Shuggie's SL-1210 Blog Revived

[Marco]

Ah I see. Cheers, Martin.

I'll come back to this later, as I'm a little busy at the moment

One quick thing I would say though is it's definitely a synergy issue. I haven't heard the Paul Hynes, but if the Time Step in my system sounded as Shuggs has described it'd be in the bloody bin, not making truly superb sounding music with my Techy!

The good thing though is Shuggs seems happy with the result he's getting overall now, which is the main thing

Marco.

[NRG]

So, your house is slowly filling up with old record players! This one should put the cat amongst the pigeons, as it were! I thought that the Kenwoods all used a similar motor block and control circuit, but looking at http://www.vinylengine.com/library/kenwood/kd-750.shtml it's clear that the KD-750 is quite a bit more sophisticated than my KD-770D.

I look forward to hearing your decks, particularly if I can get permission to use one of our classrooms for a bake-off. More details on that to come, but if it does go ahead, it will have to be a strictly ticketed affair, because of access restrictions to the site.

Yep! I'm up to 4 now...SP10...G99...PL71...Some un-badged belt drive TT I use for 78's and now the KD750 (I hope)...I say I hope because I bought the PL71 two weeks after the KD750 and it's arrived but the 750 has not...

Funny thing is I *thought* I was buying a 770...but alcohol and Ebay do not mix...especially when you find the cost of shipping approaches that of the deck you've just bought!

Let me know about any bake off, I have quite a selection now

[Ammonite Audio]

Well, my PSU is designed to work well with Jelco and SME, can't win them all! BTW, why did you have to return the other PSU?

Also I'm not a fan of the GCHP, so I think it's a holistic issue. Hence the brilliant Hi Fi World and Tone Audio reviews that both used SME ?

Regards

Dave

All I can say is that Paul Hynes designs his PSUs to work well, and to be unconditionally stable in any application. As for the return, it was due to a fault with my own multimeter, and nothing at all to do with the Paul Hynes PSU

Reviewers have personal preferences (and prejudices) as well, do they not? I preferred he GCPH over my old Dino/Dino+ when I had my old Heavied Spacedeck/Spacearm/Wave Mechanic. The qualities that it displayed a few years ago still please me.

......One quick thing I would say though is it's definitely a synergy issue. I haven't heard the Paul Hynes, but if the Time Step in my system sounded as Shuggs has described it'd be in the bloody bin, not making truly superb sounding music with my Techy!

The good thing though is Shuggs seems happy with the result he's getting overall now, which is the main thing

Marco.

I'm not saying at all that the Time Step sounded bad, in fact I think I've been quite clear that it does significantly improve the standard SL-1210's performance (and Dear God, it does need a helping hand). I am saying that another PSU which is designed on totally different principles betters the Time Step, and seems (subject to a lot more listening) to go a long way to addressing my previous indifference to the SL-1210.

We could probably argue for months and years over this particular synergy issue (and I will never let you grind me down over Rega-based arms), but this largely boils down to personal taste. I may even actively dislike your deck's sound if I heard it; however I find it interesting that the Paul Hynes PSU has, in my system, apparently elevated the SL-1210 in the musical rankings, while simultaneously exposing weaknesses in the Kenwood, previously masked by the crude standard supply circuit. The Kenwood benefitted from the Pual Hynes PSU in a number of ways, not least overall stability and precision, but cleaning the window brought other issues into clear view.

And yes, I am encouraged by the results so far, which is all that matters. Others may find my reflections useful, which is after all the benefit of online forums such as AoS.

[Dave Cawley]

Hi Shuggie

I'm not grinding you down at all. But no Hi Fi product works well in "any application". Cleary your PSU and Rega based arm is what you like, and that is good for you. Others including Hi Fi World and Tone Audio like the Timestep PSU and SME/Jelco and that is good for them. When my new bearing comes out everything will be up in the air again?

If we all liked the same thing life would be a bit boring!

Because I have the choice, I use a SME V and SP-10 with Timestep PSU for my main system and the SL-1200 for my second system.

I may even take a brand new SME 30 (£12.9K) and modify that in the winter?

One day I may have something completely different like a L-07 if I could find one, but then the search would be on for a PSU, arm and cartridge that "I" liked.

And after that??

Regards

Dave

[Marco]

But no Hi Fi product works well in "any application".

I completely agree, Dave.

Shuggs, it's good that you're enjoying the results you've achieved with your chosen PSU and tonearm, not least because the addition of the Hynes PSU has allowed you to better appreciate the talents of the Techy, and like you say, alternative experiences may be of help to others

However, the only way we'll fully 'get' where each other is coming from, is not by going round in circles debating here, but through listening.

So......... I'm up for the bake-off you mentioned anytime you fancy it

Marco.

[Ammonite Audio]

Hi Shuggie

I'm not grinding you down at all. But no Hi Fi product works well in "any application". Cleary your PSU and Rega based arm is what you like, and that is good for you. Others including Hi Fi World and Tone Audio like the Timestep PSU and SME/Jelco and that is good for them. When my new bearing comes out everything will be up in the air again?

If we all liked the same thing life would be a bit boring!

Because I have the choice, I use a SME V and SP-10 with Timestep PSU for my main system and the SL-1200 for my second system.

I may even take a brand new SME 30 (£12.9K) and modify that in the winter?

One day I may have something completely different like a L-07 if I could find one, but then the search would be on for a PSU, arm and cartridge that "I" liked.

And after that??

Regards

Dave

Yes, it would be rather dull if we all liked the same things, and agreed on everything! I know that Marco will not let go of the Rega arm thing, and it's fun to goad him on that point occasionally, but actually nobody is an expert through and through, and maybe some humility sprinkled with understanding of others' viewpoints would make this a better place to lurk. I do get the impression that there are certain "Home Ground" topics here on which dissent is barely tolerated; however it is heartening to see that RD has been welcomed back, and I look forward to his particular blend of genuine expertise, wit and passion on AoS.

On the subject of a power supply, surely a really well-designed power supply should and can work well in any application. I know that the Paul Hynes designs have been developed over many years, and the SR3 has been shown by Paul to be unconditionally stable in every application within its overall design envelope. The same cannot necessarily be said of designs based around commercial IC regulator chips. I can only go on what he has told me, and if he wishes to comment himself, I'm sure he will.

This is a wholly different argument than from that of synergy between bits of audio equipment, where clearly there is a lot that one component can do to upset another. It is possible to build a more perfect power supply than one base on 3-pin regulators, but the costs of doing so would be significant, once translated and magnified into retail prices. Paul sells direct to the customer, so I am happy to get the best linear power supply technology at a very reasonable price.

Perhaps HFW or David Price would care to try my Paul Hynes PSU with his Technics?

However, the only way we'll fully 'get' where each other is coming from, is not by going round in circles debating here, but through listening.

So......... I'm up for the bake-off you mentioned anytime you fancy it

Marco.

Quite so, Marco! But do try to be more understanding of others, and occasionally step out from behind the lectern You are of course welcome to the putative bake-off, which will probably be sometime in August.

[Marco]

Nice one, Shuggie. Keep me in the loop

I am always understanding of others, but at the same time, if someone reports almost diametrically opposed results to those I've obtained with equipment I use and know inside out, I'm perfectly entitled to challenge them

We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't like Rega tonearms very much and I offer no apology for that.

AOS is a forum where we argue robustly (but respectfully) with each other, and shy away from nothing. You stating your opposing views in such a robust, confident way, but politely, is exactly what is required!

Anyway, until August!

How many different T/Ts will be there - oh, and where's Farnborough?

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Hi Shuggie

It's perhaps a bit naive to think that any component "should and can work well in any application" if this were true none of us would be here now! An open mind is what is needed. Technology is different and there isn't necessarily a "best" one for all things.

I would not criticise Paul's PSU here, but I could so easily if I wanted to. So the veiled criticism of mine for using a 3 terminal regulator isn't really on. Technical fights will do this forum no good at all!

So lets live and let live? Listen to the music............

Regards

Dave

[Mike]

You are of course welcome to the putative bake-off, which will probably be sometime in August.

Ooh, can I come and play too please?

[Dave Cawley]

Would I be welcome, or seen as a dealer?

Regards

Dave