Vantage modded SL-QL1

[morris_minor]

Arrived today from Vantage Audio - my modified QL1, to partner the SL7 which has "only" had the benefit of one of Richard's services.

Having sold my GyroSE, needing an automatic TT, revisiting the SL7 I had many, many years ago was a no-brainer, and getting a second parallel tracker for the other system seemed like a good idea too. A bit of bidding on eBay later, and these two arrived.

Since the QL1 is going to be the most used I asked Richard to give it the works:


Upgraded bearing
External power supply
Copper-bonded platter
New isolation feet
Extra damping in the lid


First impressions are extremely positive. Playing with a couple of Ortofons (OM40 and X1-MCP) the sound is nicely tightened up; transients stop and start quicker; the sound stage seems wider and deeper, and the general "foot-tapping" quotient has gone up a few notches.

The copper platter seems pretty inert - no ringing here, though it looks a little strange with the silver colour scheme.

On order are a couple of isolation platforms from SRM/Tech - one a custom fit for the small SL7.

So, I'm getting there. When the bearing has run in a bit I'll get out the Technics P22 with the Jico SAS tip - and I guess that'll be about as good as its going to get. :)

In the pics below, with the SL7, the power supply (functional rather than a "looker") is under the desk for the moment.

http://www.revalia.co.uk/QL1/1.jpg

http://www.revalia.co.uk/QL1/2.jpg

http://www.revalia.co.uk/QL1/3.jpg

http://www.revalia.co.uk/QL1/4.jpg

[Tarzan]

:stalks::eek:, very nice:cool:

[chris@panteg]

That copper bonded platter looks gorgeous , I think the P22/SAS will give you the best sound short of a P205 mk3 :)

[morris_minor]

:stalks::eek:, very nice:cool:

Thanks Andy :D

[morris_minor]

That copper bonded platter looks gorgeous , I think the P22/SAS will give you the best sound short of a P205 mk3 :)

I'm sure you're right Chris, though the OM40 with its Fritz Gyger tip sounds pretty good :).

[DSJR]

At the end of the day, I'm sure it's not important, but there doesn't appear to be a label recess for the record?

[chris@panteg]

I'm sure you're right Chris, though the OM40 with its Fritz Gyer tip sounds pretty good :).

I don't doubt it , pleased you've done this ! I really love the QL1 , I fancy getting the copper platter now :)

[chris@panteg]

At the end of the day, I'm sure it's not important, but there doesn't appear to be a label recess for the record?

Dave , you really ought to speak to Richard about this , he'll put you right ;)

[DSJR]

So it's deliberate - I should have realised.. No probs and genuine apologies if I appear to pour cold water on the mods above.

[morris_minor]

I don't doubt it , pleased you've done this ! I really love the QL1 , I fancy getting the copper platter now :)

I think these "top end" DD linear trackers are fantastic decks; they perform so much better than you have any right to expect. And the QL1s go for less than the SL7/10/15 on the 'Bay too. Mine cost fifty quid including shipping. Both decks worked well without any attention, too, as build quality is so good. With Richard's "electro-pack" service and clean up of the arm mechanism they're set up for another 30 years. Add in the scope for guys like Richard to improve on the already good performance and you have great sound at bargain prices.

But then you already know this, Chris! Good luck with resisting the copper platter (even if there's no cut out for the disc lable :eyebrows:).

[morris_minor]

So it's deliberate - I should have realised.. No probs and genuine apologies if I appear to pour cold water on the mods above.

Richard emailed me earlier about his visit - just picked it up. Amongst other things he wrote:


By the way I should have mentioned an important point about the copper bonded platter on the QL1 when we called earlier. The way we make the platter ensures the platter surface presents the correct profile for the record when pleced on top.If you gently place a straight-edge across the platter you will see that the platter has a concave profile and this follows the RIAA spec for record profiles. This negates the need for a label recess.

[chris@panteg]

I think these "top end" DD linea trackers are fantastic decks; they perform so much better than you have any right to expect. And the QL1s go for less than the SL7/10/15 on the 'Bay too. Mine cost fifty quid including shipping. Both decks worked well without any attention, too, as build quality is so good. With Richard's "electro-pack" service and clean up of the arm mechanism they're set up for another 30 years. Add in the scope for guys like Richard to improve on the already good performance and you have great sound at bargain prices.

But then you already know this, Chris! Good luck with resisting the copper platter (even if there's no cut out for the disc lable :eyebrows:).

I think i will get the bonded platter and external psu but it will have to wait as there is a possibility of an SP10mk2 , just don't know yet though ? oh and i have gone an bought a rather tasty MC cartridge :D

[chris@panteg]

Richard emailed me earlier about his visit - just picked it up. Amongst other things he wrote:


By the way I should have mentioned an important point about the copper bonded platter on the QL1 when we called earlier. The way we make the platter ensures the platter surface presents the correct profile for the record when pleced on top.If you gently place a straight-edge across the platter you will see that the platter has a concave profile and this follows the RIAA spec for record profiles. This negates the need for a label recess.

Yep that's what he told me when i had my 1210 platter mod :)

[Stratmangler]

oh and i have gone an bought a rather tasty MC cartridge :D

How long before it lands Chris?

[chris@panteg]

How long before it lands Chris?

Its sat in a box on top of my wardrobe Chris , been there a couple of days , its not that I'm trying to hide it from my Wife of course :whistle:

[Stratmangler]

Its sat in a box on top of my wardrobe Chris , been there a couple of days , its not that I'm trying to hide it from my Wife of course :whistle:

:eyebrows:

[WOStantonCS100]

Its sat in a box on top of my wardrobe Chris , been there a couple of days , its not that I'm trying to hide it from my Wife of course :whistle:

Chris, if you get the SP-10MK2, maybe you can get together with Marco (or Martin) and we can finally see how a fully modded 1200 compares to an SP-10 and vice versa. :)

[chris@panteg]

Chris, if you get the SP-10MK2, maybe you can get together with Marco (or Martin) and we can finally see how a fully modded 1200 compares to an SP-10 and vice versa. :)

Hi Biff

If I can get one anything is possible , but it will need some restoration ! ex BBC .

[Slippershod]

I think these "top end" DD linear trackers are fantastic decks; they perform so much better than you have any right to expect. And the QL1s go for less than the SL7/10/15 on the 'Bay too. Mine cost fifty quid including shipping.

just been chatting with him about that, funnily enough - with threads like this, that's unlikely to last (although it's fair enough of course) :lol: 'Shhhh ! ...'

surprised to see what a SL-7 went for the other day, although the seller talked it up (without actually saying it had even had a basic service ... ) very well. They weren't breaking £100* not that long ago.

*unless you live in 'Audio Gold', Camden innit, land, of course :-)

[chris@panteg]

just been chatting with him about that, funnily enough - with threads like this, that's unlikely to last (although it's fair enough of course) :lol: 'Shhhh ! ...'

surprised to see what a SL-7 went for the other day, although the seller talked it up (without actually saying it had even had a basic service ... ) very well. They weren't breaking £100* not that long ago.

*unless you live in 'Audio Gold', Camden innit, land, of course :-)

I know the seller , actually these decks are great provided you can get them cheap like £25 for mine but £184 for an SL7 :scratch:

[Slippershod]

I know the seller , actually these decks are great provided you can get them cheap like £25 for mine but £184 for an SL7 :scratch:

'sterolalalab' I think it was - possibly a guy called jon that posts on VE - has some really weird and wonderful vinyl up for sale more often than not, as well as good quality hi-fi bits.

if my experience with quite a range of them now is anything to go by, you really do have to factor in a decent service of linear trackers into their price - although I guess if you're not 'handy' that can be said about almost all / any aging disc-spinners (dont' mean DJs here...).

Mind you, I just got an SL-Q15 which I was hoping against hope would be a bargain transformed by some contact-cleaner - not to be unfortunately - so another deck over to Richard, probably.

[chris@panteg]

'sterolalalab' I think it was - possibly a guy called jon that posts on VE - has some really weird and wonderful vinyl up for sale more often than not, as well as good quality hi-fi bits.

if my experience with quite a range of them now is anything to go, you really do have to factor in a decent service of linear trackers into their price - although I guess if you're not 'handy' that can be said about almost all / any aging disc-spinners (dont' mean DJs here...).

Mind you, I just got an SL-Q15 which I was hoping against hope would be a bargain transformed by some contact-cleaner - not to be unfortunately - so another deck over to Richard, probably.

Yes it is Jon , he had a monster of a TT some while back , he also bought my Snells .

Quite right about a service and Richard is your man :)

[Slippershod]

oddly there have a been a couple of SL-10s up of late (one here, one in the states) which were going along nicely, only for both to be 'pulled' without explanation - wondered if both sellers had received offers they couldn't refuse ... ?

[morris_minor]

There was an SL10 on the 'Bay in the last week or so that was pulled (I think). It wasn't mentioned in the description, but you could see from the photos that the cartridge was a 205mk3. I was watching that one very closely :eyebrows:.

[chris@panteg]

There was an SL10 on the 'Bay in the last week or so that was pulled (I think). It wasn't mentioned in the description, but you could see from the photos that the cartridge was a 205mk3. I was watching that one very closely :eyebrows:.

The P205mk3 can fetch £200 on its own , so sought after and yes I want one:(

[chris@panteg]

Hey Bob

Have you plugged in the P22/jico/SAS yet , tell me about the Ortofon MC1 is it worth getting as an alternative to the p22 ?

[morris_minor]

Hey Bob

Have you plugged in the P22/jico/SAS yet , tell me about the Ortofon MC1 is it worth getting as an alternative to the p22 ?

Not yet Chris - still enjoying the OM40! I'll give it go tomorrow . . :)

I took a bit of a punt on the X1-MCP. I had the impression from various internet posts that it was a bit thin and weedy - but my experience has been anything but. It has a nice depth to it and detailed top end. Maybe worth saying that I use a Graham Slee Era V Gold phono stage, so perhaps this suits it more than other phono stages. :scratch:

When Richard delivered the QL1 we put the X1-MCP in, and he said he was quite impressed, not having heard too much about it. I think if you'd like to try one now is the time as they're quite rare - I got mine from Thakker in Germany.

Have just been playing an eBay-bought disc that arrived today - "Keats" by Keats. Unless you're an Alan Parsons Project fan (as I am), I expect this one passed almost everyone by. Keats were the Project band making an album for themselves, produced by Parsons so it sound bloody brilliant :D. Think of the most commercial Project track, and try and make it just that bit more commercial, and you have Keats. I think it sunk without trace, which is a pity as there's some nice songs on it. Anyhow - the OM40/QL1 loved it - some really solid and detailed sounds.

I'll report back on the p22/sas . . . :)

[chris@panteg]

Not yet Chris - still enjoying the OM40! I'll give it go tomorrow . . :)

I took a bit of a punt on the X1-MCP. I had the impression from various internet posts that it was a bit thin and weedy - but my experience has been anything but. It has a nice depth to it and detailed top end. Maybe worth saying that I use a Graham Slee Era V Gold phono stage, so perhaps this suits it more than other phono stages. :scratch:

When Richard delivered the QL1 we put the X1-MCP in, and he said he was quite impressed, not having heard too much about it. I think if you'd like to try one now is the time as they're quite rare - I got mine from Thakker in Germany.

Have just been playing an eBay-bought disc that arrived today - "Keats" by Keats. Unless you're an Alan Parsons Project fan (as I am), I expect this one passed almost everyone by. Keats were the Project band making an album for themselves, produced by Parsons so it sound bloody brilliant :D. Think of the most commercial Project track, and try and make it just that bit more commercial, and you have Keats. I think it sunk without trace, which is a pity as there's some nice songs on it. Anyhow - the OM40/QL1 loved it - some really solid and detailed sounds.

I'll report back on the p22/sas . . . :)

Hi Bob

Glad you're enjoying the QL1 , I fancy getting the Ortofon so thanks for that .

Keats sound interesting , been enjoying my "Precept" cartridge today , its sounding so much better now with some hours on it ! Over 30 give or take and trying to resist mounting the AT33EV that's kicking around on top of my wardrobe , still it can wait .

[Slippershod]

strange 'karmic' thing with the sl-ql1 that was finishing on ebay yesterday - it was the 'black' finish, which I like, and supposedly in ok nick ... so definitely against my better judgement (and Richard's advice) I thought 'I'll 'ave it ...'

was signed in for sure - had just added another item to my watch list - was waiting for the final 10 or so seconds to put in my top bid - only to be told, when I tried, that i'd 'signed out' and the thing went for £38 :lol:

have ebay implemented something to stop 'sniping' (not that that's what I was trying to do - I thought it was pretty normal practice to do what I intended anyway - I usually lose regardless)?

[morris_minor]

Shame about the QL1 Marc.

I use snipes all the time :rolleyes:.

It's just got me a couple of mint 180gm Police albums for around a fiver each. The only time I've ever lost a "snipe" is when I hadn't put an amount in high enough.

Maybe it's "bad form" to snipe, but everyone's free to do it . . .:eyebrows: