View Full Version : Turntable WAF Dilemma
Rothchild
09-06-2014, 16:49
A problem of my own making, but nevertheless I need help please!
I was getting on perfectly well with my Systemdek but the opportunity to buy a nice Planar2 came up and I had a strong ok from the missus, as she liked the look of it (it's a v1 with the nice wood bevel on it).
I gave it a tweak and fettle and got it running with my RB300, it's fine but it lacks the top end refinement of the systemdek. Herein the problem, I mentioned that I might put the systemdek back up and got a 'no' - it appears that black ash is a no-no in living room design terms.
So, I need to work out where to go from here? I'm unsure how much the upgrade route holds for the planar (ceramic bearing and cup, metal subplatter and pulley, acrylic platter and all the add on rubber bits + maybe a new motor), especially seeing as the only bit I'll be holding on to is the one that most folk ditch (the plinth).
Otherwise I'm looking at what I can do to improve the WAF of the Systemdek so that it gets allowed back in the sitting room? I saw a teak/wood plinth go on the auction site recently for fairly heavy money (all things considered) is there a budget way that I can get it out of its black skirt and in to something more acceptable. Or should I try and sell both and move on to something else? If so what? (preferably comes in a wood finish!)
TLDR: Wife likes look of Planar 2 I like sound of Systemdek and I want the best possible turntable in my system and a happy wife, what to do?
EDIT: Mods please can you fix the typo in the title?
jandl100
09-06-2014, 16:52
change the wife
Rothchild
09-06-2014, 16:54
change the wife
Sound logic for sure but somehow I expect that it's more expensive than a new t-table + I'd have to get me own dinner
Gordon Steadman
09-06-2014, 17:01
Veneer the Systemdeck?
But I'm with Jerry on this. Some choices are important:eyebrows:
I do all the cooking anyway!
julesd68
09-06-2014, 17:22
Marc - try not to compromise the sound of your hi-fi based on your wife's preferences, as whilst you won't end up in the divorce courts, I'm sure it will bug you after a while ... but if she's determined and you want to keep her happy, why don't you buy yourself something that you're happy with too and sod the expense, er, within reason of course ... I would simply tell her that you are using the Systemdek up until the point you find a suitable replacement. :)
Firebottle
09-06-2014, 17:57
Grow some. Tell her the quality of the sound is the most important.
............and buy her some cheap shades so she can't see it so well.
:) Alan
Rothchild
09-06-2014, 19:39
Can anyone advise on where to get HiFi tips from? I seem to have stumbled in to a marriage guidance forum....
;-)
Gordon Steadman
09-06-2014, 19:57
Can anyone advise on where to get HiFi tips from? I seem to have stumbled in to a marriage guidance forum....
;-)
Tee hee. We are all sitting here on our mountain tops because our wives appreciate that to have chosen them must mean we have impeccable taste. You can see where this might head......
PaulStewart
09-06-2014, 19:59
I think Relate do Hi Fi advice...... Seriously though divorce is expensive, my experience is that it's cheaper to find a stranger you don't like and buy them a house :lol: So for a wife friendly solution, I would ask the other half what wood she would like and as previously suggested, re veneer the Systemdek. Alternatively, see if she likes spider type TTs and upgrade to a Gyro, Techno or something of that ilk.
Good luck
Lob her shoes you don't like in the bin.
jandl100
09-06-2014, 20:13
Lob her shoes you don't like in the bin.
:lol:
walpurgis
09-06-2014, 20:26
If the Systemdek 'was' alright. How can it have become 'not alright' now?
I personally don't like black ash,i have nitromorsed a black ash deck (voyd and lp12)and it came out pretty well.
If you did want to try this do a small area at the back and underneath first,you maybe devaluing the deck as well but they are fairly cheap.
awkwardbydesign
09-06-2014, 21:47
Tell her this is the alternative.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Brd7Bl5UuVE/U5NMWq6hlmI/AAAAAAAABhY/54Qv-W4tRGg/w415-h553-no/DSC00064
Oh, wait a minute. She might like it, and then where would you be? Broke?
Seriously though, veneer is a good idea and not too hard, unless you do it my way, of course! :doh:
awkwardbydesign
09-06-2014, 21:49
If the Systemdek 'was' alright. How can it have become 'not alright' now?
What a question! Are you not married?
Rothchild
10-06-2014, 07:09
Does anyone know if there's a template for the iix900 plinth top layout? I'll look in to veneer but my craft skills are somewhat lacking so I might get a mate to make me a new plinth (the original is pretty basic so it should be too much of a challenge to rebuild it in nicer materials).
Do I take it that, given that you'd all rather talk about 'social' solutions to my dilemma, it's not worth upgrading the Planar?
Gordon Steadman
10-06-2014, 07:19
T
Seriously though, veneer is a good idea and not too hard, unless you do it my way, of course! :doh:
Ha!! Your way sounds good to me. One side out of the four on my current project has just wrinkled for the third time. I have some Evostick coming from the UK!!
Gordon Steadman
10-06-2014, 07:20
Does anyone know if there's a template for the iix900 plinth top layout? I'll look in to veneer but my craft skills are somewhat lacking so I might get a mate to make me a new plinth (the original is pretty basic so it should be too much of a challenge to rebuild it in nicer materials).
Do I take it that, given that you'd all rather talk about 'social' solutions to my dilemma, it's not worth upgrading the Planar?
My first suggestion would have been the arm but I assume you are using the same one on the Systemdeck so thats not the problem then. The Rega is such a basic animal that I don't really see how you could do much to it.
Rothchild
10-06-2014, 07:33
Yup same tonearm and cart (RB300 V15iv).
The rega updates I've earmarked are the bearing, subplatter and pulley, potentially the platter and potentially the motor.
I think out of interest as much as anything else I'm going to look in to creating a new plinth for the Systemdek, but if anyone has any other Hifi related suggestions I'm all ears.
Gordon Steadman
10-06-2014, 07:50
On a very simple level, you could just veneer the front and two sides. With the lid down, it will look like it is wood if that is really the only objection.
Why not sell both and buy the one in the right colour.
I would take the Systemdek over the Rega any day. So if upgrading the wife is really not an option I would get a new plinth built for the Systemdek - If it is anything like mine it will not be a big job for an experienced woodworker. Make sure she pre-approves the finish though! In wrting, preferably ;)
The Grand Wazoo
10-06-2014, 08:02
I suspect a Systemdek with a solid plinth might sound rather special.
awkwardbydesign
10-06-2014, 08:37
On a very simple level, you could just veneer the front and two sides. With the lid down, it will look like it is wood if that is really the only objection.
Another way is to use paper; wallpaper for example. There are almost limitless choices and so easy to apply, can be removed with a bit of damping, I even found some that looks just like the leather I am going to use for my speaker fronts! Textured too. I used decorative wrapping paper to cover door panels at home, and varnished them for longevity, although you don't have to do that.
Seriously. Ask your wife what she thinks.
awkwardbydesign
10-06-2014, 08:41
Ha!! Your way sounds good to me. One side out of the four on my current project has just wrinkled for the third time. I have some Evostick coming from the UK!!
I tried water based adhesive (before the iron-on glue sheet nightmare) and got a mountain range! That's why I'm sticking* to Evostick.
*Sorry.
Another way is to use paper; wallpaper for example. There are almost limitless choices and so easy to apply, can be removed with a bit of damping, I even found some that looks just like the leather I am going to use for my speaker fronts! Textured too. I used decorative wrapping paper to cover door panels at home, and varnished them for longevity, although you don't have to do that.
Seriously. Ask your wife what she thinks.
Or, 70s pimptastic, use leather - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221195365721?_trksid=p2055120.m1438.l2649&var=520142806637&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Make it look (a bit) like a £2.5k Goldenote Maggiore :).
In all seriousness, find a cabinetmaker and have him make a new edge for the deck - perhaps cherry, with mitered edges and no decoration. It will drastically change the look of the turntable.
Upgrading the Rega is an awfully expensive affair for not a bunch of return. IMO the Rega tables lean heavily on the (outstanding) performance of their tonearm, and the rest of the bits are, well, 'engineered to a price'. Upgrading them will leave you poorer and not give much return. Plus, you will never get a lightweight deck to sound like a suspended deck.
Rothchild
10-06-2014, 12:11
I suspect a Systemdek with a solid plinth might sound rather special.
Any suggestions as to a suitable design / material?
Chelsea, any tips on what would be a decent quality replacement if I were to shift both of them on?
I'd get another systemdek,i really like them,maybe throw the extra cash at the arm or cart.
...or ask russ collinson to make you a plinth,would have thought it would cost a few hundred though.
http://www.layers-of-beauty.co.uk/
Light Dependant Resistor
10-06-2014, 12:32
Hi Marc
What about a nice photo in a frame, of the Rega just above where the Systemdeck is placed. I just hope you can sort this out,
Rothchild
10-06-2014, 16:56
In all seriousness, find a cabinetmaker and have him make a new edge for the deck - perhaps cherry, with mitered edges and no decoration. It will drastically change the look of the turntable.
Upgrading the Rega is an awfully expensive affair for not a bunch of return. IMO the Rega tables lean heavily on the (outstanding) performance of their tonearm, and the rest of the bits are, well, 'engineered to a price'. Upgrading them will leave you poorer and not give much return. Plus, you will never get a lightweight deck to sound like a suspended deck.
Thanks Jim, that's a useful insight.
I'm going to look in to building something (well getting someone else to for me!) - presumably being relatively non/low-resonant and quite massive would be good attributes to have in the plinth (there certainly doesn't appear to be anything special in particular about the stock SD plinth) as far as I can tell all it does is (as best as possible) isolate the motor from the tonearm (it's the reverse of the rega, which suspends the motor and fixes the deck, this suspends the deck and fixes the motor) .
Lob her shoes you don't like in the bin.
this.
awkwardbydesign
10-06-2014, 18:07
Or, 70s pimptastic, use leather - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221195365721?_trksid=p2055120.m1438.l2649&var=520142806637&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Make it look (a bit) like a £2.5k Goldenote Maggiore :).
And that is exactly what I am using for the fronts of my speakers! http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?32483-Another-Troels-Gravesen-Jenzen-build
Using Evostik, of course.
topoxforddoc
10-06-2014, 20:25
Sell both the Rega and the Systemdek. Buy a Garrard 401 or a Lenco L75. Put it in a wooden plinth (e.g. one of the E*ay Moldova plinths) and add arm of your choice. If you look on the wam, there is a 401 with an oak plinth and a SME 3009 for £550.
Tell your wife your that frustrated your posting on a forum.rather than just talk to her.
Show her this thread.
It's even Stevens remember...both equal?
ffs..
(Sorry man) :)
Clive197
03-09-2014, 12:51
I got the 'DeGaulle' "Non" from SWMBO when I tried to install a Girodeck a couple of years ago. She kept schtoom when I installed my Teccie. I told her that was not arguable and THATS THAT.
Clive
My take on this is that you should see this as an opportunity! It does involve a bit of spending, but hey that's a plus too when it comes to hi-fi isn't it. Show her this:
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y530/Andrei_nz/Funk_zps7dd7631e.jpg (http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/Andrei_nz/media/Funk_zps7dd7631e.jpg.html)
Is that sexy or what!
I got the 'DeGaulle' "Non" from SWMBO when I tried to install a Girodeck a couple of years ago. She kept schtoom when I installed my Teccie. I told her that was not arguable and THATS THAT.
Quite right, Clive. Give into them continually, and you’ll be their doormat for the rest of your life.
Notice that the second time when you stood your ground, she respected you for that and said nothing… There’s a clue in there for some other folk! ;)
Marco.
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