about a year (or thereabouts) I have gone from putting my Pink Triangle LPT up for sale, planning to liquidate my vinyl and simplify my life to being the owner of a rather serious Techie (not gone all the way but most of it) and roughly doubling the size of my LP collection (as well as more than quadrupling the size of my movie screen). One night spinning the LPT, and a Saturday afternoon listening to a rather wonderful Technics 110/309/Transfiguration system changed my plans. I wanted vinyl and I wanted direct drive!

I have to say, I am really loving the SME. It is an absolute joy to use, and it has elevated the Technics' performance compared with the original arm. Each move since the original Technics joined the system (Trichord Dino 2, Stanton to 2M Blue, Timestep PSU, Denon DL-304, Achromat and now the 309) has added something. Sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle. The stars, for me, are the Denon and the 309.

The grace and refinement of the Denon, the sheer Cinemascope wide openness of it - without sacrificing excitement is astonishing. The 309 if anything has only amplified these qualities - everything seems more sure and certain and it has clarified, cleaned and tuned-up the bass end. I think it could stand up for itself in a showdown with my friend's Garrard 301/SME 312 combo, if the 312 didn't have a Koetsu Rosewood-thingumy strapped to the end (although in many ways I prefer the Denon- but then I would say that, wouldn't I?). The Garrard's kind of seductive and sexy, and great for music recorded in the 50s/60s ('feels right' is my usual comment - fling some Nat King Cole or The Beatles at it and you're in heaven) but I think my Technics is probably more accurate. Horses for courses.

All of this means I'm probably just about done -- certainly with the source. The only thing I may do is swap the Technics feet for some Isonoes. Otherwise, job's a good 'un. (Just smiling at that lovely bass on Kate Bush's Army Dreamers sounding particularly fine as I type.)

[cuddles]

It has to be said that I think the biggest fundamental improvement to the Technics comes with a Mike New bearing. I doubted it myself thinking it was a bit of expectation bias but it was obvious to me after about, ooh... 5 seconds . Really, it's that good!

[m10]

It has to be said that I think the biggest fundamental improvement to the Technics comes with a Mike New bearing. I doubted it myself thinking it was a bit of expectation bias but it was obvious to me after about, ooh... 5 seconds . Really, it's that good!

This is on the roadmap for potential upgrades, but I am so thrilled with the sound now I have called a hiatus on all further analogue upgrades for the foreseeable future.

[m10]

The 1210/309/DL-304 playing Coldplay


The rack sorted - out is the Freesat HD tuner (never used), the Cambridge Stream Magic 6 is in for the fist time (needed a major reorganisation to fit it in), back in is the Oppo DV-983H as a quick way of playing CDs and an alternative SACD transport.

The Coldplay sounds wonderful on vinyl, btw.

[dantheman91]

Bit risky having them cables near the radiator pipes

Nice Set up...Yamaha make some great kit...missing my CR 820 thats out for a service at the mo..

[m10]

I've ran them (those very speaker cables mind you, i'm not really one for tweaking) in that position for nigh on 15 years. The fact that I've got to manage (and I use the term loosely) analogue interconnects, Ethernet/LAN, HDMI, Toslink, S/PDIF digital, speaker cables and USB in a tight space is a major headache. I hate the Papes marginally more than I hate the cables . Ah! The joys of a DIY AV install that also has to do music. I'll take your advice though and I'll make sure I have 1cm clear twixt cables and pipes.

I agree about Yamaha by the way -- I think they make some stonking stuff. I lust after that big stereo integrated they do with the twitchy meters on the front.