Post your turntable setup...can't get enough of those spinners!

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by shaizada, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. toddrhodes

    toddrhodes Friend

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    Not for nothing but I've briefly had a 103R as well as an Art9 MC and a used Lyra Delos. On my Sol I was running an MP-200 and fricking loved it, but wanted to put it to backup status at 400 hours, and I pulled the trigger on a new MP-500.

    So far, the MP-500 is flooring me. I'm not sure I really would consider going back to MC now as the 500 is giving me detail, refinement, and some of the most tuneful bass I've had, never mind for they money. Maybe keep it in mind if you find the 110 is a good match for your Concept arm. But, since Concepts use modded AT carts, the range of carts that will work with that arm is huge.

    Happy listening, enjoy that thing!
     
  2. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    I've always considered the MP-500, even when I was using the Project. I even remember someone on here was passing on a barely used one (I'd like to say 2 years ago or so?) and I wanted to jump on it but I was a bit too late. I think these have also been going up in price in recent years..

    It's going to be tough when I get to decision time. I had put the MP-500 away in my mind in exchange for MC carts (Denon, Hana, etc) but it might need some digging and potential auditions if possible before I make a decision.

    Thanks, I already am enjoying it! I finished setting it up a couple of hours ago and it's been playing nonstop since then haha!
     
  3. toddrhodes

    toddrhodes Friend

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    Nice. The good news is if you're picking between Hana, MP-500, the better AT MC's and Denon MC's... you can't really go wrong so long as the arm/cart relationship is good. And by all means if you have any questions about how I'm getting along wtih the MP or how it compares to others I've had as you wind around to that decision, shoot me a PM and I'm happy to pass on what info I have!
     
  4. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    Now that I have a record stand, my setup is complete!
    20201024_175554.jpg
     
  5. mitochondrium

    mitochondrium Friend

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    I have also a new spinner:

    [​IMG]
     
  6. neo_the_one

    neo_the_one Acquaintance

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    Which TT is that?
     
  7. mitochondrium

    mitochondrium Friend

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    Dual CS714q

    Quartz locked loop direct drive semi automatic. Probably 40 years old, the second owner put it in the nice cherry wood plinth. When I decided prices for Thorens vintage were sky high I was looking for a Dual, when I saw it I could not resist, fits perfectly. Originally they came in silver and brownish (metal) and black (plastic):

    upload_2020-10-25_14-47-13.jpeg

    The plinth doesn’t leave access to the lift button on the right nor to the pitch control (+/- 5 %) on the left. But the strobe never falters:

    upload_2020-10-25_14-49-48.jpeg

    Pitch control might be useful for musicians I do not need it.
     
  8. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

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    Just finished TD124 rebuild with Audiosilente motor bushings, idler wheel, bearings, v2 motor mounts, waiting for main bearing thrust pates, added Hanzehifi springs...new to me Tavish phono too.

    5CAF8EF2-F662-4308-92E0-18E390D35D57.jpeg
     
  9. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Dream come true?
     
  10. mitochondrium

    mitochondrium Friend

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    nice table, nice view, nice pic, I like the LP colour Indian Summer which goes well with the colours outside.
     
  11. DignifiedAndOld

    DignifiedAndOld New

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    Don't you have fears of a car coming too fast around that turn and slamming into your setup?

    I hear Schiit has a new product for that purpose...the Schiit Gärd.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2020
  12. fluxbat

    fluxbat New

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    Here is my contribution to the hopeless.

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    Hifi stand of sorts with EAT Forté tt, Morch dp-8 arm, Soundsmith Paua MKII cart. Herron VTPH-2 phone preamp.


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    Last edited: Oct 31, 2020
  13. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Very nice. I especially like the look of that turntable!

    Let me, though, repeat my usual old-guy's PSA warning: Never keep a record on, near, or against, electronics that produce any heat. You may say it's just the sleeve. It might be, but it's a bad habit. One day it might be a double album and you might not think about the record still in there.

    I learnt the hard way.
     
  14. edwyun

    edwyun Facebook Friend

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    Ok, here's my setup - Lyra Delos cartridge > VPI Prime turntable > SOTA BLDC motor/Condor/Roadrunner speed controller > Hashimoto HM7 SUT > Herron VTPH-2A phono preamp.

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  15. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    20201106_101816_HDR.jpg

    Schiit Sol w/ Ortofon 2M Bronze, deerskin leather slipmat (platter side is felt), and Bottlehead Eros 2 phono preamp. Phono cables are DIY: silver DH Labs balanced-style cables with silver KLEI low-mass RCA plugs (shields connected at Eros 2 end). I do want to replace the Sol tonearm wires with some kind of fancy silver at some point, but that's further down the line. My next upgrade will be a clamping record weight, as some of my albums are....not flat. At some point today, I'm going to try running Sol's motor thru a Pro-Ject Speed Box S, since other people have had success with similar devices and the voltages are the same (at least I think... I'll check first). I have not received the new pulley update, but if the Speed Box (which has speed switching) works (EDIT: So far the Speed Box is fantastic!), I'll be keeping my eye out for an aftermarket dual-45 rpm pulley. I never got to try this with my old Rega table, but apparently dual-belt pulleys were quite the upgrade.

    The slab of granite was recovered by a friend of mine from an abandoned quarry while leading a geology field trip in central Texas, and gifted to me for helping him move. It's the same 'pink granite' formation as the Texas capitol (Town Mountain granite). The whole thing sits atop a Butcher Block acoustics stand with spiked feet. A slab of shark-toothed stall mat (for ultimate decoupling) sits on the butcher block, and I've used a few isolation pads between the stall mat and granite for minimum contact area between the lower platform and the granite.
    20201117_091921_HDR.jpg

    Visually, I have big plans for the Eros 2 wood base... a dark stain ('Kona'), some Danish oil for a sheen, and a glossy clear coat finish (the top plate is gloss black with a spritz of silver)... however, that may have to wait until warmer weather.
    20201117_091909_HDR.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2020
  16. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    Congrats! Simone L. offers great stuff for idler drive enthusiasts.

    Happy listening!
     
  17. The Life

    The Life Facebook Friend

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    [​IMG]

    I’ve made enough changes to my VPI Classic setup that I thought it was worth putting a new photo in the thread, since this was the thread that inspired me to up my analog game in the first place. The changes include:

    —Phoenix Eagle PSU and Roadrunner tach (Got these brand new a few months ago for the original MSRP from Bill Carlin himself)
    —ifi iPhono 3 phono stage
    —Maple Butcher Block (I originally had some isolation beneath the block but I prefer the sound without the isolation feet beneath the block)
    —Cartridge Cap for Denon 103/103r. I switch back and forth between the 103 and the 103r every few months so the cap made more sense for me than a full body
    —HW40 feet (Traded in the originals to VPI)
    —Music Hall Connect phono cable
    —HRX pulley plus 3 belts (EPDM belts rather than the default O-rings)
    —Audio Technica auto tone arm lifter to replace Q-up
    —Soundsmith Counterintuitive
    —A few diy mods to increase the mass of the arm and anti-skate system slightly, and make cantilever of the arm base and the VTA tower more rigid (ideas picked up from various threads on the VPI forum)
    —I might be forgetting a thing or two
     
  18. fluxbat

    fluxbat New

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    A couple of new additions to the system. The Soundsmith Strain Gauge SG-200 arrived. Soundsmith has been trying to catch up after a shutdown for vacation. It was well worth the wait. It sounds extremely clear and as Peter Ledermann says, you hear what is on the record. The power leds are a little too bright, hence the tape over them.

    The second addition is a Life-Changer Audio UK icOn 4 pro passive preamp. Hats off to @Cakecake for the pointer. It uses Dave Slagle autoformers and FETs for volume control. I had not really noticed that the Luxman pre section was on the warm side. With the IcOn, nothing added nothing removed, just pure joy and very obvious difference between the two preamps.

    Cheers!
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  19. Saburo

    Saburo New

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    When I first laid eyes on this deck at Winter CES (almost 30 yrs ago!) I lusted after one ever since. I come to find out these are very scarce tables with few being brought into the US. I finally lucked into a previously-loved unit, intact with an Act 2 'arm. The Wilson Benesch Act turntable was like an LP12 on 'roids, it used a carbon sandwich sub chassis which was way ahead of the times and a bearing with journal that makes even the current Karousel look puny. It has a separate, regulated PS unit that uses a precision oscillator delivering two sinewaves (33 and 45) for operating the AC motor. Its roughly comparable to Linn's lingo or Rega's P9/ RP10 controller. The table is now sitting on an Arcici lead balloon and should be spinning vinyl shortly.

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    Last edited: Dec 24, 2020
  20. DignifiedAndOld

    DignifiedAndOld New

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    Been on the lookout for a decent used TT (Linn, Gyrodec, VPI, etc.) and finally came across a local SOTA Star Sapphire with an ET-2 linear tonearm. Well-cared for, with the original power supply and pumps in working order. I used to think it kinda silly to have a piece of audio equipment that needed air pumps and now I have TWO that go to the same table. I was almost giddy trying out the tonearm for the first time, experiencing the air-bearing arm glide back and forth.

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