Newbie from Liverpool bit of help to get me started

[luvpies]

Hi I have just joined the community today and I live in Liverpool in the UK, which is maybe... just maybe the greatest city in the World, but then I'm biased.

I am new to HiFi in general and this new hobby has arisen from my long time love of music. I like everything from acid/modern jazz to thrash metal, from folk to prog rock, dubstep to ambient house and everthing inbetween from every era. I've recently been discovering Terry Callier and Sarah Vaughan... Nice!!

My rather budget system comprises of:

Sources:- NAD542 cdp, Technics 1210 with a Moth mk1 (rega 202) arm with incognito wiring and Nag MP110 cart, using phono in the Creek.
Amp:- Creek 4040s3
Speakers:- Dynaudio DM2/7 on Epos ES11 stands

I'm hoping to make my 1st visit to Scalford in a few weeks... cool.

I've joined AoS to get advice on upgrading my Techie.

Couple of questions to save me hours searching which I would like advise on please:

1. Which is considered the best platter mat $100 or so to replace the rubber one, been looking at the Herbie's and Achromat?

2. The rega arm has the incognito rewire so I was thinking of upgrading the stub and weight to a michelle techno, but I'm also thinking of saving the cash and upgrading the arm in the future instead to a Jelco 750d, what's your opinions on this?

3. Could point me in the right direction to find information on how to fit a new arm plate, it has a sound supports arm plate on it at the moment but I had to glue it in place as I just couldn't see how to bolt it without taking the whole deck apart, I'm thinking of getting a speedy steve ebony one in the future, cos they just look gorgeous

Thanks for any advice
John

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS John.

Wonderfully wide tastes in music you enjoy! :)

Apropos your questions regarding the Technics mat and Rega arm upgrades, well as you might have read, both components are popular with members here, so I expect someone will be along shortly who will be able to help you.

Enjoy the Forum

Regards
Barry

[luvpies]

Nice picture of Manjushri, Barry, I've been to the centre in the Lakes many times


Welcome to AoS John.

Wonderfully wide tastes in music you enjoy! :)

Apropos your questions regarding the Technics mat and Rega arm upgrades, well as you might have read, both components are popular with members here, so I expect someone will be along shortly who will be able to help you.

Enjoy the Forum

Regards
Barry

[Barry]

Wow - I think you are the first person to have recognised my 'avatar'! :eek: Well done.

[RichB]

Hi I have just joined the community today and I live in Liverpool in the UK, which is maybe... just maybe the greatest city in the World, but then I'm biased.

I am new to HiFi in general and this new hobby has arisen from my long time love of music. I like everything from acid/modern jazz to thrash metal, from folk to prog rock, dubstep to ambient house and everthing inbetween from every era. I've recently been discovering Terry Callier and Sarah Vaughan... Nice!!

My rather budget system comprises of:

Sources:- NAD542 cdp, Technics 1210 with a Moth mk1 (rega 202) arm with incognito wiring and Nag MP110 cart, using phono in the Creek.
Amp:- Creek 4040s3
Speakers:- Dynaudio DM2/7 on Epos ES11 stands

I'm hoping to make my 1st visit to Scalford in a few weeks... cool.

I've joined AoS to get advice on upgrading my Techie.

Couple of questions to save me hours searching which I would like advise on please:

1. Which is considered the best platter mat $100 or so to replace the rubber one, been looking at the Herbie's and Achromat?

2. The rega arm has the incognito rewire so I was thinking of upgrading the stub and weight to a michelle techno, but I'm also thinking of saving the cash and upgrading the arm in the future instead to a Jelco 750d, what's your opinions on this?

3. Could point me in the right direction to find information on how to fit a new arm plate, it has a sound supports arm plate on it at the moment but I had to glue it in place as I just couldn't see how to bolt it without taking the whole deck apart, I'm thinking of getting a speedy steve ebony one in the future, cos they just look gorgeous

Steve will send you all the fittings which go into the recesses you will see once you get the old arm off. It's dead simple even I could do it. Just follow his instructions and you'll be fine.

Thanks for any advice
John

All the best and welcome to the forum.

[CageyH]

Wow - I think you are the first person to have recognised my 'avatar'! :eek: Well done.

Oh, I have recognised it, just never commented on it.

Welcome John,

To answer your questions:
1. It's personal taste. I have the Achromat and a Resomat. I switch between the two as my mood takes me. There is also the SDS Iosplatmat to consider, and many others.
2. One of the biggest changes you can make is the arm. The Michell technoweight is an upgrade, but it's not the in the same league as an arm upgrade.
3. See here - http://www.originlive.com/images/pdfs/Instruction-Manuals/Technics-Owner-Manuals/Arm-Board-Fitting.pdf

[luvpies]

Nice one thank you so yep have to screw off the base.

Kadampa for 18years, but hey many paths to the same place :hmm:


Oh, I have recognised it, just never commented on it.

Welcome John,

To answer your questions:
1. It's personal taste. I have the Achromat and a Resomat. I switch between the two as my mood takes me. There is also the SDS Iosplatmat to consider, and many others.
2. One of the biggest changes you can make is the arm. The Michell technoweight is an upgrade, but it's not the in the same league as an arm upgrade.
3. See here - http://www.originlive.com/images/pdfs/Instruction-Manuals/Technics-Owner-Manuals/Arm-Board-Fitting.pdf

[keiron99]

Hi I have just joined the community today and I live in Liverpool in the UK, which is maybe... just maybe the greatest city in the World



Correct :)




Which is considered the best platter mat $100 or so to replace the rubber one, been looking at the Herbie's and Achromat?



Just my own opinion based on my own experiences here...I have never found mats to make a difference whatever turntable I use. I acquired my 1210 last year and have tried a few, including the popular Funk mat. I'm currently using a leather mat, which looks cool and in my experience keeps static down.

On the other hand, I also don't hear any differences when changing feet which many 1210 owners recommend as a must-do. Having cloth ears is truly a blessing :)

[luvpies]

Correct :)



Just my own opinion based on my own experiences here...I have never found mats to make a difference whatever turntable I use. I acquired my 1210 last year and have tried a few, including the popular Funk mat. I'm currently using a leather mat, which looks cool and in my experience keeps static down.

On the other hand, I also don't hear any differences when changing feet which many 1210 owners recommend as a must-do. Having cloth ears is truly a blessing :)

Great advice thank you, currently has a acri-mat on it that is 293mm that I just picked up for free, but getting loads of static when lifting record on and off the platter? and I think there is also an issue with my cart Nag MP110, soundstage is terrible and mostly over to the left, I only got the deck last Saturday and put the arm and cart on with the help of an experienced friend who used a Dr Feickert alignment protractor, not impressed so far, this is my 1st turntable, arm is brand new but cart was second hand from pfm, was told it only had 15 hours on it, feel like just sticking to CD and selling vinyl set up as feeling disillusioned at the moment.

[struth]

Sounds like the cart is not aligned correctly but obviously there could be varied others....don't give up too quick. Once fettled vinyl can sound great

[belloire]

Does the acrimat have cork underneath it? If so get rid, it's a techy music killer....

Swap it for a 3mm achromat, best you can get without spending lots (imo of course)

[6L6]

I love the Acromat. No complaints.

To answer some of the original questions, I would just jump to the Jelco straight away. (My opinion)

Yes, you need to take the deck apart to change armboards. You could install some captive nuts in the chassis so you only have to disassemble it once... :)

[luvpies]

Thanks for the advice so far guys, some one advised me to use a drop of contact lens cleaner (non alcohol) with a Qtip to gently clean the stylus, I tried this yesterday and noticed that the stylus had a slight movement side to side, maybe suspension has gone, I'm going to try swaping the cables vis versa tonight to see if the soundstage switches to the right, as maybe the phono is goosed in the Creek amp. And a friend has offered me the use of an SDS isoplatmat for a few days to see if worth the outlay. I will recheck the alignment of the cart.

Thanks again, Iwas hoping that the vinyl set up would blow my budget CDP away, but so far no chance.

[keiron99]

If you do go for the Jelco arm, which I'm also considering, the best prices I have found are

here for the armboard (£40 inc postage) http://www.soundsupports.com/userimages/procart22.htm

here for the arm itself (£329 plus about £8 for delivery) http://snvinyl.co.uk/epages/eshop943300.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop943300/Products/JEL3&ViewAction=ViewProduct

[luvpies]

thanks Keiron

[Macca]

Get a Technics overhang gauge and use that to get the cartridge spot-on. Pretty easy to do:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-Overhang-Gauge-/181641125604

If you are having doubts about the stylus it is worth getting a replacement one for that Nagaoka, they are a cut above the usual budget carts.

[SquireC]

Welcome to the forum.

Lots of wise people on here to help you, and I'm not far away down the E.Lancs Road.

;)

[luvpies]

You're welcome at mine any time Dave, I can only promise some scouse hospitality and fresh coffee, oh and tunes


Welcome to the forum.

Lots of wise people on here to help you, and I'm not far away down the E.Lancs Road.

;)

[luvpies]

The sound stage is all on the left with nothing on the right, but this is not an issue when playing CD's through the system.

After further investigation...

I've checked certain things such as cartridge alignment, tracking force, I've swapped the left and right rca connections going to the phono (this seems to balance the sound stage a little with sounds then coming from the right but sounds dull). The deck is also level

Today I balanced the arm so it was floating with 0 tracking force to check the anti-skate/bias, with the anti-skate set to 0 or full at 2, the arms is moving to the outside of the platter returning to the arm rest, it moves faster when set at 2 but still returns when set at 0. Is this normal on a rega arm.

The arm is brand new bought from a Divine audio.

Could this be the cause of my issue and and is the arm faulty.

Really glad of and advice as this is doing my noodle in, I'm going to post this on Wam too.

Thanks
John