Tonights Update - The Reference Lenco Pt XXXXXX
I've been comparing my Alphason tonearm / Shure M55E (Jico neoSAS) stylus against my SME V / Ortofon Cadenza black. MC v MM, Direct
Drive 1210 v Lenco L75 idler technology. I also decided to slip my "GIMP" platter mat under the Cork/Garrard mat combo just to see
what would happen. Well I'm pleased to say that I have had yet another small leap in sonic improvement with the little Lenco. The
tripple platter mat configuration seems to working very well and I don't feel inclined to change it any time soon and I also can't
be bothered to trial any more platter mat configurations (I'm all platter'd out)! The new platter mat configuration is giving me
oodles more detail, the timbral quality is now the best I've ever heard from this deck and this is across all genre's of music. There
seems to be poise and stability to the sound stage everything is very well placed, plenty of seperation bewteen the instruments.
The Lenco to some extents is now giving very little away in some areas when making vinyl comparisons against my other decks. It looses
out against the SME V in total low end bass grunt. It's not quite as incisive or forensic as the 1210 deck by it can sure boogey. I
listened to Deep Purple "Made in Japan" on both decks and in some instances could not tell the difference between the decks. I'd be
hard pressed to explain why the deck is now performing at it's current level. I can only think one of two things, firstly the extra
height of the "GIMP" mat has further optimised the VTA of the cartridge and tonearm, secondly, the extra "GIMP" mat may have added
additional dampening and this has been beneficial for the cartridge/platter interface or thirdly it could be both things that have helpd. I'm not really that bothered TBH. The Lenco gives me immense satisfaction.
The Alphason tonearm should be getting it's very own bespoke custom anti-skate weight. It's taken quite some time to find the correct
specifications but that's all now been sorted. I placed my order and hopefully a package from Germany should be arriving in the next
few weeks. This should give the Alphason / Shure M55E combo better tracking than the current setup and hopefully another lift up the
sonic ladder. The tonearm pillar should also be getting some additional dampening in the form of an EVA pillar cover, I still have to
buy a drill bit and a little modding but should hopefully have something prepared in the next few days.
Finally I ordered another new Idler wheel today, so I have an orginal heavy 5 wheeler, Norbert's new heavy 5 wheeler and another carbon fibre jobbie. All good fun and should be an improvement over the 40 year old original!! I must admit that my original wheel had a slight wobble and still does but it is extremely small and can only be seen on film and in slow motion (yes I did this). The idler wheels should be straight and eliminate this problem. You can't really notice any effects with the soundstage but I'm hoping to have a small positive effect with the new idler. The rubber compound on each wheel will different which may mean a new soundstage presentation.
As ever, stay tuned.
SS
CD Teac VRDS25X(Audiotuned) DECK 1210 Mat Crystal Audio Mods MN Base/Bearing/Platter+Ebony armboard Feet Isonoe PSU Paul Hynes SR7EHD-27XL/DCSXL Ag DC lead/3 Stage Regs/Recap PCB+No Pitch/Strobe/Light ARM SME V(Kondo Ag Rewire&Tags) MC Cadenza Black FGS CABLES Arm Yannis SPD-4 IC Yannis 222 Litz+Ag bullets Power WAR PRE ATC SCA2 SPEAKERS ATC 50ASL STANDS Atacama PHONO Sugden Masterclass PA4 SUT Ortofon ST80SE POWER PSAudio P10
VALVE
PRE Croft Epoch(Modded) AMP Sondex S100 (Modded) SPEAKERS Tannoy 15"MG+RFC Warwick cabs+ Ref XO + Batpure supertweeters DECK Garrard 301 Mat Teunto Bearings 401(Bastin) Plinth Bamboo Arms 3009/3012 PSU Eagle+Tachometer MC Ag Meister II/FGS + Ortofon SPU MONO CABLES Arm Yannis 420.5 Litz+ SpeakerPC Tripple C+WBT-0681 Ag IC Oyaide FTVS-510 AgWBT 0110Ag Phonostages Paradise(4 Box Mega-Modded) / Croft Musicmaker