View Full Version : Heybrook TT2
ListeningEar
19-03-2013, 00:20
I have a late model Heybrook TT2 turntable fitted with a Rega RB300/Denon DL110, arm has a couple of mods, it's be re-wired with soild silver tonearm wire to phono plugs now mounted into the rear lower chasis of the turntable. Also has an aftermarket counterweight which is better than the Rega but I can't remember which one.
I have seen sellers on flea-bay building custom plinths for well known decks that turns a mundane looking deck into an expensive looking piece of furniture almost, rather like some of the exotic Garrard rebuilds.
Has anyone got any advice on modifying this turntable or going down the route of installation the workings of this turntable into a custom wooden plinth?
The plinth maker also offers other upgrades such as Origin Live motors etc.
Many thanks.
The Grand Wazoo
19-03-2013, 00:34
We have a couple of members here who know more about the TT2 than almost anyone else on the planet, so I expect you'll get some good advice if you hang around for them to turn up!
ListeningEar
19-03-2013, 00:38
Excellent, look foward to it,...it already sounds fantastic (I used to own a heavily modified GyroDec and while I miss this the Heybrook still gives me alot of enjoyment).
;)
I took a Thorens TD125 to Russ Collinson and he built a solid bespoke plinth around the deck. I'll happily supply a pic as testimony to his work but you can find his website easily enough, I think it's:
http://www.layers-of-beauty.co.uk/
How can you improve on this? ;)
http://www.ollars.net/hififorum/BW01.JPG
or this:
http://www.ollars.net/hififorum/TT2_AO250_S.JPG
:)
Regards //Mike
ListeningEar
20-03-2013, 10:15
Very nice, mine is a later model than those and all black in black ash plinth, I fancy going to matching walnut to my ProAc Super Towers ;)
I notice there is no speed selector, have these been modified with external power supplies/speed selectors?
Hi ListeningEar!
The top pic shows my early TT2, the one with a welded tubular steel frame. That one has only got one switch, the lit one front right. To change to 45rpm you place the belt on the bigger part of the pulley (under the plate).
The bottom pic shows the later TT2 with a cast aluminium frame and the external powersupply/regenerator constructed by Time De Paravinci. On the external unit there is a switch for 33rpm, 45rpm and off, som there are no buttons or switches on the turntable.
Very nice TTs IMO! I now realise you probably have the one with a smaller tone arm base? The latest incarnation if i remember correctly.
Best regards
//Mike
ListeningEar
20-03-2013, 11:11
Gotcha, thought I would take a picture of my deck in it's current guise.
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160700_zpseba14e4a.jpg
Very nice! It looks more modern than my iterations! :)
Original mat? My TT's have Linn felt mats.
I would love to know if yours have a motorcontrol built in? And also if you could manage a picture of the underside?
Regards //Mike
Just thought of something, a lot of people seem to be giving their speakers and stuff a new finish by applying something that you use on cars and similar, a thin film with elastical properties which is easy to apply AND remove if you dont want it any more. Perhaps an option?
ListeningEar
20-03-2013, 11:55
Hi Mike,
I do have the original mat but the one you see is a Denon mat, I had this unused for years in a sealed packet then came across it in the loft one day, it was Denon's attempt to produce a high-quality platter mat (still have original packaging for it I think). I do want to try other mat's as these have developed since the days of the Denon ;)
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160706_zps7a862738.jpg
This is the best I can do in grabbing an image of the underside for now, I do run it without the cover on the underside, was recommended to do this by the specialist audio shop that sold me the deck.
My concern is that you can spend £300+ (and several more £100's) on having a beautiful plinth made but what value does it really add to the deck in terms of performance? I keep wondering whether that money would be better served putting towards a total deck upgrade? (working on the basis I would sell the TT2 and have funds to add from that sale too).
Best regards,
Craig
As you all can see, the plinth is pretty darned solid from the start, and making it out of wanky woods isn't really going to do much other than cost you dear and look better.. Maybe that's all you'd like to do?
If the deck was stripped out carefully, the sides could be usefully be re-veneered I suspect, but if it looks ok as-is, I'd be inclined to look for power supply upgrades if appropriate, an arm tweak (the better Rega arms do improve on the stock one) and a mat/clamp consideration?
I liked the later TT2 very much and it was well up there with the other good sprung belt drives out there, including the LP12 where the LP12 was strong (involvement in the music).
ListeningEar
20-03-2013, 12:17
...what I had thought of doing was carefully removing the black ash sides/base and stripping it down to either look like a limed/bleached ash or maybe just getting it restained. I have a local furniture restorer I work with for loudspeaker cabinet restoration (he did an awesome job on my ProAc Super Towers) so this would not be a major issue, I have just never tried stripping this model deck apart before,...plus it's in regular use as my digital ripping machine hehe.
I've had some of the top Rega arms before, had an Origin Live (no expense spared) modified RB900 fitted to my Gyrodec (no longer own), this had an Ortofon MC3000 MKII cartridge, great setup but I never really liked the Ortofon...sorry, I digress lol.
I don't want to go overboard on the Heybrook, it will be going in for service to my faithful Deco Audio in Aylesbury (they sold me the deck orignally) so will see what they have to say.
The top arm is about to be given a re-vamp with new external cabling amongst other things.. I still feel uncomfortable about certain bodgers taking a stock Rega, making it measurably a lot worse with sometimes suspect finish of the added bits and then charging a fortune for the "upgrade!" At least the new Funk arm (is it availabkle yet?) looks like it's a ground-up fresh design and hopefully it won't cost too many hundreds of pounds, fingers crossed...
Thanks for the picture Craig! This version looks a little different from below, and obviously it has got some form of electronic speed control.
Will try and take an image of my TT's underbelly later!
But i do tend to agree with DJSR, think its a good, sound construction to begin with. You'll change appearances more than sound i believe!
Not that this is a problem though, my decks deliver a good portion of music along with some hifi on the side! ;)
The technique i was referring to earlier is called "wrapping" btw, but applying new veneer will most definently look better.
Regards
/Mike
ListeningEar
20-03-2013, 12:55
"I said a Hip Hop, Hippy to Hippy,..said a Hip Hop the rock a don't stop",...oh wait, wrong kind of rapping!
Sorry, could not resist :D
I think I will just concentrate any modification funds into electronics, maybe motor upgrade.
A mate of mine in Northern Spain has been working on his TT2 and uses Linn springs ( which he says are quite an upgrade because they compress uniformly rather than more at the top or bottom or so he believes ) and he also made his own version of the Armageddon whioch works fine and also makes quite a bit of a difference. He uses a PU7 arm and is delighted with the results.
DiveDeepDog
20-03-2013, 13:24
I'm one of those that build ply idlers.
The weight alters the way the decks perform, for the better.
A new plinth will look better, but your not altering the fundamentals much.
As has been said, speed controller and springs will increase performance.
As with all upgrades/money spending, it's a balance between performance and aesthetics.
I´ve just spoken to my mate and he says that the Linn springs are certainly better than the ones his had fitted but he has yet to try a new set of Heybrook originals from Guy which are ordered. He suspects the Linn springs might be a bit soft for the TT2. Will keep you informed.
ListeningEar
20-03-2013, 23:48
OK, thanks for that, I would be inclined to test everything for purpose too rather than asume something from another quality brand will be an upgrade.
I have a box full of springs in my workshop, all new but I have no idea what they are for, I purchased a load of items several years back from an auction house when a Linn dealer went bankrupt. I know it's got some Thorens knobs in there. Maybe if I were to take a photo and provide some measurements someone could identify them?
So?
Any news on the box'o'springs?
ListeningEar
12-04-2013, 22:24
So?
Any news on the box'o'springs?
Thank you, this (legally) medicated grey matter does need constant reminders lol!
I will pull them out tomorrow and take some pictures and measurements ;)
ListeningEar
13-04-2013, 10:07
OK, took some pictures of various different parts I have that have been sitting for years:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160855_zpsb58dd55c.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160857_zpscf3a2004.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160858_zps1d551f92.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160856_zps100138d3.jpg
Were you a Linn and Rega dealer? Linn springs are nice (if the spiral is the final way round - they changed in the 80's) as they're properly topped and tailed for parallax (is that the right word to use here?). You have some Linn style top grommets too (best if they're firm ones :eyebrows:) and also some Rega ELA series 1 spikes by the look of it (I think I've got a set too!) Linn and possibly Rega R200 counterweights, Linn Ittok cueing lift and arm rest?
In the plastic compartment on the mid left of the bottom piccie, you wouldn't have a set of Thorens TD160 hinges would you?
ListeningEar
13-04-2013, 12:57
Hi Dave,
No I was a distributor of high-end components but got wind of a Linn and Rega dealer going out of business and bought a load of stock at auction, this is basically what I have left sitting in my workshop doing nothing.
If any of it is of use to anyone on here please let me know, much better being used than sitting around on my shelf. The springs seem to be two different types; the five on the left are of all the same height but the four on the right seem to be slightly taller.
Rubber mounts also seem to be the firm type. Tonearm counterweights consist of Rega (two standard) and one tungsten high mass aftermarket (I use one of these on my Rega arm).
Let me know if anyone needs anything, pay the postage and they are yours ;)
You have a lots of trying out to do if you're in the mood! ;)
I'd like to take a std/Tungsten counterweight off your hands if you don't mind! :D If you also have a std, stub i'd be jumping up & down and gladly pay you for these!
I also have a set of Linn springs in my cupboard, and im thinking of trying them out on one of my Heybrooks, but im not sure it'd be an improvement?
Regards
/Mike
ListeningEar
13-04-2013, 17:42
You have a lots of trying out to do if you're in the mood! ;)
I'd like to take a std/Tungsten counterweight off your hands if you don't mind! :D If you also have a std, stub i'd be jumping up & down and gladly pay you for these!
I also have a set of Linn springs in my cupboard, and im thinking of trying them out on one of my Heybrooks, but im not sure it'd be an improvement?
Regards
/Mike
...std, stub?
...std, stub?
:o Sorry! Meant "standard stub"...
//Mike
How did I miss this thread?
You've made me think now, especially as I've just managed to get hold of a mint TT2 from the very first batch, and haven't given any thought to modifying it. So, if I was going to do anything to it, what would I do? I can't see any percentage in modifying the plinth, although I think the changes made to the later plinth you have compared to the original were purely for economic reasons and probably didn't improve the sound of the turntable at all. It might be worth copying the original plinth, but it's not going to be a big improvement.
The area that's going to give the biggest benefits by far is the motor. As mentioned in a previous thread, someone once brought in a TT2 to which he'd added a second motor diametrically opposed to the original. Made a big difference to pace and rhythm IIRC, but it's a long time ago now...
I'd be looking first at a decent AC power supply or maybe a DC motor conversion, and maybe experimenting with the motor position, and possibly adding an idler pulley opposite the motor to stop the belt affecting the suspension, although that's going to mean a fair bit of work.
Not sure about Linn springs. Give it a try, but be careful not to damage the Heybrook spring seats. They're completely unobtainable now.
Overall, one of the strengths of the TT2 was that it was a pretty well balanced package, so there's no real stand-out item begging to be upgraded. I'll be interested to see what you come up with!
Don't suppose your treasure trove of bits includes one of the little finger grips that were fitted to early smoked Linn and TT2 lids? :) I'm missing one.
FYI there's a load of pictures of an early series TT2 here http://www.thepippin.plus.com/TT2/ . You can see how different the plinth construction is.
ListeningEar
13-04-2013, 23:08
Hi Shane,
Sorry I have none of those little finger grips you are looking for.
I think I am just going to leave the TT2 as it is, any money I would anticipate spending on upgrades I think I will just put towards buying a different turntable,...I do miss my GyroDec ;)
How did I miss this thread?
...Don't suppose your treasure trove of bits includes one of the little finger grips that were fitted to early smoked Linn and TT2 lids? :) I'm missing one...
Your'e in luck, Shane as I have two!
Mail me if you are interested (I can't mail you as I'm new around here).
Jon
wiicrackpot
14-04-2013, 14:27
Craig,
Just caught this thread, could you make up a set of Linn springs with top and bottom rubber grommets ?,
does anyone know if it's possible to replace Thorens TD125 one's with them?, either way i'd like a set please. :)
ListeningEar
19-04-2013, 22:11
Thought I would set up the Heybrook ready for friends coming round for the vinyl only evening.
Speakers are ProAc Super Towers MK I (totally rebuilt), Audiolab 8000LX integrated amp, Talk Electronics Whirlwind power supply and Breeze phono stage (both upgraded), and trusty Heybrook TT2 fitted with Rega RB300 re-wired with pure silver wire. Cartridge is Denon DL110.
Trying various different cables, got QED Anniversary solid silver speaker wire, Van Den Hul (can't remember which) interconnect going from turntable (Heybrook has been modified with phono sockets on rear of lower plinth) and IXOS GAMMA silver plated interconnects from phono stage to Audiolab.
I will let this run in for a bit as speakers definitely require some burn in time but I hope to be changing the Audiolab to a Yaqin MC-100B soon which I will fit with Sophia Electric valves which are a far higher quality than those supplied with the amp (Yaqin are building a 240v version but I will have this checked out by an engineer in the UK before using).
Hope that has not bored you all to death haha!
By the way, I am not using any mains filtration or purification, but mains cables are high quality.
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/bigdaddycraig/P1160928_zps231df4ab.jpg
Lovely setup!! Do I spot the Coltrane for a fiver LP?
ListeningEar
19-04-2013, 22:20
Lovely setup!! Do I spot the Coltrane for a fiver LP?
haha,...thanks, yes Coltrane on the turntable, definitely not for sale ;) It's a 180gm re-issue, double vinyl. It has remastered LP's in both stereo and mono, hence it being a double.
I just picked up the Dead Can Dance special edition box set of In Concert on vinyl, that sounds awesome. Got two sealed copies of those for sale but they are not cheap.
ListeningEar
20-04-2013, 14:41
Yes, they are still sitting in my workshop lol!
Will get onto it this week.
Mr Kipling
20-04-2013, 22:50
haha,...thanks, yes Coltrane on the turntable, definitely not for sale ;) It's a 180gm re-issue, double vinyl. It has remastered LP's in both stereo and mono, hence it being a double.
I just picked up the Dead Can Dance special edition box set of In Concert on vinyl, that sounds awesome. Got two sealed copies of those for sale but they are not cheap.
Is that Robbie? I've got his 1988 single 'New Orleans' on 12". Prefer the B-side 'Enough Is Enough'. Discogs have it for £1.25. A gem just waiting to be snapped-up.
(Couldn't resist it Craig.
Snigger. Snigger.)
ListeningEar
20-04-2013, 23:17
Is that Robbie? I've got his 1988 single 'New Orleans' on 12". Prefer the B-side 'Enough Is Enough'. Discogs have it for £1.25. A gem just waiting to be snapped-up.
(Couldn't resist it Craig.
Snigger. Snigger.)
haha,...that's a 'CRACKER',...get it,...'Cracker'! Never mind hehe
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