Bargains on ebay?

[Rare Bird]

Don't like this seller.

The 'C200' is missing from the side cheeks, but just single cheeks were at one time available..If you must have a 'C200' theres two on the flea bay now..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/a-r-cambridge-...item414c26516e

[Themis]

Is it that tempting Dimitri?

Regards

Oh yes !!!

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

Marco, the LVV was a bit variable and didn't take to user abuse al all. Linn replaced the few clunker samples we had and I thought the arm very musical, covering its tracks very well. This arm NEEDED its flexible headshell (and resonated better with it by the way) and sounded better with the little rubber gland left in place. Fitting a solid shell sans washer and it was worse. They fetch stupid money on ebay now - well over £100 and I think anyone paying this much for one must be mad

The Basik Plus is my favourite of all the Linn (Jelco) Basik arms, except that the counterweight decoupling rubber all but liquifies after a decade or so, making the counterweight spinn freely on the rear stub, when it should have been a firm fit.

Yep, the Basic Plus was better still (in some ways). I'd definitely use either though, providing they were in full working order, before I would an RB250 or 300 - those two are amongst the most overrated arms on the planet!

I guess the reason that I got such good results with the LVV was because (even then) I was using it with a DL-103 (through a battery operated Lentek head amp) in an AT MG-10 magnesium headshell, which suited the LVV down to the ground, and indeed the LVV was almost idential to Denon's own tonearms of the time, so it was a match made in heaven in my (then) system of Ariston RD11S (with Moth 'Flutterbuster' PSU)/Nakamichi BX-125E/Sondex S230 integrated amp/Misson 700, with VDH cables throughout.

Nice wee system that, around 1983... Not bad for an 18-year old in the bedroom of his parents house!

I also got good results with a Linn Trak (an underrated Linn MC cart, IMO) on the LVV, which I used for quite a while before I later 'upgraded' to an LP12/Valhalla/Ittok/Karma. The arm and cartridge were definitely an upgrade, but the T/T wasn't!

Marco.

[Jonboy]

I've got a Ariston RD110 special edition with corythuim plinth with a 3009 fitted, has anyone had or seen one of these before?
I'm currently using a AR legend fitted with a Linn Basik LVX and Goldring 1010 which sounds better than my Grado Gold

[Rare Bird]

I've got a Ariston RD110 special edition with corythuim plinth with a 3009 fitted, has anyone had or seen one of these before?

Yes I used to have one, infact i still have a spare sub platter for it under the bed. I'll dig it out

[Rare Bird]

Vade retro satanas !

Nice in a Japanese kinda way

Notice the Pinch Roller is situated above the Capstan

[DSJR]

Hi Dave,



Yep, the Basic Plus was better still (in some ways). I'd definitely use either though, providing they were in full working order, before I would an RB250 or 300 - those two are amongst the most overrated arms on the planet!

I guess the reason that I got such good results with the LVV was because (even then) I was using it with a DL-103 (through a battery operated Lentek head amp) in an AT MG-10 magnesium headshell, which suited the LVV down to the ground, and indeed the LVV was almost idential to Denon's own tonearms of the time, so it was a match made in heaven in my (then) system of Ariston RD11S (with Moth 'Flutterbuster' PSU)/Nakamichi BX-125E/Sondex S230 integrated amp/Misson 700, with VDH cables throughout.

Nice wee system that, around 1983... Not bad for an 18-year old in the bedroom of his parents house!

I also got good results with a Linn Trak (an underrated Linn MC cart, IMO) on the LVV, which I used for quite a while before I later 'upgraded' to an LP12/Valhalla/Ittok/Karma. The arm and cartridge were definitely an upgrade, but the T/T wasn't!

Marco.

You should see how much worse the LVV behaved with a "decent" headshell... the arm and bearings weren't up to it IMO (and Linns too)..

Trak? MisTrak more like. Bloody little terrier that failed the Asak quality control (and, IIRC lacked the glue added to the Asak innards to control resonance) and mistracked badly on anything it didn't want you to listen to...

Sorry mate, you may have fond memories of such a wild concoction, but you'd wince if you tried it now - I promise you

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

You should see how much worse the LVV behaved with a "decent" headshell... the arm and bearings weren't up to it IMO (and Linns too)..

Not in my experience, mate... Remember we've had discussions like this before about M3Ds, Stantons and such like, and in the end you've come round to my way of thinking

Honestly, the LVV I used in the RD11S sounded fantastic with a high quality Audio Technica magnesium headshell on it and the DL-103. Like I said, check out some of Denon's own tonearms from that era (made purposely to suit the 103) and you'll notice a remarkable similarity in their respective designs....

Linn LVV:




Denon DA-309:




See what I mean?

I've no idea how the LVV worked with other, more 'normal' cartidges though, as I only ever used it with the 103 and Trak....

Trak? MisTrak more like. Bloody little terrier that failed the Asak quality control (and, IIRC lacked the glue added to the Asak innards to control resonance) and mistracked badly on anything it didn't want you to listen to...

Again - not in my experience. I used one happily (along with the 103) for about a year and a half before getting the LP12/Ittok/Karma combo. The Trak worked very well in the LVV. It absolutely loved all the 80s stuff I used to play at the time.

Trust me, if it sounded like you suggest I wouldn't have had it for that long!

Sorry mate, you may have fond memories of such a wild concoction, but you'd wince if you tried it now - I promise you

Well, it certainly wouldn't be as good as what I'm using now, but I doubt it'd make me wince. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this

Where we do definitely agree, though, is here:

Marco, the LVV was a bit variable and didn't take to user abuse al all. Linn replaced the few clunker samples we had and I thought the arm very musical...

It's *precisely* that addictive musicality/tone which I feel is sadly lacking in many of today's tonearms (cartridges, too), where the sonic balance is voiced to be more incisive, 'mechanical' and rather clinical sounding. We've definitely lost some magic along the way in our quest for 'accuracy' with hi-fi equipment these days.

Thank God for the Jelco SA-750, though, as it's got that very musicality/tone in spades, reproduced by equipment from the good old days we both love, which is why I adore it so much. It's got 'soul', man!

Marco.

[DSJR]

The LVV was based on the ADC arms and the bearing block, if not the pillar were identical..

Remember, I sold the Trak with 1980's Naim... The high treble was very "scratchy" when compared with the Asak, although most of the Asak character was there (being the same thing basically). My favourite of the three was the Asak "T," which was the best selected one at a very profitable price premium.


P.S. One characteristic of the Trak and Asak design was a lack of the 3-D image in a good recording, something you and I value hugely Marco. I agree that they were good at reproducing 1980's contemporary music, but the Karma and Troika were so much better, especially today with less "fruity" turntables and an EsCo re-tip

You know Marco, at today's prices an Asak would sell for nigh on a grand (well, several hundred anyway). Would I pay that much for one when the AT33PTG is less than half the price, or a ZYX R100 or Lyra sell for the same, let alone the Royal N SPU? Nah.....

[Marco]

I didn't get Naim until later. Dunno about ADC - I've not used their arms. All I can say with absolute conviction is that the LVV worked a treat with the DL-103 in the Ariston, as did the Trak.

It's probably a context/synergy thing, as often happens in hi-fi.

Catch you later, dude

Marco.