View Full Version : New MN Platter
prestonchipfryer
02-03-2012, 13:47
Am awaiting delivery of the new MN platter for Technics SL1200/10. Can't wait for it to arrive and look forward to posting when installed. How long does it take to come from Oz? Suppose it's held up by customs. :rolleyes:
John
You lucky fella! :) My new bearing took about 8 days from when shipped to get to Norway in February.
prestonchipfryer
02-03-2012, 15:20
Well, so far it's been nearly two weeks, 10 working days. Did you find it easy to fit your bearing? Great improvement on the stock one.
John
It took about three weeks for mine to arrive, about half of that in UK customs. You just have to be patient :)
prestonchipfryer
02-03-2012, 15:45
It took about three weeks for mine to arrive, about half of that in UK customs. You just have to be patient :)
Hi Martin. Thanks for that.
John
RobbieGong
02-03-2012, 17:54
Am awaiting delivery of the new MN platter for Technics SL1200/10. Can't wait for it to arrive and look forward to posting when installed. How long does it take to come from Oz? Suppose it's held up by customs. :rolleyes:
John
Looking forward to your feedback on it - Which one of the Mike New Platters did you opt for ? :)
prestonchipfryer
02-03-2012, 18:34
Looking forward to your feedback on it - Which one of the Mike New Platters did you opt for ? :)
The platter is the new composite and will be black. There will be a label recess, but will be trying several types of mat.
John
RobbieGong
02-03-2012, 18:41
The platter is the new composite and will be black. There will be a label recess, but will be trying several types of mat.
John
Nice one John, piccies of platter in situ and feedback / review anticipated ;)
Well, so far it's been nearly two weeks, 10 working days. Did you find it easy to fit your bearing? Great improvement on the stock one.
John
I found it easy to fit, and a great improvement on the stock one. :)
prestonchipfryer
02-03-2012, 19:37
I found it easy to fit, and a great improvement on the stock one. :)
Worth every penny IMO. Perhaps the most important upgrade for the 1200s?
John
Mike_New
05-03-2012, 22:01
Hi john,
I should have posted the platter whilst you were still at your chateau in the south of Spain!! The UK customs do not have any particular sense of urgency, from what I can tell. Why should they it's not there property!
prestonchipfryer
06-03-2012, 07:28
Hi john,
I should have posted the platter whilst you were still at your chateau in the south of Spain!! The UK customs do not have any particular sense of urgency, from what I can tell. Why should they it's not there property!
G'day Mike. It's not a real chateau, more like a tent. :lol: Yeah, still waiting.
John
prestonchipfryer
07-03-2012, 13:07
Platter arrived today. Pictures and words to follow later. :)
John
Platter arrived today. Pictures and words to follow later. :)
John
Cannot wait that long John! Enjoy!:cool:
Platter arrived today. Pictures and words to follow later. :)
Hehehe... I can feel your excitement - enjoy! :cool:
Marco.
prestonchipfryer
08-03-2012, 08:48
Just waiting to get the time to actually sit down and have a long sesh. First impressions are indeed very favourable. Pictures as soon as poss.
John :D
Do you need to have the old power supply removed to install the platter?
prestonchipfryer
08-03-2012, 16:37
Yes you have to remove the old standard on-board power supply and I also had to remove a capacitor as well. The capacitor bottom left has to be removed as it will cause the platter to foul.
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/pcb1.jpg
More pics...
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterside.jpg
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterfront.jpg
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterabove.jpg
The platter is very easy to install as Mike's instructions are easy to follow. This platter is 20mm higher than the standard platter and has the record label recess. Various mats have been tried including: Achromat (which is showing great promise), a standard Technics rubber mat, the Oyaide mat (I suspect this may not be a good match, but you never know), and a glass (30mm) mat.
One important point is that the tapered part of the MN bearing needs to have petroleum jelly liberally applied so as to facilitate a good fit and make it easier to lift the platter off/on for positioning/repositioning.
So far: Achromat -
Even now it is obvious that the sound emanating with the new platter is superior than with the standard platter. The most obvious is in the bass: textures are easier to follow and I am not only hearing an improvement but feeling the really low notes. Detail is also improved over the standard platter, with voices possessing better articulation - this was quite obvious with Genesis' Trick of the Tail: Robbery, Assault and Battery; where previously certain words seemed obscure, but with the MN platter could more easily be understood.
With Joan Armatrading Joan Armatrading there was a defined improvement with the backing musicians more clearly resolved. Supertramp's Crime of the Century Rudy was clearly better resolved in the bass, which can be overpowering, but not so with the MN platter.
Treble is very smooth, this is quite likely due to the 2M Black. I will be trying a Lyra cartridge and a Denon 103R at a later date, but as changing cartridges is quite time-consuming with the SME V time is better spent listening to music.
A definite keeper then.
John
Excellent stuff, John... I'm pleased for ya. It certainly appears as if my request for Mike to make 'em in black has paid off. The platter looks superb on an SL-1200, just as I thought it would! Visually, it also matches your SME arm really well.
Can we see a pic with an Achromat placed on top? :)
Marco.
P.S What you need now is an ebony armboard! ;)
prestonchipfryer
08-03-2012, 18:54
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterside.jpg
Here tis
Now *that* looks classy! Perhaps it should be your new avatar? ;)
Marco.
prestonchipfryer
08-03-2012, 19:04
Now *that* looks classy! Perhaps it should be your new avatar? ;)
Marco.
What a good idea Marco . . . . . . :idea:
Indeed. Unfortunately, I'm prone to them rather often.
Marco.
prestonchipfryer
08-03-2012, 19:19
Indeed. Unfortunately, I'm prone to them rather often.
Marco.
A heavy burden it must be for you! :rfl: :rfl:
Hehehe... It's rather interesting now looking at both of our avatars ;)
Marco.
prestonchipfryer
08-03-2012, 19:53
Indeed, let it be said, for they are both of great interest. And very good looking! ;)
RobbieGong
08-03-2012, 21:17
Hi John, How much does one of these beauties cost a wantant fella like me ? :)
prestonchipfryer
09-03-2012, 09:38
Hi Robert. Approx £620, depending on the exchange rate from A$. It is extremely well engineered and is a credit to Mike New.
John
prestonchipfryer
10-03-2012, 08:20
Yes you have to remove the old standard on-board power supply and I also had to remove a capacitor as well. The capacitor bottom left has to be removed as it will cause the platter to foul.
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/pcb1.jpg
More pics...
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterside.jpg
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterfront.jpg
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/platterabove.jpg
The platter is very easy to install as Mike's instructions are easy to follow. This platter is 20mm higher than the standard platter and has the record label recess. Various mats have been tried including: Achromat (which is showing great promise), a standard Technics rubber mat, the Oyaide mat (I suspect this may not be a good match, but you never know), and a glass (30mm) mat.
One important point is that the tapered part of the MN bearing needs to have petroleum jelly liberally applied so as to facilitate a good fit and make it easier to lift the platter off/on for positioning/repositioning.
So far: Achromat -
Even now it is obvious that the sound emanating with the new platter is superior than with the standard platter. The most obvious is in the bass: textures are easier to follow and I am not only hearing an improvement but feeling the really low notes. Detail is also improved over the standard platter, with voices possessing better articulation - this was quite obvious with Genesis' Trick of the Tail: Robbery, Assault and Battery; where previously certain words seemed obscure, but with the MN platter could more easily be understood.
With Joan Armatrading Joan Armatrading there was a defined improvement with the backing musicians more clearly resolved. Supertramp's Crime of the Century Rudy was clearly better resolved in the bass, which can be overpowering, but not so with the MN platter.
Treble is very smooth, this is quite likely due to the 2M Black. I will be trying a Lyra cartridge and a Denon 103R at a later date, but as changing cartridges is quite time-consuming with the SME V time is better spent listening to music.
A definite keeper then.
John
According to Mike New the power supply can be left in situ;
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=305540#post305540
Apologies for mis-information
WOStantonCS100
10-03-2012, 09:05
I had been settled on white with brass inserts; but, looking at yours... black with brass inserts would look pretty hot, too!
Mike_New
10-03-2012, 09:05
According to Mike New the power supply can be left in situ;
To clarify things, There are a number of configurations and combinations of circuit boards and components that comprise the various models and production runs of the SL1200 over the may years tht it has been in production.
Generally I have found that the two criteria that would determine if my platters are usuable in any particular model or "year" would be:
a) the Capacitor (C1) at the bottom left hand corner of the main circuit board.
If the capacitor is a large vertically mounted one as with John, then this should be replaced.
b) And the type of on board power supply circuit board used.
In the case of the power supply if you have a dual voltage SL1200, then this will most probably be fitted with a black voltage selector which sits high above the rest of the circuit components.
These things can be checked by placing a 6" rule across the metal top of the coil assembly on the main PCB. If anything is above the bottom edge of the ruler, then you may have a problem.
In all honesty I could easily machine the platters to avoid these contraints, however to do so would be defeating the purpose of getting the centre of gravity of the platters as low as possible, given the very small diameter taper support.
Further, I really believe that the power supply and bearing should be changed first before thinking about a new platter. To do otherwise I think, is truly wasting one's time and money.
WOStantonCS100
10-03-2012, 09:26
Further, I really believe that the power supply and bearing should be changed first before thinking about a new platter...
It looks like I'm back to looking for a PSU since I've already got the bearing. At least, there is plenty of info on AoS about 1200 PSUs.
Mike_New
10-03-2012, 09:36
I had been settled on white with brass inserts; but, looking at yours... black with brass inserts would look pretty hot, too!
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1812/etpplatterbrassinserts.jpg[/URL]
Hi Biff,
The above image is of a Black Platter with Brass Inserts which I shipped to a customer in Singapore last week.
Just out of interest Mike what do the brass inserts do?
Mike_New
10-03-2012, 10:24
hi Andy,
With the relatively lighter material of the ETP Platter, the brass inserts provide just a bit more inertia or mass to the platter.
Artifolk
11-03-2012, 10:38
Hi Mike
Being a bit of and SS nut (not the Nazi verity) would it be possible to say replace the brass with 316 or harder SS?
Mike_New
11-03-2012, 10:46
Yes you could place inserts made of anything within reason.
But I don't think any advantage would be gained by using Stainles steel of any grade.
As I said earlier the inserts are only there to increase the mass of the platter by a small amount SS would not be of any advantage.
Artifolk
11-03-2012, 11:15
Sorry mike, i should have worded it a little better, i also meant the central spindle hole.
JazzBones
11-03-2012, 12:21
hi Andy,
With the relatively lighter material of the ETP Platter, the brass inserts provide just a bit more inertia or mass to the platter.
Mike, you may have already given out this info but, could you give your view point and assessment between the performances between your ETP and ali/copper platters (I have the latter) in tandem with your bearing and bearing base plate obviously. I use the Origin Live rubber feet (Vantage sells this as well under their own badging) sitting on a Seismic sink, fairly similar to your set up concept. I personally think that this platform outperforms the Isonoe feet which are now in cold storage as it were. I believe that you made mention that bass performance was lighter via the ETP?
Thanks mate
Ron
Mike_New
11-03-2012, 22:44
Mike, you may have already given out this info but, could you give your view point and assessment between the performances between your ETP and ali/copper platters (I have the latter) in tandem with your bearing and bearing base plate obviously. I believe that you made mention that bass performance was lighter via the ETP?
Thanks mate
Ron
Hi Ron,
I believe the ETP platter is just a bit less pronounced in the lower bass regions than the Bonded Alluminium Platter platter. I attribute this to the lower mass of the ETP platter compared with the mass of the Bonded Alluminium Platter, which has about a 40% higher mass.
This is why I have added the brass inserts to add about 0.5Kg to the mass of the ETP platter, they are not there to make it look sexy! Although I must admit they do enhance the attractiveness, (and there are more than two) If you have a system providing good bass response or are more interested in the mid to higher range frequencies then the straight ETP platter is what will suit you. All the versions of the ETP platter are the same price.
However, if you are into heavy Organ music, Jazz featuring the double bass or classical featuring the cello then the bonded Alluminium Platter is what I believe would match these preferences.
My evaluations have obviously been done using my bearing and base plate as you suggested. However I do not consider myself to have perfect or even very good hearing so theses things must be subjective.
I have however tried both platters using a brand new standard bearing (one which I purchased from the agents in Australia when I first become involved in trying to improve the sonics of the SL1200) The results were less than impressive. in fact the music detail and definition seem to be less defined.
prestonchipfryer
03-10-2012, 09:44
Whilst playing around with different mats I have found that a bog standard felt mat (originally from a Rega TT) really makes things sing. Sound staging is obviously wider and depth (on suitable recordings) is much more obvious. There is also more noticeable detail from appropriate recordings. Also in use is a Pathe Wings weight, which is 480 grams, bought off German Ebay.
All in all very pleasing.
Technics SL1200, SME V, Lyra Dorian and, of course, the Mike New superb bearing.
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