Magna Audio's custom-made counterweight balance and armboard service!

[loo]

The message here is therefore essentially this: expect BIG things to happen, sonically, when substituting a 'common-or-garden' aluminium armboard, on a Technics T/T, for one of Steve's ebony babies!!


Marco.

I would also add Luxman decks with the original aluminium armboard ,as the only thing I changed was the armboard to Steves and I found the sound to be instantly more gratifying ,I would suspect that lots of all metal turntables may be effected in a similar way , the Orbe and Gyro come to mind having had experience of both
thanks again Steve
Paul

[Marco]

Not on my radar at all. Thanks Marco.
Fraction of the price sounds nice
How does it compare to my Jelco SA-750D ?

I haven't done the comparison, but my gut feeling says (and it's usually fairly reliable) that it should be better than the Jelco. Micro Seiki certainly have a fine reputation. The arms are cheap enough to take a punt on, I reckon, and could be moved on fairly easily if not suitable. Just Google for 'Micro Seiki MA 202'

This is the sort of thing you would need, if you were using the arm with an SPU (short of getting Steve to make you a complete heavier c/w) : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Seik...item4acbfc0d75

Marco.

[Marco]

I would also add Luxman decks with the original aluminium armboard ,as the only thing I changed was the armboard to Steves and I found the sound to be instantly more gratifying ,I would suspect that lots of all metal turntables may be effected in a similar way , the Orbe and Gyro come to mind having had experience of both
thanks again Steve
Paul

Nice one, Paul.

I do agree, certainly in terms of the Technics, where I find that metal armboards impart a rather hard, clinical 'a-musical' quality, which is totally cured by the addition of an ebony armboard. The latter succeeds in bringing out all the tone and texture (and nature 'colour') in music, providing that the partnering arm and cartridge are capable of delivering such.

Marco.

[loo]

Nice one, Paul.

I do agree, certainly in terms of the Technics, where I find that metal armboards impart a rather hard, clinical 'a-musical' quality, which is totally cured by the addition of an ebony armboard. The latter succeeds in bringing out all the tone and texture (and nature 'colour') in music, providing that the partnering arm and cartridge are capable of delivering such.

Marco.

Yep well put Marco that is exactly how its transformed the Lux in just the same way ,
Paul

[Magna Audio]

Indeedy. I do wonder what it will do for my slate set up. Suck and see...

I've sourced a special 'big' bit of Ebony and its coming from Portugal!
Hope to get it by next week and will fit it in around the other jobs

[twotone]

I haven't done the comparison, but my gut feeling says (and it's usually fairly reliable) that it should be better than the Jelco. Micro Seiki certainly have a fine reputation. The arms are cheap enough to take a punt on, I reckon, and could be moved on fairly easily if not suitable. Just Google for 'Micro Seiki MA 202'

This is the sort of thing you would need, if you were using the arm with an SPU (short of getting Steve to make you a complete heavier c/w) : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Seik...item4acbfc0d75

Marco.

I got one of those with my arm from the same seller.

Tony

[MikeMusic]

I haven't done the comparison, but my gut feeling says (and it's usually fairly reliable) that it should be better than the Jelco. Micro Seiki certainly have a fine reputation. The arms are cheap enough to take a punt on, I reckon, and could be moved on fairly easily if not suitable. Just Google for 'Micro Seiki MA 202'

This is the sort of thing you would need, if you were using the arm with an SPU (short of getting Steve to make you a complete heavier c/w) : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Seik...item4acbfc0d75

Marco.

Micro Seiki seems very rare. Looks like I would have to wait a while for one and then be super careful as to condition. Price seems very nice 2nd hand on Ebay, mostly abroad too so another risk
Tried looking here to see if you did a direct RS-212D comparison to Jelco 750
Can you point me in that direction or tell me how the two compared ?

[Magna Audio]

I got my FR64s all the way form Taiwan - was a smooth deal, no problems.

Here is a work in progress board for SL-1210 but this one is in customer supplied Australian hardwood.
Pretty heavy/dense and close grained. Should polish up well.






Taken on my phone so pretty poor quality.

There's a slight fissure in one part but that will be taken care of by the moon shaped platter cutout

I'll take some proper pics on deck when finished.

BTW, I've bought myself a new (secondhand) Warco precision super mini metal lathe - picking it up tomorrow. Counterweights & pulleys etc will be much easier to make with this baby.

To be continued...

[Magna Audio]

It has arrived.
Nice piece of wood. Now to get time to craft myself a board / xmas present to me and my trusty SP-10 / FR64s

[Magna Audio]

Update to the Australian hardwood board that was in progress above.
This one is for Bernie / AoS Canetoad.

On my new lathe whilst polishing



Oh yeah, this lathe spins up to 2500rpm and that really gets a shine on!

On test mule deck (bit scabbly but it never leaves the workshop). Bolts shown are my own test ones - cap headed Stainless will probably be bolts of choice.



Jelco arm hole and mounting holes drilled.

Armboard ready for shipping once it has final waxing / polish.