Time to call it a day with System 1

[worrasf]

Probably time to sit back and relax with this system for a while now.
Latest little tweaks were the Inspire acrylic cones (AKA Resomat) bonded direct to the Vantage Audio platter and a pair of 1950's GE 5 star 5814A valves for my self-build SOHA II headphone amp.

IMO there is a real synergy between all the various parts of the system. None of the stuff is uber expensive "super-fi" but I like to think I have chosen "best in class" items at sensible costs.

I'm happy with the result. :smoking:

I'm also getting to the end of the line with system 2. I've just acquired a pair of JR 149's for a reasonable price. I have a contact who is an expert french polisher to really fettle the tops and bases and I can get the cross-overs bought up to modern spec for £50 by Wilmslow Audio. When all done I'll post system 2 photies.

Steve

[DSJR]

Well done. Always a good idea to just kick back for a while and let some good tunes flow :)

I'm beginning to very much like the idea of Vantage Audio - Good value tweaks for not huge money...

[jandl100]

Hey, wow, I love the copper mat with the Reso-cones! :thumbsup:

[MartinT]

Nice, Stephen. The only thing I would do additionally is remove that lid when playing your turntable. Nasty, resonant things.

[worrasf]

Nice, Stephen. The only thing I would do additionally is remove that lid when playing your turntable. Nasty, resonant things.

Probably true but I have an open coal fire going in the lounge so the dust cover really serves a useful protective function :eyebrows:

Steve

[synsei]

That's a gorgeous looking Techy Stephen, lovin' the mods ;)

[jason]

Looks great Stephen very nice..

[chris@panteg]

Real nice system Stephen , well done ! The cones on the platter are interesting , do you use a weight ?

[worrasf]

do you use a weight ?

Thanks Chris. No. I tried using a weight but it immediately choked the midrange and deadened the bass. Much more open , dynamic and musical without the weight.

Steve

[chris@panteg]

Thanks Chris. No. I tried using a weight but it immediately choked the midrange and deadened the bass. Much more open , dynamic and musical without the weight.

Steve

I've been using one on mine , right ok i wonder if that's the problem I'm having ?
Will stop using it and see what happens , its the lack of dynamics and mid that's troubling me at the moment and I've been blaming the cartridge ?

Ok thanks for that :)

[MartinT]

I tried using a weight but it immediately choked the midrange and deadened the bass. Much more open , dynamic and musical without the weight.

Isn't that strange? With the Achromat and Funk platter, the weight works best for me, better even than the Michell clamp.

[worrasf]

Isn't that strange? With the Achromat and Funk platter, the weight works best for me, better even than the Michell clamp.

Yes - when I was using the Achromat on the Technics (after much swapping) I reckoned it was better with the weight than without. I guess the Achromat and Resomat are approaching the "problem" from opposite sides so maybe we shouldn't be too surprised that one works better without a weight. Mind you - the Resomat does not bring about the same sonic improvements on my TD150 where I've gone back to using the cork/laminate mat.

I now have a near mint Achromat and Resomat awaiting new owners :)

Steve

[rusty bearing]

Yes I have to agree with that, the resomat on the Pro-ject 6 works really well but the TD150 is another matter, it seems to make it a bit to 'bright' for my liking. Tried it and immediately went back to the cork mat.
Nice kit by the way:)

[The Grand Wazoo]

I wonder if putting something almost the same height as the cones (but slightly less to allow for the label thickness) around, & close to the spindle will change the effect of a weight. I cant help but think a weight should be directly opposed by something to remove the possibility of flexure. Alternatively, perhaps a clamp fastened with little or no downward pressure on the record?

[worrasf]

I wonder if putting something almost the same height as the cones (but slightly less to allow for the label thickness) around, & close to the spindle will change the effect of a weight. I cant help but think a weight should be directly opposed by something to remove the possibility of flexure. Alternatively, perhaps a clamp fastened with little or no downward pressure on the record?

Maybe, but that presupposes that a clamp/weight "must" be better and we just need a find a way to make it so. I'm not at all sure that is true in all situations and deck setups.

Steve

[The Grand Wazoo]

This is not presupposition - I'm not at all of the opinion that a clamp or a weight is necessary, but if I were in your shoes I would like to be in the position to rule it out on more than the basis of the trial you conducted. If I'd tried it with a weight and got the results you did, I'd be trying to find out why it performed like that before I ditched the idea altogether.

[worrasf]

This is not presupposition - I'm not at all of the opinion that a clamp or a weight is necessary, but if I were in your shoes I would like to be in the position to rule it out on more than the basis of the trial you conducted. If I'd tried it with a weight and got the results you did, I'd be trying to find out why it performed like that before I ditched the idea altogether.

You may well be right Chris but I'd rather spend my time enjoying the tunes than fuelling my OCD on this particular issue :mental: The difference with and without the clamp was instant night and day in the same way the Resomat/cones were/are better than the Achromat on the Technics but the reverse is true on the TD 150.

Steve

[The Grand Wazoo]

All is good then.

[chris@panteg]

Thanks Chris. No. I tried using a weight but it immediately choked the midrange and deadened the bass. Much more open , dynamic and musical without the weight.

Steve

Hi Steve

I think it is better without the weight but ... its marginal in my set up , bass is better but I'm still very unhappy with the sound I'm getting from the precept cartridge and I've made my mind up ! Its going off , listening to it today and I'm thinking this is pretty mediocre to be honest , so the hunt is on for a new cartridge :) In the short term its back to the AT95HE which is ok , but it does have a balance issue .

Still , enjoy your system :)

[DSJR]

Sumiko Blackbird? ESCo Troika (the 309 sounded amazing with a stock troika so should be even better with a good rebuilt one), London Super Gold?

[chris@panteg]

Sumiko Blackbird? ESCo Troika (the 309 sounded amazing with a stock troika so should be even better with a good rebuilt one), London Super Gold?

Cheers Dave

Its got to be a decent MC , no more daft experiments :eyebrows: I used to have a Troika :doh: AT33EV or Lyra Dorian also .

[MartinT]

The AT or Lyra have the sparkle which the SME needs, Chris. Don't put a Dynavector in it - too dark. You'll need a step-up of at least Bob's Devices level.

[chris@panteg]

The AT or Lyra have the sparkle which the SME needs, Chris. Don't put a Dynavector in it - too dark. You'll need a step-up of at least Bob's Devices level.

Thanks Martin , yes that's exactly what I'm after , more sparkle ! The precept sounds very dark and dull :(

[worrasf]

Cheers Dave

Its got to be a decent MC , no more daft experiments :eyebrows: I used to have a Troika :doh: AT33EV or Lyra Dorian also .

I hear what you are saying but you are most welcome to try my NOS spare Sonus Gold Blue if you like Chris - dark it is not :)

Steve

[chris@panteg]

I hear what you are saying but you are most welcome to try my NOS spare Sonus Gold Blue if you like Chris - dark it is not :)

Steve

That's a very nice gesture Steve , tell me more ? :)

[chris@panteg]

Its a high compliance cart suited to vintage low mass arms ? I think the precept is along the same lines ?

[worrasf]

Its a high compliance cart suited to vintage low mass arms ? I think the precept is along the same lines ?

Correct - very high compliance normal 50 but this one comes in about 30. Hugely detailed and dynamic but has a tendency to be a little brittle at high frequencies if not careful. Optimal loading is "odd" at 47 kohm and <400 pf. I had my 33 disc adapter board changed by DADA to reflect this. Dave R has one and rates his if memory serves.

Steve

[chris@panteg]

Correct - very high compliance normal 50 but this one comes in about 30. Hugely detailed and dynamic but has a tendency to be a little brittle at high frequencies if not careful. Optimal loading is "odd" at 47 kohm and <400 pf. I had my 33 disc adapter board changed by DADA to reflect this. Dave R has one and rates his if memory serves.

Steve

Fascinating looking thing Steve , well made too and not exactly cheap either is it ? My problem is i really can't afford another mistake ! The precept cost me £83 + 90 for the 550ML stylus + import duty + vat and charges of £31 :eek: a costly wrong turn :(

[worrasf]

Fascinating looking thing Steve , well made too and not exactly cheap either is it ? My problem is i really can't afford another mistake ! The precept cost me £83 + 90 for the 550ML stylus + import duty + vat and charges of £31 :eek: a costly wrong turn :(

Understood Chris. You are still welcome to trial the Sonus at no cost - only buy it if you like it. what's the issue with the AT?

Steve

[chris@panteg]

Understood Chris. You are still welcome to trial the Sonus at no cost - only buy it if you like it. what's the issue with the AT?

Steve

Thanks for the offer :) The AT just sounds so dull and a bit lifeless , no sparkle or clarity , probably the most boring cart I've ever tried , yet the specs are good ? Berrylium cantilever and a very fine ML tip , my suspicion is it would suit the Techy arm better or something like an Ittok ? Not the SME 309 :scratch:

[worrasf]

Thanks for the offer :) The AT just sounds so dull and a bit lifeless , no sparkle or clarity , probably the most boring cart I've ever tried , yet the specs are good

Bizarre. I had the same disappointment with an Ortofon Rohmann - rave reviews and supposed to be the muts nuts but I found it dull as ditchwater and moved it on smartish.

Steve

[chris@panteg]

Bizarre. I had the same disappointment with an Ortofon Rohmann - rave reviews and supposed to be the muts nuts but I found it dull as ditchwater and moved it on smartish.

Steve

Good to know others have similar experiences :) you have to be honest with yourself , you don't like what your listening too and that's that.

I tried everything with this cart , tail up and down , tracking force , azimuth i even asked the cat if he could set it up better but he just stared at me :)

It just ain't making music to my ears .

Richard has kindly offered to do a swap from his collection , he's a very decent chap , think I'll give it a go :)

[chris@panteg]

Steve ignore my last post !

I had another go with the precept and I think I've cracked it .
How much are those inspire cones ? Thinking of giving em a go .

[worrasf]

How much are those inspire cones ? Thinking of giving em a go .

Vic says he needs to charge £2 each and i think that's break even.

Steve

[chris@panteg]

Vic says he needs to charge £2 each and i think that's break even.

Steve

Thanks Steve

Can't complain at that :)

My techy is back on song .

[MartinT]

My techy is back on song .

Good news, Chris. How did you solve your cartridge issue?

[chris@panteg]

Good news, Chris. How did you solve your cartridge issue?

Hi Martin

I lowered vta a fraction , got the azimuth bang on I think , but something else was screwing up the Sonics which I'm a little embarrassed about ! Shall we say poor cable management :doh:

Marco bangs on about this and now I know why , I confess to being a bit lazy with system set up or careless :)

[MartinT]

LOL - whatever fixes it for you. We all have those moments and have to work backwards to a 'known good point'!