Trying to optomise my existing analogue reproduction.

[Stryder5]

Having posted before about retrieval of my Linn record deck from the havens of 15 years in my loft I have been trying to get the best I could from my analogue reproduction.

So, I serviced it, and after a Rega Carbon, installed an AT 440mlb in my Akito.

The original mat was a little worse for its sojourn being slightly oval in shape. Bought a new non-Linn mat.

Relatively happy with the sound, probably a little "thin", stuck with it thinking the cartridge was still running in.

A quick revert to the original mat and "subjectively " the music became alive and "full".

Ordered new Linn mat, wow, now sounded better than ever.

The turntable lead is still the original Linn that came with the deck, probably 25 years old. Ordered new custom 0.5 metre lead, will be interesting to see if there another perceived improvement.

Will revert

Oh, Van Damme twisted pair with KLEI copper plugs.

[Audio Al]

All part of the fun having a tinker :)

Wee need photos

:worthless:

[Stryder5]

All part of the fun having a tinker :)

Wee need photos

:worthless:

OK, ok, I get it.....lol.
Will post photos of stuff when cable arrives.:stalks:

[DSJR]

If it's a fruitbox era LP12, they need special treatment usually as nothing was fully square or straight or parallel and needed Linn tools to bodge it all together.

The only thing wrong with the Linn tonearm wire is inline resistance, the cable being ok otherwise. I really liked the undoubtedly expensive 'Silver' coloured cable Linn made as an upgrade and a proper delrin? termination clamp was made to replace the P Clip on its own.

AT440MLb from a Carbon is a bit sublime to ridiculous to be honest, the bassy tones of one supplanted by a leaner tone from the other (to better suit Japanese vinyl I gather). Neither will stress the Akito though, but this arm can be a bottleneck as the cartridge gets more demanding and don't believe a word about the Ittok being no better. Having said that, I don't know exactly how good the Ittok would be these days as cartridges are livelier than in the mid 80's and turntables not as spongy in the bass as a mid-80's LP12 was. A thirty year old Ittok may well sound too scrappy and shrill these days for all I know, as it was so well suited to the fruitbox. With a Cirkus and later plinth, the likes of the Kuzma and especially the Zeta, would come into their own I reckon.. (just planting a sapling or two for future thoughts, apologies If I shouldn't). If an Ittok comes along, an Audio Origami foam fill and bearing check is mandatory now, as many will have been knurdled by numpties changing cartridges too often...

Sorry, I'm rambling! If the belt hasn't been changed, best replace it. I know Linn charge ridiculous amounts for their stuff now (why?), but a slightly loose or shiny belt messes the sound up almost as much as a misshapen clumped up felt mat in my experience.

[Ammonite Audio]

Audio Origami do an upgrade for the Akito, using a CNC-machined alloy armrest/bias plate. This review over at TNT (http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/audio_origami_akito_e.html) suggests that the Akito can be improved significantly and I would not be at all surprised if one of Johnnie's pimped Akitos is better than most Ittoks.

[DSJR]

I didn't know that. Linn claimed that a mk2 Akito was at least as good as any Ittok, apologies to the OP, although I doubt he had much choice at the time, as few dealers ever bothered with alternatives.

Re. Audio Origami, Johnnie has his head screwed on well and supports his customers. If he feels he can seriously and properly upgrade the Akito, then well worth investigating and asking his advice.


If you're still around Hugo, please could you tell me if the infamous Jelco 750 arms can be drop in replacements for say, a Linn arm (9" Jelco) or Rega (10" approx. Jelco)?

[walpurgis]

I would not be at all surprised if one of Johnnie's pimped Akitos is better than most Ittoks.

That would not surprise me. But then, I'm not keen on the Ittok.

[Stryder5]

Thanks to all for your helpful comments to date, I have to put my hands up tho and admit I was a music addict before children, work ( used to work 2 weeks in the USA and 2 weeks in UK turnaround, did this for a number of years) etc, so I heavily modified the deck in line with my engineering background, may bore you with the mods sometime, it is however unrecognisable from the original.

I do realise my cartridge leap was large, however I wasn't going to go incremental, but bit the bullet, and well pleased with the outcome.

Did replace the belt as part of my "service".

Clamping the cable with a suspended chassis is not a good idea ( Delrin would not be a good material, it's an acetal and far too hard, could compress the cable.) I used a tiny rose joint to give free movement.

I don't believe I have reached the Akito limitations yet, but note that there may be improvements to be had.

Thanks again