The Timestep Bearing

[DSJR]

I've always liked SME, but their current pricing is just plain ludicrous IMO. I suspect their arms aren't too dear by Hong Kong standards and it's this "top tier" of audio enthusiasts they're courting. The rest of us can enjoy the Jelco's at favourable prices and smile....

[chris@panteg]

Dave i am seriously leaning towards the Jelco ' now.

OK a few needle drop's the 1st 2 sets are before and after ' the last one is with the new bearing only .



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[chris@panteg]

Ok a few more thought's on the new bearing .

A small but interesting point ' when the needle hits the groove it makes a different sound ' i am not sure what that could mean ' so excuse my ignorance ' Dave C or someone help me out here .

Overall the presentation of music appears to be calmer or less busy ' i could say it sounds more understated ' but i always think thats a good thing .

Soundstaging appears much more solid and stable ' timbre of acoustic instrument's is better ' and an overall feeling of a much more refined turntable .

The original bearing does look a crude design and there is a little rough coarseness to its sound '

If the needle drops i have done ' don't bear this out ' i would ask you all to just take my word for it ' that this is a crucial upgrade/improvement to the 1200.

Many ask ' why bother with all these upgrade's when you can go out and buy a well sorted deck in the 1st place ' well this a good question ' and i am afraid i cannot give a sensible answer to that one , i just enjoy the tweaking aspect ' or like Dave Cawley's web page ' turning an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan .

I have a couple more needle drop's ' which i will post later ' but this bearing is an excellent upgrade ' buy it with confidence ' or if you are flushed defo go for the Mike New bearing ' which i am 100% convinced will be quite gobsmacking .

[chris@panteg]

Moved to the needle drop thread

[Marco]

Hi Chris,

If the needle drops i have done ' don't bear this out ' i would ask you all to just take my word for it ' that this is a crucial upgrade/improvement to the 1200.

I don't doubt it, matey - nice reporting so far

Btw, can you do me a favour and post the needle drops you've made so far also on Andrew's needle drop thread in Analogue Art?

Cheers, dude!

Marco.

[chris@panteg]

Hi Marco ' yes of course will do

[Marco]

Cheers, matey!

Marco.

[chris@panteg]

Happy new year everyone ' .

Right ' perhaps a downside to the new bearing , i think it really show's up the stock tone arm as being ' flat ' compressed ' with limited dynamics and hardly any bass extension ' and a soft overall sound .

I believe the original bearing was feeding back and bigging up the bass '
the more i listen to it , (the new bearing is nearly run in now) i am more convinced of this ' i mentioned in an earlier post ' when the stylus hits the groove it ' instead of a dull thump ' its now more of a light click .

The net result of this upgrade though ' and i hate to be negative but i now have a turntable which sounds a bit lean ' flat @ mean , but i i put this down to the arm , i do not regret buying the bearing one bit ' i think i have been kidding my self that i can live with the techy arm . I don't think i can ,

I say all these things but of course you can cast some doubt ' as the way i have set everything up could be wrong .

It would be cool if anyone has the new bearing ' if they can comment please .

[Marco]

Hi Chris,

Happy New Year to you, matey!

Interesting stuff - what you're describing I wouldn't have predicted, but like you say, it can't be perceived as a negative in terms of the new bearing, but rather with it simply revealing the deficiencies of the stock tonearm.

Right ' perhaps a downside to the new bearing , i think it really show's up the stock tone arm as being ' flat ' compressed ' with limited dynamics and hardly any bass extension ' and a soft overall sound .

Yes, you can hear these traits quite clearly in you needle drops...

I think you definitely need to bite the bullet, me old son, and get a new tonearm

Marco.

[chris@panteg]

Hi Marco

Yes i have been thinking along those line's ,
as well as the Jelco's and Sme ' i am wondering about a nice 2nd hand Ekos or ittok , but at it stands the 250st seems a cracker for the price.

Its interesting to also add ' i now find myself upping the volume on my 740a by around ' say 3-4 db , its as though everything is much quieter .

anyway i think a night on the Guinness is in order .