from rubber band to direct drive

[karma67]

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0563_zpseo4me8xs.jpg

well im very happy and dont miss the lp12,the snobbery,the worry that if you fart near it you've gotta take it to a linn dealer for a complete set up,after all no one else can set them up!

here's my thoughts so far,
the sumiko headshell has made a big difference to the sound quality,which wasn't that bad with the pressed coke can headshell that came with the arm.
cartridge set up is a breeze with the removable headshell,no more faffing around with the ittoks fixed headshell,another plus point.

the sound of the tt is different to the lp12,the biggest area of improvement to my ears is the bass and midrange, it has what i suppose you would say is slam and tight bass,the bass drum on the wall lp sounds like its being stamped on where as on the linn its sounds quieter with less punch.the pioneer has more presence.

where the linn is better is higher up,someone mentioned the linn would sound more airier and i think they were right,although that could be down to the sony tonearm fitted to the pioneer,that will be sorted soon as there's something much better being fitted soon.:)

[walpurgis]

Looks very nice Jamie.

You'll be buying a Lenco next. :D

[Wakefield Turntables]

Jamie, I left the rubber band brigade back years ago. I had a LP12, it was ok, got a 1210 never look back. I thought I would revisit the belt driven fraternity with a Thorens TD150 and I loved it for what it was but realised that me and belt driven decks are probably not going to get on. The Lenco has been the biggest surprise for me and has given me much pleasure working on the deck over the last several months. They can be purchased for beer money and with a little TLC can produce 80-90% for the Garrard 301 magic.

[Macca]

Jamie, man, that is one sexy turntable. Looks in mint condition too.

Steve - I think - brought one along to a NEBO meet. Just lashed up it sounded as you describe yours until it was put through a really good phono stage and the improvement was staggering. No lack of air and space.

[CageyH]

There is one of those for sale about an hour away from me for a reasonable price.

[karma67]

Grab it, they are rare over here as it was a Japan only model :)

[Oldpinkman]

There is one of those for sale about an hour away from me for a reasonable price.

This unit was playing at a party last night. I told Mark though, that he was never going to get the best from it without buying some decent mains cables...

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/Marks%20gramophone_zps4oyjdppv.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/Marks%20gramophone_zps4oyjdppv.jpg.html)

[Audio Al]

Is that a wind up ;)

[CageyH]

There is one of those for sale about an hour away from me for a reasonable price.

On closer inspection it turns out to be a PL-55X.
I don't want another direct drive deck, as my there is nothing wrong with Technics.

[Barry]

This unit was playing at a party last night. I told Mark though, that he was never going to get the best from it without buying some decent mains cables...

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/Marks%20gramophone_zps4oyjdppv.jpg

What is your opinion of these new-fangled steel needles? Do they offer any sonic advantage over thorn needles?

[walpurgis]

What is your opinion of these new-fangled steel needles? Do they offer any sonic advantage over thorn needles?

A bigger horn is a better upgrade Barry. ;)

[Macca]

At least you can just go to the park and get a thorn off of a rose bush or something. Not five hundred quid for a re-tip.

A friend of mine has one of these things and a collection of '78s'. It sounds like a bag of spanners being smashed against a wall. Come to think of it his modern rig isn't much better.

[Oldpinkman]

Definitely a bigger horn needed. Harvesting thorns is probably a prohibited activity in France unless you have correctly completed all 17 of the necessary forms, and taken them to the right Trésorière to get the correct tampon applied, from the appropriate tier of the tampon carousel...
Not that anybody cares.
It was lovely. At a party where people are standing talking you want the music almost inaudible, and at that level "sonic quality" is irrelevant. It was a 4 story beamed town house, about 40%renovated, with windows and Juliette balconies on each floor overlooking the Aude, with a direct view of quillan Castle. The gramophone was perfect - a trip back in time :)

[homespun]

Jamie, your funny remark about 'farting' near a Linn requires a complete new set up, it reminds me of a German audio file magazine review of the Linn LP12 many years ago, They really hit the nail on the head when they said, "You can fiddle till the doctor comes". Love it and so true, not just the Linn though.

[karma67]

a small update,
ive just ordered a big chunk of ebony to make a tonearm board,i had good results when i made one for my old AR turntable so im going to do the same with the pioneer,its gonna be a biggy though and 25mm thick!
pic to follow.:)