It's now time to ditch your Sound Hi-Fi/Herbie's mats...

[Labarum]

I haven't had a turntable in the house for 25 years, or any records.

Maybe I should try this software and see what I'm missing?

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/vinyl/

Actually, I'm telling porkies. In the Auntie's house in Nicosia we have an acoustic gramophone, a Pye Black Box and a few 78s which will play on either turntable.

None of them sound any good.

<very big grin>

[Marco]

Hehehe... Aye, Brian, but I bet they look cool, though, and are more individual and unique than any soulless mass-produced plastic bloody computer!

Marco.

[Labarum]

Hehehe... Aye, Brian, but I bet they look cool, though, and are more individual and unique than any soulless mass-produced plastic bloody computer!

Sadly, the mahogany case of the Pye Black Box is badly knocked about, else I would have used it to house a small format PC, a DAC and a power amp.

[DSJR]

Here I go again -

I actually have a Black Box from 1956 which I inherited. The sound was sublime on 78's and I learned the proper version of Clair de Lune via this record player (I'd only appreciated the Tomita version before). After 20 years in storage it needs some work, as there's a hum at all volumes (apparently it's "those" caps, a known problem on these old amps) and the old BSR Monarch UA6 needs a good lubing The amps on these record players were apparently rather good, being transformer coupled (instead of the cheap-Dansette way of hard-thrashing a single valve into a small speaker I believe) and with a quite sweet tone when removed from the casing and used externally.

Link to details of a later one (1960 or thereabouts) with UA15 deck - http://www.radio-workshop.co.uk/pye-black-box.shtml

There's a sub link to the service manual and schematics if Anthony TD wants a laugh (or anyone else for that matter).

More to the point, I am starting to think that "some" 1960's pop records/singles may actually sound better on an old record player as that's what they were intended to be played on Once the Black Box is fettled, I'll try it on some mono records and see

[Labarum]

That's a lot of amplifier in that schematic, Dave.

Ultra linear push pull output stage with driver and pre-amp. (Not transformer coupled in the schematic shown.)

Yes, the Dansettes cut all sorts of corners. I cheap crystal cartridge could kick out half a volt. Enough to drive a single outputs valve. Only an output transformer was needed. To save cost the mains transformer was omitted. The HT was straight off the mains and the valve cathode heater ran from a 50v tap off the turntable motor coil.

Built to a price! But lots of folk could afford them, so why not.

Must look under the bonnet of my Pye and see what I have got.

[DSJR]

The pic of the amp shows an output transformer and mine is the mk2 amp.. It's T1 I think and the mains tranny is T2

Thread drift again - apologies folks

[Labarum]

The pic of the amp shows an output transformer and mine is the mk2 amp.. It's T1 I think and the mains tranny is T2

Thread drift again - apologies folks

I have a Monarch Autochanger and the amp just as shown.

Is mine an early one?

[chris@panteg]

The pic of the amp shows an output transformer and mine is the mk2 amp.. It's T1 I think and the mains tranny is T2

Thread drift again - apologies folks

No worry's Dave ! its tradition on here

[Marco]

Getting back on topic, folks, I've been having a play with some of the mats today, and one thing I can definitely confirm is that the copper mat together with the Achromat does NOT work!

First of all, the Achromat slips about big time on top of the metal copper mat, which is a total no-no, and bonding it with a little grease isn't much better, with the resulting sound not good at all.... If you want to ruin the Techie's infectious musicality, then this is how to do it!

So that's one combo you can definitely cross off of your list!!

Next move was using the copper mat on its own, which was massively better - it really deadens the resonant stock Techie platter, and produced a very open, detailed and musical sound, without being in any way bright or fatiguing.

However, I then returned to the Achromat on its own, bonded very firmly to the Techie platter, and to my mind that still seems like the best mat solution. There is a real vibrancy and expansive quality in the midrange that truly beguiles with vocals and acoustic instruments, and this is utterly magical.

Therefore, so far - and I haven't yet come to a conclusive opinion on this - but the Achromat on its own is winning, most likely as a result of its near perfect impedance match with vinyl, which is quite something as the retail price of the copper mat is around £250!!

It undoubtedly looks much sexier, but the Achromat on its own (with the bruil record weight) is so far doing the biz where it matters most!

I should have an Oyaide to try on Monday.

More later.....

Marco.

[DSJR]

I have a Monarch Autochanger and the amp just as shown.

Is mine an early one?

If it's the cream Monarch with dual concentric start/speed knobs bottom right, it's a UA6.



if it has two knobs, one on each front corner, but the steady-arm top left, it's a UA8.



Glad the Achromat is doing its stuff