The Mike New Technics Bearing

[chris@panteg]

Oh, the bass was always there, just not very well defined.
It's now so much more defined that to be honest, it does seem to hit lower and harder than before.
I have also noticed that he sound stage is opening up, and everything else has much better clarity and separation.

Ahh, well that sounds more promising.

[Stratmangler]

I already had the bass before fitting my MNB, due in no small part to having dampened the original bearing with an O ring in the bearing well.
I found initially that the MNB brought greater inner detailing to the table, and a greater sense of solidity to the sound.
I heard textural things that I'd never heard before on recordings I know very, very well, and that being both on vinyl and CD (well streamed - I don't have a CD player in the system any more).

Now I was fortunate to have a loan of a GSP Audio Reflex M phono stage throughout most of December and the beginning of this month, and I couldn't believe just how much tight, controlled bass I was getting off the Techie/MNB.
The best compliment I can give is that the equipment just got out of the way of the music, and I spent many, many hours playing vinyl.
I was able to make sense of lyrics that were never quite intelligible before.
I heard subtle rhythmical changes and interplay between parts like never before.
Some of my best records for music were bought 2nd hand and are not in pristine condition, yet these were laid out with all of their glories very much in evidence.
The tracing noise and crackles and pops, although present, just didn't intrude - I was enthralled with the interplay of The Jacques Loussier Trio on a not very good pressing.

The Reflex M has gone back, and I'm seriously missing it.
I've had the best kind of demo that can be had - take it, try it for yourself.
What I think it lets me do is properly hear what my TT can do, and I think that the MNB is a serious part of those listening experiences.
My demo of the MNB was the same - take it, try it for yourself, and the MNB never did get removed from my deck. Many thanks to David Brooke of MCRU for just handing it over at the last meet he organised. It's a very worthwhile upgrade to a Technics SL-12xx deck.

[chris@panteg]

I already had the bass before fitting my MNB, due in no small part to having dampened the original bearing with an O ring in the bearing well.
I found initially that the MNB brought greater inner detailing to the table, and a greater sense of solidity to the sound.
I heard textural things that I'd never heard before on recordings I know very, very well, and that being both on vinyl and CD (well streamed - I don't have a CD player in the system any more).

Now I was fortunate to have a loan of a GSP Audio Reflex M phono stage throughout most of December and the beginning of this month, and I couldn't believe just how much tight, controlled bass I was getting off the Techie/MNB.
The best compliment I can give is that the equipment just got out of the way of the music, and I spent many, many hours playing vinyl.
I was able to make sense of lyrics that were never quite intelligible before.
I heard subtle rhythmical changes and interplay between parts like never before.
Some of my best records for music were bought 2nd hand and are not in pristine condition, yet these were laid out with all of their glories very much in evidence.
The tracing noise and crackles and pops, although present, just didn't intrude - I was enthralled with the interplay of The Jacques Loussier Trio on a not very good pressing.

The Reflex M has gone back, and I'm seriously missing it.
I've had the best kind of demo that can be had - take it, try it for yourself.
What I think it lets me do is properly hear what my TT can do, and I think that the MNB is a serious part of those listening experiences.
My demo of the MNB was the same - take it, try it for yourself, and the MNB never did get removed from my deck. Many thanks to David Brooke of MCRU for just handing it over at the last meet he organised. It's a very worthwhile upgrade to a Technics SL-12xx deck.

Very good Chris !

[CageyH]

Chris,

I totally agree on the Reflex M. I tried one, and it stayed.
There probably are better phono stages around, at a price, but I am a satisfied customer.

[MartinT]

I am wondering how much better a SME 309, Iv or V would make my deck in my current system

Before deciding on an SME, try to hear some other arms - especially the Jelco 750D. I only say that because the SME's very dry presentation doesn't always sound happiest in the Technics. It would also save you a lot of money.

[CageyH]

Thanks Martin.
I am quite happy with my AO RB251, and believe I will have spend quite a lot more to get significant improvements. That was the point I was trying to make.

[belloire]

Having just heard a pals 1210 go from an ao rb250 to an audio note arm2, the jump in sq was huge. But the cost was pretty high too. Worth a look if you like the straight arm thing and want to upgrade though. (I'm trying to convince him my 750d is better, but he's having none of it :-))

[CageyH]

I think the Audio Note Arm 2 is based on a Rega RB251, so I am not sure there will be a big difference between that and my AO RB251?

My next upgrade will be more vinyl, and maybe a platter next year.
The arm will have to wait a while, as at the moment I can't justify spending thousands on a better tonearm.
I am thoroughly enjoying what I have at the moment, so I am in no rush to change.

[belloire]

sorry, i meant the arm 2 mkII. the old audio note arms were based on Regas, the new, mkII, variant are all audio note. captured uni pivot, very nice indeed.

however, i think more vinyl is the real answer

[KC Jones]

More bass ? Or more bass depth, this is what worries me about the MN bearing as more bass is the last thing I'm looking for with my techie, slightly leaner with better clarity would be good !

I wouldn't say it sounded leaner, definately more depth, slightly to the front and more pin-pointed (if that's a word). Yes more clarity too. It's hard to hear any particular improvement other than the bass end as that's where it was most prominent, within my system anyway.

I would say the speakers I use are fairly level, so the bearing helped to pick out the bass parts more accurate without adding any extra unwanted Bass.
So ithe bearing seems to be all about bass for me but in a good way.
(hope the next 2 changes I make have similar good effects across the spectrum - SR5 and a Jelco. Bought 18 months ago and sill not fitted!!)

Cheers