Rebuilding and modifying my Lentek head amp

[Marco]

Had a Nick Gorham modded version of was ok sold it on I'll not be going back to this part of my hifi journey

Fair enough, Andy. However, this one has been modded using quite different components, in order to preserve the Lentek's core sonic signature (as described), whilst reducing noise and adding a goodly dose of refinement, but crucially not robbing it somewhat of its 'fun factor'.

As good as it was in many ways, that's what I felt was missing when Nick modded an earlier one of mine, and which I've now put down to having largely been the result of replacing the Tants with Oscons, and why this time the same mistake hasn't been made

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Fair enough, Andy. However, this one has been modded using quite different components, in order to preserve the Lentek's core sonic signature (as described), whilst reducing noise and adding a goodly dose of refinement, but crucially not robbing it somewhat of its 'fun factor'.

As good as it was in many ways, that's what I felt was missing when Nick modded an earlier one of mine, and which I've now put down to having largely been the result of replacing the Tants with Oscons, and why this time the same mistake hasn't been made

Marco.

Marco, I'm glad your enjoying yourself again. It's nice to see you post on a regular basis. I decided against toying around with head amps. I didn't really see the need for another box in the signal path. I must admit to still using a SUT with my Cadenza Black on the 1210. I'm afraid I'm enjoying vintage MM's + valve phonostages to worry too much about head amps. I never really gelled with the 103 and I've owed the 103R, 103M and the 103 stock. I'll not be visiting the 103 stable. I'm having way too much fun with the SC35C and EAR834P combo.

[Marco]

Marco, I'm glad your enjoying yourself again. It's nice to see you post on a regular basis. I decided against toying around with head amps. I didn't really see the need for another box in the signal path. I must admit to still using a SUT with my Cadenza Black on the 1210. I'm afraid I'm enjoying vintage MM's + valve phonostages to worry too much about head amps. I never really gelled with the 103 and I've owed the 103R, 103M and the 103 stock. I'll not be visiting the 103 stable. I'm having way too much fun with the SC35C and EAR834P combo.

Fair enough, Andy, and thanks. My hiatus from 'hi-fi shenanigans' was only liable to be fairly short lived, as my passion for it has always remained. It was simply that I was more involved with my other interests and hobbies, especially when life was more normal and the weather was good. However, with the lockdown situation and now the winter months arriving, my interest in hi-fi has been rekindled!

In terms of what you've said about the 103, can I ask if you've ever used it in a high-mass arm, say a typical Jap one with a detachable headshell, such as I use, or the likes of an FR64, or just on your usual, is it, SME V? If not, then that would ably explain why you've never got on with it, as quite simply it won't work properly on that kind of arm.

For a 103 to sound right, the headshell alone has to be (min) 16g. It also sounds much better when used through an MM phono stage, together with either a head amp or an SUT, than through a standalone MC stage, hence why I've put so much effort into optimising the performance of those types of devices I use with it, the Lentek being a case in point.

However, I'm glad you're enjoying the SC35C, with your EAR, which I'm sure sounds fab. As you know, I'm a big fan of that cartridge, again when optimally set up and partnered - and IME it's as fussy in that respect as a 103! How did you get on with the NOS stylus you bought, and have you added any further capacitance, by experimenting with loading?

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Fair enough, Andy, and thanks. My hiatus from 'hi-fi shenanigans' was only liable to be fairly short lived, as my passion for it has always remained. It was simply that I was more involved with my other interests and hobbies, especially when life was more normal and the weather was good. However, with the lockdown situation and now the winter months arriving, my interest in hi-fi has been rekindled!

In terms of what you've said about the 103, can I ask if you've ever used it in a high-mass arm, say a typical Jap one with a detachable headshell, such as I use, or the likes of an FR64, or just on your usual, is it, SME V? If not, then that would ably explain why you've never got on with it, as quite simply it won't work properly on that kind of arm.

For a 103 to sound right, the headshell alone has to be (min) 16g. It also sounds much better when used through an MM phono stage, together with either a head amp or an SUT, than through a standalone MC stage, hence why I've put so much effort into optimising the performance of those types of devices I use with it, the Lentek being a case in point.

However, I'm glad you're enjoying the SC35C, with your EAR, which I'm sure sounds fab. As you know, I'm a big fan of that cartridge, again when optimally set up and partnered - and IME it's as fussy in that respect as a 103! How did you get on with the NOS stylus you bought, and have you added any further capacitance, by experimenting with loading?

Marco.

I've not done the high mass arm route and I really must start trying Jap stuff. Life's moving on and it's one of those areas that I keep promising myself that I must visit. I'm still on the SME V and now also a V-12 I have been tempted to try the FR64 but just never got around to purchasing one. The 103 did sound reasonable on my SME 3012 but I strongly suspect that I hadn't properly optimised it.

Now the SC35C is a different kettle of fish and as such I have optimised things further still. My capacitiance loading experiments are over as I feel I have reached optimum loading. The NOS stylus hasn't been out of the packet yet. I'm having far too much fun with the JICO SAS/s version which I strongly recommend. I have been experimenting in two other areas. Firstly with power supplies to the 301 and also with an Oscilloscope for improving stereo channel separation. I use a Phoenix Engineering PSU + Tachometer to control the 301 speed, it's a great product let down by lousy power SMPS supplies that introduce a lot of noise into the equation. This has driven my crazy over the last 3 months. I've now removed the SMPS products for the 9V battery supply and cheap linear regulated PSU from China. Now I have no hum and the soundstage is quite and both massive and glorious. The Oscilloscope is still a learning curve but does improve stereo channel separation. So, my next area's of experimentation and investment are going to be super low noise PSU's and a better valve phonostage.

[Marco]

I've not done the high mass arm route and I really must start trying Jap stuff. Life's moving on and it's one of those areas that I keep promising myself that I must visit. I'm still on the SME V and now also a V-12 I have been tempted to try the FR64 but just never got around to purchasing one. The 103 did sound reasonable on my SME 3012 but I strongly suspect that I hadn't properly optimised it.

Yup, as do I... Given that you love the sound of the SC35C, I think you'd be equally enamoured by a fully-optimised 103, as both have similar traits

Now the SC35C is a different kettle of fish and as such I have optimised things further still. My capacitiance loading experiments are over as I feel I have reached optimum loading. The NOS stylus hasn't been out of the packet yet. I'm having far too much fun with the JICO SAS/s version which I strongly recommend. I have been experimenting in two other areas. Firstly with power supplies to the 301 and also with an Oscilloscope for improving stereo channel separation. I use a Phoenix Engineering PSU + Tachometer to control the 301 speed, it's a great product let down by lousy power SMPS supplies that introduce a lot of noise into the equation. This has driven my crazy over the last 3 months. I've now removed the SMPS products for the 9V battery supply and cheap linear regulated PSU from China. Now I have no hum and the soundstage is quite and both massive and glorious. The Oscilloscope is still a learning curve but does improve stereo channel separation. So, my next area's of experimentation and investment are going to be super low noise PSU's and a better valve phonostage.

Interesting stuff... I've no doubt that you've improved matters in that area, as I'm no fan of noisy SMPS units, used in any audio application. Also, I've always preferred the 301 to a 401, and considered that if the former was properly fettled, it'd not be the latter's inferior brother - and also IMO is the better looking!

There are two idler T/Ts I'd love to own quality examples of, and that's a TD-124 and 301. In terms of the latter, I'd like an Audio Grail 'hammered grey' BBC one, and may well add one to my system at some point in future

Marco.