The Mike New Technics Bearing

[rubber duck]

Nice. And always good to see the 1210 with its own arm

[Marco]

Thank you Mike and Marco for convincing me that the MN bearing was the right upgrade for me

No worries, Chris. Glad it worked out well. I'm also pleased that the Isokinetik stabiliser has produced good results... More people should use those with 103s, as they really make the Denon sing!

Marco.

[PaulStewart]

What turntable had a spiral cut into the bearing to circulate the oil?

That would be the original Towshend Rock, it had a bearing that was developed by the Cranfield Institute of Technology for Garrard before they were sold to Gradiente, which eould have been for the successor to the 401. The unique thing was the groove to pump the oil round the bearing and Townshend got access to it and it went into the Rock.

[OneyedK]

No worries, Chris. Glad it worked out well. I'm also pleased that the Isokinetik stabiliser has produced good results... More people should use those with 103s, as they really make the Denon sing!

Marco.

Hello Marco,

I tried different makes and models of "stabilisers", but nothing beats a headshell that has the weight in itself. Currently using the at-lh18/occ with my 103R on an otherwise stock Technics tonearm (counterweight made heavier with bitumen), very pleased with the results, will not go back to lighter headshells with "stabilisers".
IMHO, the word "stabiliser" is very badly choses as it does no such thing.

Greetz,
Karl

[MikeMusic]

So what did I hear. To me it was more like what I did'nt hear. The background was quiter and then the rest of the music came out better in every way. It's subtle but then it's not. I can compare it to LCD blacklevel vs plasma blacklevel (as in Pioneer Kuro/ my Panasonic VT50). The rest of the picture gets so much better when the blacklevel is deep. This is what the bearing does for me. But I did notice that I had clearer mids and tighter bass.

Good words Chris. I sometimes struggle to put into words what I hear. That will help an old Muppett nicely

[ChrisKemp]

Thank you Mike

@OneyedK:
So would I get better SQ with the AT headshell? The reason why I needed the spacer was because of VTA problems with the 103. Do you say I dont need the spacer if I get the AT headshell?? You say your heavy headshell is better than using Sumiko/ Isokinect stabilizer. Did you try this combo and compare? What was better with the heavier headshell??

[OneyedK]

@OneyedK:
So would I get better SQ with the AT headshell? The reason why I needed the spacer was because of VTA problems with the 103. Do you say I dont need the spacer if I get the AT headshell?? You say your heavy headshell is better than using Sumiko/ Isokinect stabilizer. Did you try this combo and compare? What was better with the heavier headshell??

I don't need a spacer since I use the Funk Firm platter and the Funk Firm mat.
But yes, I did compare them (not AB offcourse) both by ears and by measurement, the bass is more clear, precise and better defined (not as woolly).
Measurement shows this as the heavier headshell has a lower resonance peak.
I could redo the measurement and show you the graphs, but my retipped 103R (boron cantilever and microridge tip) is in use at the moment (in the AT headshell) and that's even a different beast (1.8VTF so different suspension).
If you want to be sure, maybe start a new topic "headshell weight aka stabiliser versus correct weight headshell", I'm pretty sure others will have the same experience.

[Tarzan]

Nice. And always good to see the 1210 with its own arm

x2- with a Stanton 500 at the end too.

[ChrisKemp]

I don't need a spacer since I use the Funk Firm platter and the Funk Firm mat.
But yes, I did compare them (not AB offcourse) both by ears and by measurement, the bass is more clear, precise and better defined (not as woolly).
Measurement shows this as the heavier headshell has a lower resonance peak.
I could redo the measurement and show you the graphs, but my retipped 103R (boron cantilever and microridge tip) is in use at the moment (in the AT headshell) and that's even a different beast (1.8VTF so different suspension).
If you want to be sure, maybe start a new topic "headshell weight aka stabiliser versus correct weight headshell", I'm pretty sure others will have the same experience.

My bass is not wooly at all with the Sumiko HS-12/ Isokinetic Stabilizer. It is tight and deep. You have the 103R and maybe that is a different story in your setup, but here it sounds great. If I put the 18g AT headshell on, I would still need a spacer bacause of the VTA. That is way too heavy even with my 22g aux weight.

[Tarzan]

Not quite, it's a current feature, I think you'll find - the spiral takes the oil up & the hole returns it to the well at the base.

Michell Turntables do have this feature.