New arrival - Permali (Panzerholz) plinth for TD124

[montesquieu]

For a while, I’ve been pondering a change of plinth to put my 12in arm on the right, rather than at the back as was before, with the 9in arm at the back.

To further this, I got chatting to Russ Collinson (Layers of Beauty, well known to many here) and we discussed doing one with a Panzerholz core, wrapped in sold wood (rather than veneer). This is similar to the Artisan Fidelity approach, but with exactly my preferred wood choices: I wanted the external solid wood to to be sapele, finished to match my big Tannoys, the RFC Canterbury cabinets designed by Paul Coupe but built for me by Russ, to get the consistency of look.

For the core, we settled on Permali, which is almost identical density to Panzerholz, but UK made and therefore easier to get hold of.

So here’s the picture journey:

Spot on 40kg worth of Panzerholz as raw material (not cheap!)

https://i.imgur.com/bflXpQb.jpg

Panzerholz core completed

https://i.imgur.com/ay64qb5.jpg

Plinth completed. The cover over the 12in recess enables a 9in arm to be used in the normal TD124 position should that be required.

https://i.imgur.com/vdzrwLz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/U572ZNj.jpg

I managed to source some tonearm stabilisers, an evolution of the Fidelity Research N60 used on the FR64, for the Ikeda arms. These are 500g each and their heft really surprised me. See here pictured with one of the existing Ikeda tonearm nuts, to get a sense of scale.

https://i.imgur.com/CxCVLCs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ocaALpz.jpg

[montesquieu]

Time to start putting it together - fitting here the 9in Ikeda IT-345 CR1 at the rear, Ikeda IT-407 at the side. The IT-407 is a non-standard alignment, so I’ve been working with a guy in Ukraine, Andiii Gadzevych, who produces custom calculators for different tonearm geometries, to see if we could optimise the spindle to pivot distance, based on SPU arm collar to stylus pitch. A bit of trial and error with several attempts, but we settled at 296mm and it comes in in a perfect curve and abolished any feeling of inner groove distortion. I also got one done for the IT-345 too but that’s perfect for SPU at the standard 230mm - handy thing to check setup though.

https://i.imgur.com/FJbJxQG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8P6l2Mj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2SNh7cM.jpg

[montesquieu]

And finally the finished result. The armboards are Permali, veneered in walnut and stained black - I think they look ace. There was enough Permali for two spare sets of armboards so I have future options for arms.

All up the completed plinth was 35kg without motor unit, platter, arms etc, so my guess is all up weight is between 45 ad 50kg, it’s certainly a bugger to lift! I was very impressed with the Townshend Seismic Pods which seem to work even better with the extra weight (max 64kg specification).

I’ve had it up and running now for a week and a half. It’s hard to tell from just the plinth, as at the same time I fitted the Hanze Hifi motor spring modification, but the overall sense is that everything just got notably quieter, blacker, more focused, with a greater feeling of acoustic space. This TD124 has the Schopper platter and bearing, a Longdog PSU and a Rubato mat, Townshend Seismic Pods for feet so it’s a long way from standard .. overall I think it’s probably about as far as you can take a TD124 in terms of performance.

Anyway I’m over the moon with both the plinth's looks and the sound.

https://i.imgur.com/WPaNGbt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RWbl6Fr.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ssRoMx1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ddODizs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bseQEdh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/JIeNaKh.jpg

[struth]

All looking smashin' Tom.. lucky guy

[Jazid]

Those ikeda arms look like they fell off a Soyuz space capsule, proper character!
Lovely set up you've got there Tom, but how do you reach the records behind those Canterburys?

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk

[montesquieu]

Those ikeda arms look like they fell off a Soyuz space capsule, proper character!
Lovely set up you've got there Tom, but how do you reach the records behind those Canterburys?

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk

There's more space than it looks in the pic, you can stand behind the speaker no problem.

[Edward]

Wonderful looking new plinth Tom. Like the way Russ has placed the grain on the front of the plinth. Good choice!

In addition to the setup looking out of this world it is good to hear that the sound has improved in a way you want.

[Bigman80]

Beautiful work. Love the look of it.

[WESTLOWER]

Going off piste and rocking an already very high performing set up takes great thought, deliberation, worry and commitment.

Really pleased it has worked out Tom.
It certainly looks a wonderfully classy bit of work .
Well done Russ!

Can’t wait to hear it!

Great write up as per usual, showing the care and thought behind it.
:clapclapclap::clapclapclap:

[brian2957]

Craftsmanship in spades there Tom , absolutely beautiful work :)

[scotty38]

Very nice!

[charles hidalgo]

Absolutely beautiful!!! Not only the table but the rest of the gear also!! Very nice!

[montesquieu]

Thanks guys. I've had a few questions about the rest of the kit, it's all in the kit list in the signature, and I just updated the pics to show the rest a bit better.

[Ali Tait]

That looks great Tom, very nice indeed.

[Alex_UK]

Stunning! Great design and execution, well done.

[Jazid]

Bejesus, I've just noticed the monoblocks [emoji15]
Is there enough clearance there, must be pretty toasty underside to the top shelf...
How are the beasties doing anyway?

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk

[montesquieu]

Bejesus, I've just noticed the monoblocks [emoji15]
Is there enough clearance there, must be pretty toasty underside to the top shelf...
How are the beasties doing anyway?



Actually there's quite a lot of room and the underside of the shelves don't get particularly hot... the covers of the Silvercore 833C amps are open at the back and provide plenty of ventilation. These valves are used in pairs in Class B to power AM radio transmitters, where they put out 1kW so they are only jogging along at 20w output to the amps (probably only about 100w consumption).

[ovlov854]

Wow the TT is certainly a work of art. Compliments to you and Russ for the design and thought.
BTW I notice that the Audiopax has sneaked in...........hows that working for you?

[montesquieu]

Wow the TT is certainly a work of art. Compliments to you and Russ for the design and thought.
BTW I notice that the Audiopax has sneaked in...........hows that working for you?

Thanks Martin!

The preamp I've ordered is the Model 5 ... pictured is the Audiopax L50, on loan from the UK distributor Audioreference, there's been a bit of delay in finalising the manufacture of mine.

The L50 is absolutely stunning, it's the next up in the range from the Model 5 so I hope I'm not disappointed by comparison when it finally arrives. (Having said that I don't expect to be).

I'm hoping to get a shot of the M50 monoblocks to match it that should be an education.

[Non-Smoking Man]

Myself and a fellow AoS member visited Tom yesterday evening and were treated to a formidable demonstration of his system - both in mono (top of the range Miyajima) and stereo (middleranking Miyajima).
There was immense presence to the sound. The leading edges were crisp but completely w/o edginess and the Canterburys went very loud indeed without the sound quality diminishing at all. Everything remained tight and on the money. It was as if the room wasnt there.
We have both been to visit before but there were many changes (well documented here) since our last visit. The amps from Silvercore (silverwound trannies) are visually impressive, as is the Allnic phonostage (the 'V' version with adjustable RIAA, which we saw in action as Tom played us some 78s of Count Basie etc). As a TD124 user I was particularly taken with the new dedicated and bespoke plinth. Tom's Thoren's uses the Shoppe (sp?) platter and bearing which is usefully massive. Like myself Tom has done away with the flimsy aluminium 'DJ' platter, and has the Rubata (sp?) Cu platter mat, adding extra mass again.
Im not given to superlatives but the sound from this system is awesome. Well done that man!
Jack NSM

[Puffin]

Stunning TT and system.

[montesquieu]

Myself and a fellow AoS member visited Tom yesterday evening and were treated to a formidable demonstration of his system - both in mono (top of the range Miyajima) and stereo (middleranking Miyajima).
There was immense presence to the sound. The leading edges were crisp but completely w/o edginess and the Canterburys went very loud indeed without the sound quality diminishing at all. Everything remained tight and on the money. It was as if the room wasnt there.
We have both been to visit before but there were many changes (well documented here) since our last visit. The amps from Silvercore (silverwound trannies) are visually impressive, as is the Allnic phonostage (the 'V' version with adjustable RIAA, which we saw in action as Tom played us some 78s of Count Basie etc). As a TD124 user I was particularly taken with the new dedicated and bespoke plinth. Tom's Thoren's uses the Shoppe (sp?) platter and bearing which is usefully massive. Like myself Tom has done away with the flimsy aluminium 'DJ' platter, and has the Rubata (sp?) Cu platter mat, adding extra mass again.
Im not given to superlatives but the sound from this system is awesome. Well done that man!
Jack NSM

Was nice to see you Jack and Brook as well. Always welcome to get feedback from fresh but experienced ears.

The cartridge was the Miyajima Takumi (https://theaudiophileman.com/the-blackwood-boogie/) which is in fact their entry level stereo cartridge and my current daily listener ... my Madake is off for inspection at the moment as I've had it several years now and thought it was time for a checkup. The metal mat is a Puresound Rubato (https://web.archive.org/web/20080922115443/http://www.puresound.info/id2.html), made of copper and based on the Micro Seiki CU-180, which preceeded the Tenuto in the Puresound lineup. This sits atop a Schopper (https://www.schopper.ch/index.php?page=non-mac-platter) (actually manufactured by Swissonor) non-magnetic 5kg platter and heavy duty bearing. I think also important for the TT sound are the Longdog Audio PSU and the Townshend Seismic Pods which I think are nothing short of miraculous in what they achieve for non-suspended decks like this one.

[montesquieu]

Don't know if this is the right place to put it but my AT1503Mk1 tonearm arrived back from Angus today after a wee bit of fettling to the wiring, which means my Garrard 401 is up and running again.

While the arm was away I fitted a Sien (SPS) bearing - it's quite a thing, as you can see in the contrast between the original 401, and the Sien one which is a grease bearing like the early 301s.

All up and together and sounding fab in the system with Petrat's Marantz PM4 which I have on long-term loan, and a pair of Tannoy DC6es. I enjoy this system a lot. (Also includes an Orelle CD100 recently acquired from Edwardlon).

https://i.imgur.com/1osLoeN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2oWE0WF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/59aI5vX.jpg

[petrat]

As always, to my eyes, Russ's plinths are just works of art. I've owned a few over the years .... highly recommended!

Apart from the speakers, cartridges, and cd transport, Tom has pretty much changed or re-engineered everything in his system over the last year, which is really quite remarkable seeing as most of us would have been VERY happy with the previous set-up. It takes a lot of experience and a very clear vision of what sound/presentation you're trying to achieve, for all those changes to deliver 'better', not just 'different'. Having witnessed the process, it was obvious that every single change wasn't just a random 'hit and hope' purchase ... they were all done after extensive auditions and trialling, together with a relentless focus on the importance of developing the system as a whole, not just each piece in isolation. Well done!

[montesquieu]

Thanks Peter, gosh you are embarrasing me now!

Some wider view kit pics in better light:

https://i.imgur.com/GNoWLAX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/4DUtvo3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CFxsJKx.jpg