hello - I'm Rav (based in Melb, Australia)

[gx502]

Hi,

just a quick intro, my name is Rav, and I am based in Melbourne Australia.

I have been lurking here for the longest while, and thought today perhaps it was time to observe good manners.

I just want to say a kind thank you to the all the members here for sharing their experiences, I have learned from you. Its so hard to try before you buy, so all the good will here is very much appreciated.

My deck is a SL1210MK5 w/ hinges fitted, SA-750D, DL-301-II, MN bearing, Timestep Std-PSU, and Isonoe footers.

(I am potentially thinking of changing my arm to a SME-IV, and using a EPC-310MC p-mount (currently on my SL-10).

When the 310MC dies, I will use a Ortofon Kontra-B. The SME and Kontra-B, currently live a quiet life on the top shelf of my wardrobe)

Here is a pic.



kind thanks
Rav

[WOStantonCS100]

Greetings!

I certainly like your choice of decks. One of the main reasons I came here is that the 1200 actually gets some respect around these parts (maybe even a lot).

I imagine some would gripe at using a "p-mount" on an SME-IV. Nevertheless, Technics made some very nice ones. Personally, I think some folks are passing up some mighty fine sounding carts (even with the use of the standard mount adapter). I don't have any of the Technics; but, I'd take one! I do have an Audio Technica VS245LP and AT331LP (both now with Shibata's) and see no reason to part with them. Gave away a Grado; but, kept them.

Anyways, again, greetings!

[gx502]

Hi Biff,

thanks for your reply. Just a brief note on the 310MC, I do not have much experience, but the 310MC has a beautiful tonality, that is the best I have heard. I think the SL10 whilst nice is not fully capable of showing what this cartridge can do.

I have no idea what the remaining life expectancy is on the 310MC, since the SL10 was an eBay adventure, but I thought that using it in the SME-IV might be a nice swan song for this cart

Kind regs....

[Alex_UK]

Hi Rav, and welcome to AoS. Your turntable set up looks very nice. What other kit do you use? And what sort of music do you like?

AoS is perhaps "the home" of the modified Techies, with several very experienced members, and lots of different routes - so plenty of advice and temptation awaits you!

Enjoy the forum.

[gx502]

Hi Alex,

many thanks for your gracious welcome.

My taste in music is pop/rock for the most part.

My whole system is:

Technics SL1210 (spec as stated)
Sony XA-5ES CD Player (extensively modded but not by me -too tricky)
AVi Lab Series Pre-Power amps
Apple MacBook, Terralink-X2+PSU, TriVista 21 DAC (my main digital front end)
Dynaudio Contour 1.3se

On the sidelines:
RB-1000, SME-IV, Ortofon Kontra-B (all in the wardrobe)
Linn LP12 (valhalla) w/ Akito-1 (wanted to do it up, but got too confused...)
SL10 (w/ lovely EPC310MC)

DISCLOSURE: I do have a commercial interest in hifi, since I am AVi's Australian agent. But I am here on AoS just from a hobby perspective, to learn about vinyl playback. I hope this is okay, I do not want any conflict of interests.

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Rav.

Nice system; including a turntable that is very popular here on this forum.

Enjoy the site.

Regards

[Marco]

Hi Rav,

DISCLOSURE: I do have a commercial interest in hifi, since I am AVi's Australian agent. But I am here on AoS just from a hobby perspective, to learn about vinyl playback. I hope this is okay, I do not want any conflict of interests.

That shouldn't be a problem, as long as you're not attempting to promote AVI in any way, which in itself wouldn't be a problem, if you wanted to register as trade.

Anyway, welcome to AoS - glad that you've decided to jump in at last

Nice looking Techy. I also like your room - warm looking and cosy with subtle lighting... My sort of thing!

I like the idea with the Technics P-mount - that shows some real lateral thinking, which I admire. It's a fab cartridge, but I'm not sure if putting it on an SME IV might 'kill' it, as the design does exhibit a significant dampening effect on cartridges, which I'm not sure would suit the 310.

If it were me, I'd go for something with a lighter, 'airier' balance. Have you thought about the SME Series M2? I think that would be perfect, or have you even tried it on your Jelco?

Incidentally, you can still pick up NOS 310MCs on Ebay. I linked to one only a few weeks ago for someone, so when yours dies, there's every chance you might find another.

Anyway, I hope you settle in nicely and I look forward to reading your future contributions

Marco.

[gx502]

Hi Marco,

kind thanks for your reply. (Again just to re-state, purely here from a vinyl hobby perspective. I have a modest collection of LPs, and I am just trying to get the most out of them.)

Thanks also for your comments about my 310MC and tonearms in general. My gut feeling tells me you are probably correct, and I think you are light-years ahead of me in terms of TT experience (so kudos !!!). When I said thanks in my introductory post, you are one of the folks that I had particularly in mind.

I am not really too worried, I am just gonna give the 310MC a spin up on my SL1210, since I suspect the SL10 is not doing it full justice. Its not a serious endeavour, so if its a complete flop -no biggie.

But perhaps you are correct, I should give the 310MC a try first on the Jelco. The 310MC really has a lovely tonality, and it reminds me of my youth hearing records broadcast on Radio-1 on the FM band. The BBC achieved a techni-colour tonality, leaving me perplexed whereas the same records on my humble NAD-5120/9200 TT at home sounded so mono-chrome. At last I have found that BBC sound, with the 310MC!!! (Wonder what carts the BBC used? I have heard they used EMT and Technics decks.)

From time to time I'll try my best to report my findings, and post a snap or too, even if it only serves to indicate to others what not to do !!!!

All best wishes
Rav

[Marco]

Hi Rav,

You and I, my friend, have much in common!

I'll comment later in more detail, as I have to shoot off somewhere at the moment, but in the meantime I'd just like to address this point:

The 310MC really has a lovely tonality, and [B]it reminds me of my youth hearing records broadcast on Radio-1 on the FM band. The BBC achieved a techni-colour tonality, leaving me perplexed whereas the same records on my humble NAD-5120/9200 TT at home sounded so mono-chrome.

Snap! At the time, I felt the same way, particularly during the late 70s and early 80s, when I used to listen to and record (onto tape) the Top 40 chart show on a Sunday night on Radio 1, broadcast by Tommy Vance (and others before him). I used to wonder why my (then) Sanyo music centre couldn't produce that kind of sound with the chart singles I was buying!

My abiding memory is listening to the chart show one Sunday night in 1980 (I was 15 at the time) and the DJ (can't remember who it would've been in those days) introduced the (then) new single from the Korgis, called 'Everyone's got to learn sometime' (I loved that song), and saying: 'Pin your ears back and listen to this...' I did, and turned it right up, and it just sounded so huge, wide-open, detailed and wonderful, and like you say, with a "techni-colour tonality"!

We lived high up on a hill then, overlooking the whole of Glasgow (I was born in Scotland), and the quality of the FM reception on the radio was superb. All it took was a bag of nails and a bit of wet string to get a good sound. Anyway, I got the impression that the DJ was revelling in the sound quality when playing that single, as well as the beauty of the song, perhaps not long after the BBC had installed their EMTs?

Anyway, for a bit of nostalgia, here's a reminder of that song:





I love it even now, especially when that creamy sounding sax kicks in!

For years I've strived to achieve the kind of sound you've described, and I get it now when I use the Techy with either a Denon DL-103 (with modded Lentek MC head amp) or, even better, a vintage Goldring G800, which the BBC used (I think) throughout the 70s (along with in some cases a Shure SC35C), in what would have been Gray arms and Gates turntables. In the 80s, I think they changed to EMT TSD-15 cartridges, with EMT 950 and Technics SP10s, when the Gates were disposed of.

For details of the G800, read this thread, which you should find interesting: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10413

I'm sure you'll also find this thread of interest: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10088

If you fancy giving the G800 a go, I may be selling some of my surplus ones (currently I have three), and if so, you can let me know. It would be right at home on your Jelco and high-mass AT headshell.

Ok, must dash - laters!

Marco.

[gx502]

Very interesting post Marco! (apologies for the delay in responding).

I had a similar music centre experiences also, but in my case it was a GEC unit, not a Sanyo !!

Things changed when I turned 16, and my folks gave me some cash, and together with my own meagre funds (from paper-round), I got my first hifi system (NAD 5120 with flat tonearm, NAD9200(OEM ADC XLM variant), a NAD 7125 receiver, and lovely Boston A40 speakers (still miss these).

Must say looking back, that humble setup did do a lot of good things musically speaking, but no way did it give me that "BBC sound".

I am still trying to get my vinyl replay to a level I am happy with, and then I can concentrate on getting new records. At present I have some "spare parts", from a project I was planning but kind of gave up on (SME-IV and Kontrapunt-B cartridge), and of course my SL10 has that lovely EPC310MC.

(Presently the SL1200 is running with the Jelco 750D and a DL301, its very good, but the DL301 does not have a very vivid tonality. That cart is a bit like a cross between a MC and MM sound!)

Another possibility for me is to purchase another decent headshell, and run the Kontra-B on the Jelco, dunno if this would work ???

My path to musical enlightenment, seems to a rather hap-hazard and random one !!!