Well, where do we go from here ?

[Boyse6748]

I hope this is in the correct forum. (if not apologies) but is Analogue.

Been running my rig on a Benz Wood for some time.

I recently acquired a beat up Decca Gold from eBay, anyway, sent off the to John Wright (London Decca for a refurb).

Well, what can I say when it returned.

Never heard the like.... it trashed my £1200 Benz. Dynamics like I have never thought possible.

I don't t know if others out there have had the same experience..... [emoji106] let me know???

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/d5e462d18ecb2ed6e764bc5ecf4b0908.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/69af6c652e5fd5b0fb7147ad62c65c50.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/7f5b3856370060cbab3b8500b8e54700.jpg


Peter


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[Barry]

Yes - Deccas are rather special! I always have one set up on one of my turntables.

Glad you are enjoying yours. :)

[walpurgis]

Well there you go Peter. The Decca experience! Comes as a shock to many.

[karma67]

well ive got a stiffy!

[Ali Tait]

Nice reel to reel!

[Boyse6748]

Shocked indeed....an experience that's for sure! Me being one off them!!!!

An unusual setup I know... not everybody's cup of tea... but it does it for me[emoji41]

Whatever turns you on.!!


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[Arkless Electronics]

Speakers are rather close to rear wall.....

[Boyse6748]

Sorry Arkless, no choice really.... 70 year old gezzer in an annexe . Room size 6 meters x 5 meters. (No other option)

If I had my old house.... they wouldn't be close to the wall .

But not to be.

PB

Still sounds good to me [emoji41]


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[Bigman80]

Wow, drooling lol

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[Arkless Electronics]

Sorry Arkless, no choice really.... 70 year old gezzer in an annexe . Room size 6 meters x 5 meters. (No other option)

If I had my old house.... they wouldn't be close to the wall .

But not to be.

PB

Still sounds good to me [emoji41]


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Ah well... you have fine taste in speakers anyway! :)

[Boyse6748]

Thanks for that .

The Kef 105/3s have taken just about 2 years to refurb.

Fully re-capped , all bass units re-foamed, voice coils replaced, Cabs French polished and all other units checked for defects.

AS NEW.[emoji736]

I would consider these are the best 105/3s that exist in this modern world.

Just love them.... a sound from the days of old.

A work of love!! "just for me" "selfish I know"

We all do stuff that pleases......yes


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[Boyse6748]

Hi Slav,
Answers in order.

Mine is the 4 pin type, however, for the 3 pin connection you can either leave one of the ground connections off or solder the ground leads together. Or better still buy the 4 pin adapter (available from Devine Audio.

McIntosh Tubes (current)

KT88 Gold Lion (Genalex-Gold Loin RU) "Matched Quad set"

ECC83 / 12AX7WA ( Philips ECG JAN) "Matched Quad set"

ECC81 / CV4024- MULLARD " Matched Pair"

Much better than the original McIntosh stock valves. Very sweet and loads of bass.

Hope that answers you question.

Peter




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[alphaGT]

The Townshend is awesome! Tell me, I'm guessing you've used it with and without the trough? Or even different fluids in it? Are the differences immediately audible? What quality does it bring to playback? (I'm shopping for one as I type)


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[Boyse6748]

Sorry but I'm a bit of a diehard about the Rock TT. I had over the last 40 years, just about every model ever produced.

Now with the Rock 7 Mk2 with the Merlin power supply (the last of its kind), as Max has stopped production of this deck.

Never had the inclination to use without the front end damping (that's the whole point of the Townsend).

There are of course differing views on on this but for me it just works.

Never messed with the fluid and always get it direct from Townsend.

Perhaps you are asking the wrong question to the wrong person as I am truly biased but for me..... this is one of the finest TT's out there.... I certainly have heard a few high end TT's but none can match the sound this TT produces.

I'll shut up now (it's a personal view) and others will have their own views. [emoji106]


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[Arkless Electronics]

Thanks for that .

The Kef 105/3s have taken just about 2 years to refurb.

Fully re-capped , all bass units re-foamed, voice coils replaced, Cabs French polished and all other units checked for defects.

AS NEW.[emoji736]

I would consider these are the best 105/3s that exist in this modern world.

Just love them.... a sound from the days of old.

A work of love!! "just for me" "selfish I know"

We all do stuff that pleases......yes


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IF I can sort out a faulty tweeter on mine (no replacement ones available I've heard) I'll then be going down the same road of refoaming the bass units. Crossover already rebuilt. I'm really missing them! The Spendors that are standing in at the moment ain't really in the same ball park unfortunately...

[julesd68]

Sorry but I'm a bit of a diehard about the Rock TT. I had over the last 40 years, just about every model ever produced.

Now with the Rock 7 Mk2 with the Merlin power supply (the last of its kind), as Max has stopped production of this deck

Very interesting - could you give me an idea about what has changed in terms of sound quality since the original Rock? Are the latest decks the best?

[Boyse6748]

A short question but a very long answer [emoji41]

I would have a read for yourself, masses of info on the inter-web.

However, my personal favourite of all was the Rock Reference. Built like a tank and I was an absolute numpty to get rid of it.

Various models made improvements to bearings / mass / platter/power supply ( Merlin) / drive motors and of course the Excalibur tone arm (many different versions).

There are some Rock II's available but not worth buying without the Merlin and modified motor. (again a difficult purchase)

Put it this way.... I have never seen another Townsend/Cranfield Rock reference for sale (rarer than hens teeth) or if one did come up for sale..... I doubt I could afford it !!!

The Rock 7 is a combination of all the previous designs with the addition of some Townsend innovations, like the spring air suspension, . (the fore runner to the seismic suspension) and of course the very usual platter material, massive bearing assembly and of course, the revised Merlin power supply.

I could go on for ever but I don't really think Townsend made a bad TT, all have their merits and some are built better than others.

Of course, you could get a TT only, and put your own arm on. Well suited to SME 3000 series or V if you have the budget.

Hope this brief summary was of some use..[emoji736]

I can only say that getting rid of the Rock Reference is still painful.... one of the biggest mistakes that I have ever made.... hay ho, we live and learn.

I was speaking to Max recently and his next TT (Still in Design) is out of my price range by a factor of 10 (it will probably be £30,000 +) and targeted for the Asian market.

So any previous models may be worth a punt.

Peter




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[Boyse6748]

Sorry, I also meant to mention the Rock 5 (another mistake) to sell.[emoji25]

Again as rare....... as the reference!

PB


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[drSM]

Peter, superb looking set up.
Never heard a Decca (and may never - cant imagine there are too many outside UK)
Arent they supposed to perform best in unipivots?
and the silicone damper attached to the front end of the SME arm - does every Townsend hve one of those ?
so u have to connect whatever headshell/arm wand to it somehow?

[Boyse6748]

Hi drSM, Decca's are happy on either type arm uni pivot or gimbal. However, The early Decca arm was uni-pivot.[emoji736]

Yes all Townshend TT's have front end damping. (From the very beginning).

There is no physical connection other than a round paddle sits (floats) in a trough of silicon fluid. An outrigger fits to the head shell that retains the paddle.

There are much better explanations on the interweb on how this works.

This TT design has been around for 50 years and about eight different models throughout those years have been produced.

Many say this doesn't work, but I beg to differ and so do all the owners of a Townsend TT.


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[mikeyb]

How much did the refurb cost on the Decca?

[Boyse6748]

Hi Mikeyb,

For this refurb by John Wright (London Decca) was £282 but that was for a complete re-build. New extended stylus / magnets realigned coils rewound and a complete setup.

He will also fit a Deccapod if so required (not recommended for the Townsend/ SME) for £90

Hope that answers you question.

Peter

Cost is obviously dependant on what is wrong in the first place.


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[julesd68]

Sorry, I also meant to mention the Rock 5 (another mistake) to sell.[emoji25]

Again as rare....... as the reference!

PB


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Thanks for all the info on the Rock, Peter!

It's about 35 years since I heard one at a Manchester hifi dealer but was always super impressed by them. Would make an interesting comparison with my long-term deck, the Source-Odyssey which was produced at the same time as the mk1 Rock

[mikeyb]

Hi Mikeyb,

For this refurb by John Wright (London Decca) was £282 but that was for a complete re-build. New extended stylus / magnets realigned coils rewound and a complete setup.

He will also fit a Deccapod if so required (not recommended for the Townsend/ SME) for £90

Hope that answers you question.

Peter

Cost is obviously dependant on what is wrong in the first place.


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Thanks, it was just to get an idea if I come across one needing worked on.

[Barry]

Hi drSM, Decca's are happy on either type arm uni pivot or gimbal. However, The early Decca arm was uni-pivot. [emoji736]

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No, not strictly true. The first, the Decca "Professional" and its successor the "ffss" (in both 'standard' and Mk. II 'Super' guises) used needle point bearings for the vertical plane bearing and a ball race for the horizontal plane bearing. It was the later Decca "International" and "London" arms, designed specifically for the Mk. IV and later versions of the cartridge, that used a unipivot bearing.

However as you rightly say, Deccas are happy in either type arm, especially if some damping is used.

[Boyse6748]

Hi Barry, thanks for that. I stand corrected.[emoji106]


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[karma67]

Sorry but I'm a bit of a diehard about the Rock TT. I had over the last 40 years, just about every model ever produced.

Now with the Rock 7 Mk2 with the Merlin power supply (the last of its kind), as Max has stopped production of this deck.

Never had the inclination to use without the front end damping (that's the whole point of the Townsend).

There are of course differing views on on this but for me it just works.

Never messed with the fluid and always get it direct from Townsend.

Perhaps you are asking the wrong question to the wrong person as I am truly biased but for me..... this is one of the finest TT's out there.... I certainly have heard a few high end TT's but none can match the sound this TT produces.

I'll shut up now (it's a personal view) and others will have their own views. [emoji106]


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hi peter,
ive just bought a rock 2 and absolutely love it,using the trough takes it up another level.
i have been reading up on external power supply's and there are so many to choose from,obviously you can only buy a merlin these days second hand if any turn up,are there any new ones you'd say are worth looking at?

you can read about my rock 2 here,
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?51364-Townsend-Rock-Elite-In-The-Loft!!!

[walpurgis]

For those who may be unaware. The trough and paddle from a Rock can be used on just about any turntable if you fit it carefully. I've seen this done (can't recall what turntable it was though :scratch:). The trough & paddle do come up for sale once in a while.

[Boyse6748]

Hi Jamie, I can't really make an expert recommendation for an external power supply having only ever used a Merlin. If you could find one, it will possibly cost more than you paid for the deck.
My only suggestion would be to drop Max Townsend an email and see if he can supply motor type/ Voltage/ load, etc and then take it from there.
Obviously, there are others on this forum that could advise (Arkless) on matters electrical.
I know that the Merlin for the Rock 7 is still available from Townsend but is a whooping £2,225 but even so, I doubt it will be compatible with the Rock II motor.


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[karma67]

For those who may be unaware. The trough and paddle from a Rock can be used on just about any turntable if you fit it carefully. I've seen this done (can't recall what turntable it was though :scratch:). The trough & paddle do come up for sale once in a while.
yes on mine its just 1 allen bolt that holds it on,drill a hole in your plinth or stick down and you've got instant damping :)


Hi Jamie, I can't really make an expert recommendation for an external power supply having only ever used a Merlin. If you could find one, it will possibly cost more than you paid for the deck.
My only suggestion would be to drop Max Townsend an email and see if he can supply motor type/ Voltage/ load, etc and then take it from there.
Obviously, there are others on this forum that could advise (Arkless) on matters electrical.
I know that the Merlin for the Rock 7 is still available from Townsend but is a whooping £2,225 but even so, I doubt it will be compatible with the Rock II motor.


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cheers peter,i will give him a call .

[Yomanze]

Can't help but think that the best possible upgrade would be to lose the cabinet, replace with a HiFi rack, bit of room treatment in the corners & maybe behind the speakers, and let the speakers breathe more given the space limitations. No new cartridge, new amps etc. will come close to this upgrade IMHO!