Calling all SL-1200/1210 owners!

[Marco]

Nice one, Richard. You're welcome – looking good, mate!

It just shows what a few tiny bits of wire and a headshell can do, eh?

The Cardas leads really do make a difference, and it will give you an inkling of what to expect when you have the arm fully rewired. I can't stress enough how the stock wiring really does hold back the arm's performance.

Once fluid damped (this is the next mod I'd recommend you carry out after the rewiring) with the new headshell and leads, and counterweight balance, the sonic ability of the arm will be in a different league. Trust me, you will not feel inclined to 'upgrade' (and I use the inverted commas deliberately!) it to a Rega or a Tecnoarm

You are welcome to hold on to the Zu headshell until your Sumiko arrives so you can enjoy the improved performance it's giving and compare it to the Sumiko. You may prefer one over the other (they are slightly different) and like I said it's always handy having a few spare quality headshells.

You're right, the effect of the brass counterweight balance is more subtle but you'll find that once your ears are attuned to the way the arm presents music with it in situ, going back to the standard item is a definite downgrade. You will sense a certain 'magic' missing in deck's musical presentation.

Furthermore, the one I sent you is a bit of a ‘mish-mash’ of ones Thruno made for me until I got the mass right. To hear its maximum effect you need to have one made to compliment your Dorian so that the c/w balance is butted up as close to the pivot point as possible, which at the moment it isn't. However, like the headshell, you're welcome to keep hold of it for as long as you need.

Have fun, enjoy your tunes, and keep us posted of any new developments!



Marco.

[scoobs]

Coming together Rich, nice one.
Just to add to Marco's comments on the counterweight, I found obvious gains with the addition of it, however mine is heavier still I think at 60gm. As he says the closer you get the bulk mass to the front of the stub the better, may be an idea to pop the little aux weight on to the back of the stub and move the main weight forward a little.

[Gromit]

may be an idea to pop the little aux weight on to the back of the stub and move the main weight forward a little.

Hi Nick - I added the aux weight about 10 mins after taking the picture, it does mean the main weight is now about 5mm further forward.

I'm going to contact Stone Audio tomorrow and ask them why, if an item ordered is out of stock, there is no notification of such to the customer. Bad Form if you ask me. Even an automated 'sorry but the item you have ordered is on back order etc etc' would be a small step in the right direction.

[Marco]

Richard,

Stone Audio are notorious for taking ages to ship orders. Half the stuff they advertise on their website isn't in stock. What'll be happening is they'll have ordered a Sumiko from the States and will be waiting for it to arrive. Bearing in mind that it took about 3 weeks for my Zu Supreme to arrive from America, you've probably got another couple of weeks for your Sumiko to get to Stone Audio.

If you don't get a satisfactory answer I would cancel your order, get a refund, and order one from here:

http://www.needledoctor.com/Sumiko-HS12-Headshell?sc=9

I've used them before and they're very quick and efficient, even considering stuff is coming from the States. You'll still probably get it quicker than you will from Stone Audio!

Failing that, if you like the Zu, we can come to a deal on it and keep what you've got.

Have you noticed any difference now with the c/w balance positioned nearer the pivot point?

Marco.

[Marco]

Any joy with Stone Audio, Rich?

Marco.

[ray70]

Marco - where did you get the Cardas leads from?

By the way, I have three of those Zu headshells. One has a Dynavector 20Vx and one has a Denon 304. The third one is currently empty, but there is a AT 33PTG on it's way from Japan to join it. Oh the joy of interchangeable headshells!

Still plan to try a 103pro, but I think I have enough to be getting on with for the time being!

[Yomanze]

Anyone tried the Zu DL103?

[Peter Stockwell]

I'm getting ready to plunge, been umming and ahhing for weeks now. Even told the missus I wouldn't buy one until after the redecoration.

Had been lusting after an SP10 mk2, but I think that's a road to ruination, even if the results may well be worth it. I'm sure I'll find out for myself, but anyone care to qualify the differences between an unmodified SL1200/SL1210 and a Garrard 401 ?

If I do make the plunge i'll have to make a difficult choice one day

regards

Peter

[Peter Stockwell]

Ok, me again.

Just looked at the KAB site. I also looked at the current USD/€ exchange rate. I could get a KAB SL1200 including import duties for almost the same price as a new SL1210 here!

I'm thinking that the power supply and the strobe dissabler are must haves, what else is worth going for ?

cheers

Peter

[scoobs]

Hi Peter.
If you're right about the price of a KAB with shippping & import tax being so close to french new stock, then it's simply a no brainer! The PSU is a major upgrade, no doubt, but the strobe disabler is not so significant, neither is the clamp if taken in isolation.

The killer KAB upgrades without doubt are the arm re-wire and fluid damping, this what takes the 1200 into the big players league, a few additional tweaks to the arm (all covered in this thread) along with a decent platter mat are the icing on the cake.