View Full Version : Northwest Analogue Slate SP10
Dominic Harper
18-02-2012, 18:57
Hi Folks. Finally some pics of the finished SP10, slate plinth, RB300 and Goldring 2300.
http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af30/hifimaster/SP10%20slate/DSCF3488.jpg
http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af30/hifimaster/SP10%20slate/DSCF3490.jpg
http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af30/hifimaster/SP10%20slate/DSCF3480.jpg
http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af30/hifimaster/SP10%20slate/DSCF3491.jpg
Ali Tait
18-02-2012, 19:01
Very nice.
Wakefield Turntables
18-02-2012, 19:01
That looks great, but I thought the sp10 might have something a bit more chunky than a RB300 strapped to its side :D
Dominic Harper
18-02-2012, 19:04
That was the arm the customer had and wanted fitting. Size of plinth was critical for his listening room.
To be honest it sounded bloody good with the Rega and Goldring!
Gosh, that looks sexy! :eek:
Dom, how does the Goldring 2300 compared to one of your re-tipped G800s?
Marco.
Dominic Harper
18-02-2012, 19:12
Hi Marco. I would describe it as being a bit more laid back, but very nice all the same.
I dare not say this, but arms with less internal resonances sound perfectly fine with modern "toppy" cartridges in my opinion :eyebrows: There are some decks out there which can sing with a stock RB300, just not usually in the usual suspects oft mentioned here ;)
Looks great Dom. "Clinical" or not, I've always loved the SP10 for its utter professionalism, even though my heart tells me a 401 or Td124 would suit me best right now - on all levels... :lol:
P.S. Am I right in suggesting that these 2300 series Goldrings are Nagaoka's in disguise?
Dominic Harper
18-02-2012, 19:20
Hi Dave. They might well be. Would need to do a bit more digging on the Nagaoka front to be sure.
I dare not say this, but arms with less internal resonances sound perfectly fine with modern "toppy" cartridges in my opinion :eyebrows:
Or another way to put it could be that the sonic blandness of Rega arms counteracts the toppiness! It's a nice 'arse about tit' way of doing things :D
Dom, I'm surprised that you found the Goldring to be laid back. Based on what I've heard from others like it, I'd have expected the opposite... Interesting.
Marco.
Dominic Harper
18-02-2012, 19:36
Only laid back in the sense that it was not as fast as the modded g800
Rare Bird
18-02-2012, 19:43
Nice that precision beveled edge around the plinth looks good..
Dominic Harper
18-02-2012, 21:12
The SP10 was the first time I heard one, and I have to say I for one was very impressed. The pics don't do the slate plinth justice, you had to see it in the flesh to see how gorgeous it was. It sounded sublime and I loved everything about it. I still want the TD124 though, but they are 2 very diffrent decks. The Garrard had a little more bass, but the Garrard does have a 12" arm. The SP10 was also a little high in the treble, but that was easily remedied once Dom had had a fettle with it. All in all a very nice turntable indeed IMHO :).
Natalie;)
The SP10 was the first time I heard one, and I have to say I for one was very impressed. The pics don't do the slate plinth justice, you had to see it in the flesh to see how gorgeous it was. It sounded sublime and I loved everything about it. I still want the TD124 though, but they are 2 very diffrent decks. The Garrard had a little more bass, but the Garrard does have a 12" arm. The SP10 was also a little high in the treble, but that was easily remedied once Dom had had a fettle with it. All in all a very nice turntable indeed IMHO :).
Natalie;)
I can imagine the deck sounds very good indeed having had one for a month in the original technics corian plinth from 20+ years ago, weighed a ton!
The rega arm is only a part of the package much like arm leads, tone arm cables, weights, carts etc, etc. Sonic blandness would only exist when the turntable is not set up with the optimum ancillaries as happens with most regas I have heard. If set up professionally it can and does sound stupendous.
Slippershod
20-02-2012, 18:34
oh man, now that's a serious looking deck - so much cooler than the overly glossy wooden etc ones you sometimes see the deck in.
aesthetically (what, you mean that shouldn't matter ;) ?) I think the rega looks great on there - the minimalist black and metal styling going hand in hand with the slate plinth and motor unit.
Dominic Harper
20-02-2012, 20:08
I love the sharpness of the look on this SP10, which is why I thought it best to keep the plinth inkeeping with the SP10 look. I also decided on the square slate discs, again all inkeeping with the SP10. My unltimate now would be to try and design something for say a Technics 1200 something along those lines. I'm not sure how easy it would be, but I think all turntables whether it is a technics or a thorens, would look very good in slate. I would like for us to have a full range of slate turtables. But we will have to wait and see.
Natalie;)
I love the sharpness of the look on this SP10, which is why I thought it best to keep the plinth inkeeping with the SP10 look. I also decided on the square slate discs, again all inkeeping with the SP10. My unltimate now would be to try and design something for say a Technics 1200 something along those lines. I'm not sure how easy it would be, but I think all turntables whether it is a technics or a thorens, would look very good in slate. I would like for us to have a full range of slate turtables. But we will have to wait and see.
Natalie;)
Do it! Do It!:)
Tricky, and no guarantee that it would sound better than the well-damped Techie plinth, but I'd like to see one :)
As you say Martin, no guarantee it'll sound as good but it would look so lurvely and besides, ya won't know 'til ya try one? ;)
Wakefield Turntables
21-02-2012, 21:00
I love the sharpness of the look on this SP10, which is why I thought it best to keep the plinth inkeeping with the SP10 look. I also decided on the square slate discs, again all inkeeping with the SP10. My unltimate now would be to try and design something for say a Technics 1200 something along those lines. I'm not sure how easy it would be, but I think all turntables whether it is a technics or a thorens, would look very good in slate. I would like for us to have a full range of slate turtables. But we will have to wait and see.
Natalie;)
Part of what gives the 12xx series of decks there sonic signature is the way they are dampened. Slate may just dampen too much and loose some of the attack and clarity that makes the 12xx special.
Dominic Harper
21-02-2012, 21:15
Your right Martin, because Dom said the same thing. I know what everyone is saying but Dom and I have thought long and hard about this and we will have to wait and see. I appreciate that these decks are very fiddly, but we do have some ideas. We are just in discussions at the moment. The only thing that concerns me at the moment is that we may have to look at loosing some of the aesthetics of the 1200 which I don't really want to do. Anyway, we will have to see what we can do.
Natalie;)
Dingdong
21-02-2012, 21:53
You could try recreating the JBE Slatedeck with teccy bits.
Good luck with it, Natalie. I'm quite interested, actually, and don't want to dissuade you before even trying.
There's only two critical areas really: providing a stable berth for the bearing/motor PCB assembly, and providing an arm mount. Switches and stuff can be located as practical, and the PSU can be assumed to be external. That leaves feet. Not so complex, then!
Dingdong
21-02-2012, 23:22
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/marktb/Hifi/IMG_4283WEB.jpg
Good luck with it, Natalie. I'm quite interested, actually, and don't want to dissuade you before even trying.
Indeed - try away! If it's any good (and I'll soon let you know ;)), you'll have plenty of customers for them on here :)
Marco.
Dominic Harper
23-02-2012, 01:06
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/marktb/Hifi/IMG_4283WEB.jpg
My Idea is sort of like this but with a little more weight. I think someone mentioned earlier that you can over dampen the techinics, but I think I would like something a bit more weighty. I am also keen on trying to do a seperate armboard rather that something fitted. I am also looking at diffrent materials to use. Slate would be the main component, but I do like the idea of the Ebony armboards. I have a few plans for this one as I know there are quite a few Techies on here, but also because I think it will be a huge challenge for us. I have already done a couple of designs but I don't want to give to much away just yet as I have a few more idea's to think about. I also have plans to make a few small changes to the actual deck, but still inkeeping with the original 1200. Anyway, I will let you know my progress once I have finished my final design. Believe me the SP10 looks quite simple, but it wasn't. However, it did give me food for thought and a little inspiration.
Natalie;)
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