Gromit's music centre...

[Gromit]

So how's it sounding 'as is', Richard, and what are your plans for it?

Marco.

Hi Marco - no massive plans at the moment, although I'm going for the psu first as I know from previous experience that gets one of the major building blocks in place. Then it'll be the bearing before the arm gets changed - in fact wil probably do a few other things before doing the arm. Saying that, I've a brand new PL71 arm which I got a couple of weeks ago (couldn't believe my luck on that one!) which might be put into use on the 1210.

How does it sound? At first it was awful - really. Splashy, coarse, muddled and just rather uninspiring. So, on went the Pioneer mat - a bit better - then I found some Sorbothane-like 'blobs' which I cannibalised out of a pair of old Royd speakers I had years ago. In the Royds, these act as dampers which are wedged between the magnet of the bass driver and the rear panel of the cabinet. Sliced them up into 1.5" discs and have put them under each corner of the Audiotech shelf I've got the Tecchy sat on. Tried them under the TT's feet but it's a bit wobbly for comfort.

Result?

Hard to understimate what this has done - it's tidied the sound up no end. It's gained focus, bass is no longer slow and overblown, and music has gained some direction. Not too dissimilar to doing the psu thing. If this, for now, saves me forking out for Isonoes (or something of their ilk) then it'll be a major bonus.

Am investigating the Vantage Audio bearing next - knowing that Richard's a wizard with DD's (and citing the fabulous job he did on Theo's L07D he clearly knows his stuff) I think it'd be interesting to get his slant on things.