COVID 19 - Hifi Projects

[Wakefield Turntables]

I'm still working as a Key worker but I have more time on my hands which means I've been concentrating on what I want to do with my systems. Currently I'm not buying anything new until this whole thing blows over. I've been sorting out excess bits and pieces and having fun trying cartridges on various tonearms. It certainly focusses the mind. I've been researching new record labels and bands, clearing out old magazines, redesigning my hifi racks and all sorts of stuff that I've been putting off for ages. I've already (in my head) spent this years hifi budget several times over on new TT projects, cartridges, DAC's, let's see how much of this comes to fruition!! I've decided to put more of an emphasis on lateral thinking in a bid to spend less and do more. So, what are you lot getting upto?

[hifi_dave]

I've been doing a lot of gardening but also busy with mail order. Seems to be a lot of people buying to improve their system during the 'lockdown'.

[Wakefield Turntables]

These great news Dave, at least your still in business!

[hifi_dave]

Very low overheads, so I can keep going for a couple of years without a customer but I do miss seeing people.

The majority of my suppliers are still producing but the larger ones have shut down for the foreseeable.

[Firebottle]

I have been investigating an alternative 'Line controller' approach using of all things a solid state volume control chip.

With my long time involvement in electronics I was still under the impression that analogue multiplexers or chips that included them were very inferior, with very imperfect 'on' resistances that were far from linear with varying signal levels.

How things have come on now with modern CMOS processing :) . The Burr Brown digitally controlled analogue volume chips PGA2310/2311 have staggeringly low published distortion figures of 0.00002% :o

I have acquired a slightly older ready made volume control unit from Mshow:

https://i.imgur.com/KiBl3SB.jpg

Construction is reasonable but one omission is a mute relay, as there is a pronounced click at turn off.

This is the internal shot after certain modifications:

https://i.imgur.com/iFS1e1t.jpg


To glean the ultimate performance from these chips needs consideration of the operating conditions with regard to noise and impedances.
Both regulators feeding the supply to the chip have been replaced with low noise regulator modules and a buffer stage has been fitted driving the input pins.

https://i.imgur.com/9lefNNo.jpg


The buffer stage can be seen in the foreground and the mute relay has been fitted directly to the output sockets.
The unit came without a remote control but I have been able to adapt one to work.

Performance you ask? Stunning, really transparent ;)

Leading on from the Mshow experiments I ordered a new unit along the same lines, this time under the Weiliang Audio name.
It is from China of course so availability now may be a bit delayed due to the current situation.

Part 1.

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

The pcb is very well done with some quality caps fitted, Elna and Silmic. It also has a mute relay included on board.
I have fitted a buffer stage which improved on the as built performance but am still waiting to receive some low noise regulators.

Compared to the Mshow it is only a few percent behind, hopefully with low noise regulators fitted it will have equal performance.
The soundstage and spacial clues come though exceedingly well, this is in use at the moment.

Part 2.

I have received the low noise regulators and have now fitted them.
Wow this is now very open, looks like I have two equally as good solid state volume controllers.

Putting a buffer before the control chip and substituting low noise regulators really does get the best out of these chips.

Today.

Whoahh am I enjoying this combination.

https://storage.proboards.com/6936725/thumbnailer/OzDQBYmAXTKNqFFTYdDi.png (https://audioaddictsforum.com/attachment/download/917)


The performance off vinyl is stunning, the sheer transparency of the modified Weiliang line controller is allowing such detail and depth through that it is like hearing different records https://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png

https://storage.proboards.com/6936725/thumbnailer/IohRUTcWbynHDGPjP0G0.png (https://audioaddictsforum.com/attachment/download/918)

Just listening to Annie Lenox 'Diva'. I have not heard all the subtle mastering before, it's fantastic.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Looks like a very interesting project.

[worrasf]

Deoxit all my cable plugs and bought/ordered a Fidelity Audio LPSU for my Rothwell Simplex phono stage.

Oh and nudged the Deca Supegold a smidge nearer to "perfect setup" - Dream on with that :lolsign:

[tapid]

Deoxit all my cable plugs and bought/ordered a Fidelity Audio LPSU for my Rothwell Simplex phono stage.

Oh and nudged the Deca Supegold a smidge nearer to "perfect setup" - Dream on with that :lolsign:

lol.Had some of that with my Decca. Get it perfect, get it perfect, then try for absolute PERFECTION and then it goes titties up. There good though :)

[Ali Tait]

Looks good Alan, look forward to hearing it sometime.

Projects for myself include fixing my S6, gone dodgy one one channel, something to do with the volume pot PCB. Bought some 20 gauge Duelund cable to make some IC’s- bought some of the speaker cable which seems to suit the Bastanis very well, so thought it worth a go.

Also have a WAD Kit 88 amp belonging to another member which requires some new caps fitting.

After some help and advice from Alan, might do some mods to my Son Of Beast OTL, he gave me some good suggestions to try.

[Ali Tait]

Have to go back to work tomorrow though lol, so all that will have to wait a bit.

[Mand]

I have already ......
Removed Isoacoustics Oreo Indigo from under my dac and put them under the shelf my RP10 sits on, which had 4 sorbathane discs. The disc are now under the dac..
Ordered, received and installed Custom Design iRap platforms under my speakers.
Ordered a Schiit Magni Heresy headphone amp to try..
Listened to lots of new music on Qobuz, and will probably end up buying new (used) headphones or iem to try..
May put another dac back into use..
Need to find something to distract me from hifi
Too much time on my hands.

[CageyH]

I am starting the build of a Neurochrome Modulus 686 amplifier.
I have a pair of mono block Modulus 86 amplifiers, and I am really impressed with them. However, having just ordered a set of Triangle Antal EZ, I could do with a little more power (apparently).

This is going to be a long term project, as it is relatively expensive.
I am testing my skills with the build of a Gaurdian 686 which will be used in my dual mono build.

[losepete]

This thread https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?67067-Doubling-interconnects caught my attention a couple of weeks ago and I have finally investigated doubling CD to Preamp interconnect with favourable results.

Now looking to double Preamp to Power amp interconnects to "see" how that sounds.

Will post results in above thread eventually - not quite sure where I can get some cable at the moment...

[Ali Tait]

HiFi Collective will post.

[worrasf]

Finally got around to installing my Tom Evans full monty upgraded Pioneer A-300R into second system - not cheap but utterly stunning sound from an integrated “vintage” amp


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kininigin]

So far i have bought a Caiman SEG + Dorado MKII and am now currently thinking whether to upgrade the Croft to 'R' spec (is Glen even taking on work atm?), or possibly get a Decca cartridge, or start looking at MC's/sut's/headamps! Decisions decisions.

[worrasf]

(is Glen even taking on work atm?).
I emailed Glenn last week and had no reply which is unusual for him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kininigin]

Ahh ok, maybe i'll leave the 'upgrade the Croft' option off the table for now then.

[RobbieGong]

I emailed Glenn last week and had no reply which is unusual for him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


This no reply thing really gets me down and it happens way too much in this game, from my experience, just kills it for me :rolleyes:

My comment and feeling is not directed at Glen (I dont know him), it's as I say in regard to my own experience, across many years in this hi-fi game. Be the best day ever, when I'm not subject to it anymore

[worrasf]

This no reply thing really gets me down and it happens way too much in this game, from my experience, just kills it for me :rolleyes:

My comment and feeling is not directed at Glen (I dont know him), it's as I say in regard to my own experience, across many years in this hi-fi game. Be the best day ever, when I'm not subject to it anymore

I know Glenn very well and in my experience when he does not reply within 24 hours there is always a good reason like he's on holiday, ill or in the summer across the road at the Scarborough cricket ground ;)

[Miller]

Plenty of this though the cost of isopropyl has trebled but I have some previous ready mixed available for now....

https://i.postimg.cc/rwCCRw6w/IMG-6029.jpg

[Wakefield Turntables]

Sounds like your all having fun. I'll have to post up some of my experiments later tonight!

[Wakefield Turntables]

Here's my first bit of experimentation. It's my old Shure M55E (USA) + JICO neoSAS stylus + Snakewood body. I used to run this on my Lenco L75 project but I decided I wanted to try on my SME V-12/Garrard 401 project. It's running through a very heavily modded EAR 834P clone. The V-12 allows for easy fine tuning and this has to be the best that cartridge has sounded. I've fine tuned the capacitance "seen" by the cartridge of I've messed about with VTF and anti-skate . It sure sounds great. I'll be plotting my EAR 834P clone against the in-built valve phonostage of my Croft Epoch pre-amp. Who know's may the EAR might come up for sale?


27536

[kininigin]

I've been using the Shure SC35C with SAS for a little while now and that too sounds very good. I've reverted back to the NOS stylus and paradox body today to remind myself of how that sounds. Again very good and especially suited to the 12" dance singles i'm listening to at the moment.

How did you fine tune the capacitance out of interest?

[Natara]

I've been putting my excellent PHK record cleaning machine through it's paces with excellent results. I don't know if you are familiar with the PHK it's a homemade machine from an excellent builder in Brazil admittedly it looks like a weird childs toy by Fisher Price but it represents exceptional value I'm not sure if they are still available to buy I bought mine second hand for less than £100 I think.

It spins both ways has a cleaning arm and vaccum arm you do have to connect it up to a hoover though to get it working properly but spread on your favourite cleaning brew and it does the job.

[Wakefield Turntables]

How did you fine tune the capacitance out of interest?

Loading plugs at the back of my phonostage and careful choice of cabling and RCA's with the right capacitance.

[kininigin]

Loading plugs at the back of my phonostage and careful choice of cabling and RCA's with the right capacitance.

I see! I've never figured out how to measure capacitance. Maybe when i have plenty of time on my hands, i'll work it out :D

[Wakefield Turntables]

I see! I've never figured out how to measure capacitance. Maybe when i have plenty of time on my hands, i'll work it out :D

You don't need to, just look up your cables specifications.

[Paul-H]

My Covid-19 project is to finally sit down and do a lossless Flac rip of my entire CD collection and finally build a dummy load for Amp testing.

Paul

[Gazjam]

Bit TV’d out and bored...so decided to do something hifi tweaky related today.

Given I’ve not long swapped out Turntables and my Rega has zero suspension...the caveat “be careful where you sit me” has been at the back of my mind.
I’ve been curious about turntable isolation, but given I’ve a stone floor always just said yeah, don’t worry about it.
Still curious though...so decided to try something that I’ve been curious about and as I’ve now got the time...why not?

My kit sits in a glass shelf Stand unique rack, glass maybe not being the best material for hifi shelves.
The Rega has rubber feet, so rubber on glass is maybe the best compromise?
Looking for other examples of glass shelf hifi furniture, The Naim Fraim has glass shelves and is very well though of... but where does the magic happen?

All about the ball bearings.

My current rack has wooden uprights supporting glass shelves, not dissimilar to the Fraim, but the Devils in the detail..right?
Glass shelves supported by steel ball bearings, I decided to try that concept and apply it to my own rack.

https://i.imgur.com/Kv6lAvO.jpg

My rack has wooden uprights capped off with threaded rods with hex head bolt end caps, so a rigid central core to support the shelf.
Similar to the Naim Fraim in principle (though not exactly the same) I put a steel ball bearing in the hex head long bolt that secures the wooden post end cap to the glass top shelf.

The idea being to balance an additional glass shelf on top of the ball bearing as a turntable support.
Had a few isolation bits n bobs lying about so decided to use them too.

Ball Bearing...RDC cone foot bases and SoundDamped steel plate.

Got it all set up and yeah, an improvement on how it was before, just plonked straight on the glass top plate.
Never really gave much thought to isolating my turntable and where it sat as I have stone flooors...but this was a definite improvement on before.
https://i.imgur.com/1dCIJWh.jpg

Given I’ve demonstrated to myself that where I sit the Table...even with stone floors...can sound different?
makes me think.
Might just get the Rega wall shelf now and call it done.

[Oddball]

I have been investigating an alternative 'Line controller' approach using of all things a solid state volume control chip.

With my long time involvement in electronics I was still under the impression that analogue multiplexers or chips that included them were very inferior, with very imperfect 'on' resistances that were far from linear with varying signal levels.

How things have come on now with modern CMOS processing :) . The Burr Brown digitally controlled analogue volume chips PGA2310/2311 have staggeringly low published distortion figures of 0.00002% :o

I have acquired a slightly older ready made volume control unit from Mshow:

https://i.imgur.com/KiBl3SB.jpg

Construction is reasonable but one omission is a mute relay, as there is a pronounced click at turn off.

This is the internal shot after certain modifications:

https://i.imgur.com/iFS1e1t.jpg


To glean the ultimate performance from these chips needs consideration of the operating conditions with regard to noise and impedances.
Both regulators feeding the supply to the chip have been replaced with low noise regulator modules and a buffer stage has been fitted driving the input pins.

https://i.imgur.com/9lefNNo.jpg


The buffer stage can be seen in the foreground and the mute relay has been fitted directly to the output sockets.
The unit came without a remote control but I have been able to adapt one to work.

Performance you ask? Stunning, really transparent ;)

Leading on from the Mshow experiments I ordered a new unit along the same lines, this time under the Weiliang Audio name.
It is from China of course so availability now may be a bit delayed due to the current situation.

Part 1.

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

The pcb is very well done with some quality caps fitted, Elna and Silmic. It also has a mute relay included on board.
I have fitted a buffer stage which improved on the as built performance but am still waiting to receive some low noise regulators.

Compared to the Mshow it is only a few percent behind, hopefully with low noise regulators fitted it will have equal performance.
The soundstage and spacial clues come though exceedingly well, this is in use at the moment.

Part 2.

I have received the low noise regulators and have now fitted them.
Wow this is now very open, looks like I have two equally as good solid state volume controllers.

Putting a buffer before the control chip and substituting low noise regulators really does get the best out of these chips.

Today.

Whoahh am I enjoying this combination.

https://storage.proboards.com/6936725/thumbnailer/OzDQBYmAXTKNqFFTYdDi.png (https://audioaddictsforum.com/attachment/download/917)


The performance off vinyl is stunning, the sheer transparency of the modified Weiliang line controller is allowing such detail and depth through that it is like hearing different records https://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png

https://storage.proboards.com/6936725/thumbnailer/IohRUTcWbynHDGPjP0G0.png (https://audioaddictsforum.com/attachment/download/918)

Just listening to Annie Lenox 'Diva'. I have not heard all the subtle mastering before, it's fantastic.
Looks good Alan :eek:

Hope you are up in the air before too long !!! I should imagine thats a goal for you ;)

[Gazjam]

I've been putting my excellent PHK record cleaning machine through it's paces with excellent results. I don't know if you are familiar with the PHK it's a homemade machine from an excellent builder in Brazil admittedly it looks like a weird childs toy by Fisher Price but it represents exceptional value I'm not sure if they are still available to buy I bought mine second hand for less than £100 I think.

It spins both ways has a cleaning arm and vaccum arm you do have to connect it up to a hoover though to get it working properly but spread on your favourite cleaning brew and it does the job.

Have one of those myself, they are excellent and do a great job.
Recently cleaned the last batch of vinyl I'd recently bought with it.

Don't think they are available to buy anymore unfortunately.

Love this video of it :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_vVecWymrk

[Jac Hawk]

I guess i'm classed as a key worker, as many of you know I work for a professional AV company and for most of my time i work with the NHS trusts up and down the country sorting out lecture theaters, simulation suites and video conference.

Since the Covid-19 1st kicked off i've literally not stopped, i did over 3000 business miles last month basically beefing up the VC (video conference) capability of the trusts i work with, the NHS's worry is that they will become overrun with cases and the risk of spreading the virus to non covid-19 wards. One of the things i'm currently working on is a remote monitoring system whereby a nurse can safely monitor a full ward of patients via video and if needed bring in a clinician over video to asses the patient and plan the next steps, the system will help to ensure that the risk of spreading the virus from patient to medical staff is reduced, that 1 nurse can effectively look after more patients with zero risk and Dr's who are elsewhere in the hospital or even at home can be brought in to asses a patient.

This leaves me with little time to tinker with my HiFi, however my plans once i get a bit of breathing space will include finally getting my hands on my new Prima Luna Evo400 amp (integrated), replacing the arm on my Project RPM 6 with a better 9cc Evo which isn't my 1st choice of arms but there doesn't seem to be anything other than Project arms to fit this deck, i'm seriously thinking about getting an Audio Technica Art 1000 MC cart and moving on my Dynavector 10x5 and finally i fancy a pair of Kralk audio TDB-12 speakers however that will have to wait until Kralk can start production again which i'm hoping is before the end of the year.

[tapid]

Sounds like your doing some great work with the NHS there mike :). Enjoy the audio, when time permits !

[Pigmy Pony]

Top man is our Mike, I look forward to hearing his new toys when this is over :)

[Ali Tait]

Have one of those myself, they are excellent and do a great job.
Recently cleaned the last batch of vinyl I'd recently bought with it.

Don't think they are available to buy anymore unfortunately.

Love this video of it :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_vVecWymrk

Yes have one also, great bit of kit.

[Oddball]

I guess i'm classed as a key worker, as many of you know I work for a professional AV company and for most of my time i work with the NHS trusts up and down the country sorting out lecture theaters, simulation suites and video conference.

Since the Covid-19 1st kicked off i've literally not stopped, i did over 3000 business miles last month basically beefing up the VC (video conference) capability of the trusts i work with, the NHS's worry is that they will become overrun with cases and the risk of spreading the virus to non covid-19 wards. One of the things i'm currently working on is a remote monitoring system whereby a nurse can safely monitor a full ward of patients via video and if needed bring in a clinician over video to asses the patient and plan the next steps, the system will help to ensure that the risk of spreading the virus from patient to medical staff is reduced, that 1 nurse can effectively look after more patients with zero risk and Dr's who are elsewhere in the hospital or even at home can be brought in to asses a patient.

This leaves me with little time to tinker with my HiFi, however my plans once i get a bit of breathing space will include finally getting my hands on my new Prima Luna Evo400 amp (integrated), replacing the arm on my Project RPM 6 with a better 9cc Evo which isn't my 1st choice of arms but there doesn't seem to be anything other than Project arms to fit this deck, i'm seriously thinking about getting an Audio Technica Art 1000 MC cart and moving on my Dynavector 10x5 and finally i fancy a pair of Kralk audio TDB-12 speakers however that will have to wait until Kralk can start production again which i'm hoping is before the end of the year.
Top man you are Mike !!
I owe you a favour still , and cant look at the Marantz without thinking about you !
:)

[Jac Hawk]

Top man you are Mike !!
I owe you a favour still , and cant look at the Marantz without thinking about you !
:)

I count myself lucky to be working and not sat on my arse at home on 80% of my salary, or worse still if I was self employed !!!

Visiting hospitals over the last few weeks has been a real eye opener and everyone needs to do everything they can to stop this virus spreading, what amazes me are the amount of people still out and about, i drove past a garden centre on my way to Broomfield hospital down in Essex and was amazed to find 15 or 20 cars in the car park and people shopping, we need to stay in and really only go out to get food, forget daily exercise, too many people have jumped on that bandwagon i've never seen so many dogs being walked or bikes being ridden, it's a joke.

The aftermath is going to take years to recover from, many people are going to find themselves unemployed due to their employers going under or scaling down to save cost, truly worrying times.

On a lighter note, i'm pleased the old Marantz is still chugging on and no favours are necessary, i wasn't using it, it didn't cost me a great deal so i was more than happy to pay it forward so to speak, once all this is over you'll have to pop up and listen to the new set up.

[losepete]

I have to agree with Mike: people need to stay at home unless food shopping or (necessary) working.

Had a minor scare myself a couple of weeks ago: Had a double hernia op March 10, discharged next day but started having problems breathing about 12 hours later, bit of a temperature and was coughing up blood. Wife dialled 111 explained situation got asked what hospital had performed op and was told to put phone down and wait for a call back very shortly from an "out of hours" medical service. The upshot was an ambulance turned up took me to hospital where I was diagnosed with a minor internal throat injury probably caused by insertion/removal of breathing tube during op and sent home with some antibiotics. As I understand it the hospital where I had the op had had it's first covid-19 death a day or so prior to me having an op so there was some concern that the virus may have spread at that hospital. Thankfully that does not seem to be the case.

I did notice that A&E medical staff were keeping a fair distance after giving me and Wife a mask each until blood tests came back confirming the throat infection was the problem. A brief chat with the Doctor about the just breaking in the UK covid-10 virus left me with the impression that they expected a lot of patients from the end of March on - especially if people ignored the STAY AT HOME! advice (which is now a government instruction/order).

So, STAY AT HOME! - enjoy your HiFi/Video/Computer systems.


Apologies for HiJacking thread


Pete

[disarmamant]

My lockdown project that's kept me occupied for the last week or so.

Battery powered moving coil head amplifier using parallel pairs of Linear Systems LSK170 JFET's.

Very low noise LT3045 regulator modules on the power rails.
Ansmann Lithium Ion 5600mAH battery pack.
Ansmann pre programmed IPC30 external charger.
Front panel mounted battery voltage and charge level meter.



https://dl.dropbox.com/s/iv78dsp0ym2t7xx/Front%20power%20on.jpg?dl=0
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/q02eorw8c4p0ehx/rear%20panel.jpg?dl=0
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/uhxhb3lwxnw9olt/inside%231.jpg?dl=0
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/dalhe5pdw8onad6/inside%232.jpg?dl=0
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/7fqye3yynqy4dvr/voltage%20battery%20meter.jpg?dl=0

[topoxforddoc]

Hopefully I'll find time to archive all my master tapes (> 100) - onto 24/192 wav and onto new 15 IPS tape with Dolby SR - it takes a) about 30 mins to clean, check and calibrate the R2R deck to the test tones at the head of the master, b) at least 2 hours to archive each one digitally, c) and then another hour to do the tape archive - sometimes I have to remaster the tape, especially if the levels are uneven or if there is a short dropout in the tape - realistically it's half a day per album to do it properly.

I don't have too much free time during COVID-19. Luckily I am not looking after sick COVID-19 patients, but I have plenty of other patients to care for. So, it's going to take a while.

https://i.vgy.me/lxRIqs.jpg

[Wakefield Turntables]

I started restoring another pair of JR149's. This has kept me out of trouble for the last 5 days or so.

[guy]

Not really a project but - I moved my boxes out of their usual positions/sound organisation racks to give living room a thorough clean.

:eek: I was was shocked: dust, dead spiders, spider crap and more dust. I usually give the boxes a wipe over, but this was everywhere.
Carpet now shampoo'd, boxes dusted and contacts remade - looking forward to having a listen later.

[graham67]

I am tidying up a couple of Technics decks, just started on a very nice sl-q202, a quartz locked semi automatic from 1982. It's too time consuming doubling up threads so full details and pics can be found on the wam.

[Gazjam]

Decided to use the spare time to modernise the big “church organs”...

Wonderful sounding things, but quite old fashioned looking with the ‘Ye Olde’ veneer, especially without the grilles.
So rubbing down woodwork and painting side panels white to match the room surroundings and furniture better.

I mean, why not...right? :D

https://i.imgur.com/kFP2vgE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4azT7lL.jpg

[graham67]

https://i.imgur.com/lwY1047.jpg

Pic of the technics sl-q202 I have serviced and tidied up. Full details can be found at
https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/140940-lockdown-technics-refurb/?tab=comments#comment-2530010

[loheswaran]

I've had a couple pf projects:

1. Tonearm boards made of walnut
2. Record storage 2 turntable stand -

[bosa]

Been fiddling / upgrading my ‘workshop’ system.

I recently made a stand from a beech slab and some offcut oak legs. Works well with some hardware off Ebay. Last week replaced the Sony 530ES amp with an Exposure XX Super which works really well with the Opera Primas via Naim NAC5 received yesterday. TT was a tatty but stable Luxman PD282 whose lid needed a lot of polishing and the speed adjusting internally, with an AT1009 courtesy of Angus of Phonomac fame.

Very pleased with the outcome.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200501/acfb05d933339dee1c1e900a42b4cb28.jpg

[ianlenco]

I decided to knock together a turntable from bits and pieces I already had in the shed.

https://i.imgur.com/i91fNomh.jpg#gWPQG

Lenco motor and idler wheel attached to a microscope micrometer stage for fine speed adjustment mounted underneath a piece of MU25 ply.

The idler wheel sticks up through the plinth. Recess ready for the bearing so the platter rides just above the plinth.

https://i.imgur.com/LS0WMdEh.jpg#gWPQG

Plinth primed:

https://i.imgur.com/dkE1Iokh.jpg#gWPQG

RB250 arm and cartridge fitted. The platter is a very heavy one from a Mission 775 turntable - it has a lead ring in it!

https://i.imgur.com/BrbU9wJh.jpg#gWPQG

So it's a Lenco idler driven Mission :lol: and works remarkably well. There were a few mistakes along the way but a bit of bodging here and there produced a deck I'm quite pleased with.
Still need a decent power on/off switch as it plugs directly into mains at the moment and needs a suppressor fitting to stop start up pops.
My intention is to sell this off once it's finished and donate the money to a local charity helping folk in need due to coronavirus.

[walpurgis]

Nice. And the third photo looks like Mickey Mouse. :)

[ianlenco]

Cheek!

https://i.imgur.com/zR5idYGh.jpg#h7ln5kr

[walpurgis]

:lol:

[Clint H]

HI Stephen

Interesting, I have a Rothwell Simplex phono stage, I take it the Fidelity Audio is a separate PSU? How much of a difference does it make please. The Simplex is a superb phono for the money. Cheers Stephen.


Deoxit all my cable plugs and bought/ordered a Fidelity Audio LPSU for my Rothwell Simplex phono stage.

Oh and nudged the Deca Supegold a smidge nearer to "perfect setup" - Dream on with that :lolsign:

[CageyH]

I am starting the build of a Neurochrome Modulus 686 amplifier.
I have a pair of mono block Modulus 86 amplifiers, and I am really impressed with them. However, having just ordered a set of Triangle Antal EZ, I could do with a little more power (apparently).

This is going to be a long term project, as it is relatively expensive.
I am testing my skills with the build of a Gaurdian 686 which will be used in my dual mono build.

As posted elsewhere, I finally finished my long term build.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and I am enjoying 5he fruit of my labour.

A valve based phonostage is planned next, the BB3, and then I may start looking at a pre-amplifier.