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. Saburo

    Saburo New

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    Great 'table. I had a Star Sapphire with ETII arm back in the day and its still a worthy contender. When the arm goes back and forth its from eccentric LPs pressed off center. With a linear tracker you soon discover how many off center records you actually own, something you don't readily notice with a pivoted arm.
     
  2. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    What does the other air pump do?

    I'm prosaically convinced that all that is completely over the top and unnecessary. I'm also hugely impressed! Guessing that that thing cost huge amounts, but pays back in joy of ownership! Assuming it sounds as good as it looks: I'm sure it does.
     
  3. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Someone's questioning the necessity and cost of expensive linear TT arms ? Paging @Donald North

    The second pump enhances your enjoyment while listening to the music.
     
  4. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Can I buy that separately?

    But seriously... I had a not-very-expensive linear deck in 1980-something. IIRC, it was branded Akai, although the internet now shows the same deck under several different brands. Even it was a fascinating thing. But when I eventually plucked up courage to look inside it, I was horrified at the complexity. There was a heap of electronics as well as the mechanical stuff. Sure enough, it died in just a few years.
     
  5. DignifiedAndOld

    DignifiedAndOld New

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    One pump is a vacuum to suck the record to the platter. That vacuum is basically the upgrade from a SOTA Sapphire into a Star Sapphire. That vacuum holds the record to the platter and essentially turns your 110 gram vinyl into a 35 lb vinyl. Sonically, it drastically tightens a loose bass sound.

    The second pump feeds the air-bearing tonearm. Can read more about that here:
    https://www.stereophile.com/content/eminent-technology-two-tonearm

    Definitely over the top, but there is noticeable sonic benefits. There's a further rabbit hole air pump modifications that can get seriously silly.

    I believe this setup was new in the early 90's, probably around $3000. They are not easy to find in good working condition, but can be had for much less than a used VPI, Linn or similar.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2021
  6. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    This is as far as I've gone into the linear TT arena...

    [​IMG]

    Its actually not too bad and hella fun to watch.
     
  7. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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  8. YNWaN

    YNWaN New

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    Last edited: Jan 22, 2021
  9. Saburo

    Saburo New

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    Besides the record weight/clamp, I spotted it straight away. You replaced the Naim Aro with a Tiger Paw Javelin arm (another rare creature). I recently exported one to Canada, it was one of only two brought into N America. i didn't get to hear it but my friend that I sent it to has a Naim Aro to compare it with. I had a Naim Aro back in the day on two LP12 decks, its a fine sounding arm, but I'm partial to unpivots.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
  10. YNWaN

    YNWaN New

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    Oh, I think I know the chap you sold it to (he has since sold his Aro). As you say, the Javelin is a very rare item. You are quite right about the arm and the record clamp but, less obviously, the armboard has also been changed. It was a carbon fibre design and is now a CLD aluminium construction. Even less obviously (in fact impossible to see) the motor and drive electronics have also been changed).
     
  11. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    As I'm prepping to move from the east to west coast, I figured I'd get one last shot of my vinyl rig before I have to start packing everything up.

    Table: Schiit Sol w/ Pro-Ject Speed Box S motor PSU
    Phono pre: Bottlehead Eros 2 w/ mods
    Line pre: Schiit Saga OG
    Present but irrelevant: Audio-GD DAC19 mk3 w/ BNC mod
    All signal cables and most power cables are homemade.

    20210201_105217_HDR.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2021
  12. Graphicguy

    Graphicguy New

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    White Album
     
  13. el Chefe

    el Chefe New

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    Thought I’d share my new table with you’ll. Decommissioned the schiit sol for a vpi signature hw. Running the 1 step pulley with triple belts and ads with an audio technica oc9xsh feeding a rogue ares magnum, audio gd he9 standing in for linestage duty driving a Thomas Mayer 300b clone built by Oliver Sayes and dyi full range open, bass assisted open baffles. Very happy with it so far.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2021
  14. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    IMG_3882 - Small.jpg

    This is my Kenwood KD-2070. I bought it on eBay for $39 about 12 years ago. Recently, it needed some servicing, so I took it in to the semi-local repair shop. The motor was unfrozen, the counterweight shaft and arm rest were replaced, all controls were deoxidized, etc. Once repairs were made, I ordered a new dust cover from a vendor on eBay.

    To the left of the butcher board you can see the corner of a dark brown boxy thing. That's the Parks Audio Puffin. A Nakamichi DR-2 rests on the shelf below the turntable. That was recently serviced, too.
     
  15. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    Wasn't actually sure how I would feel about the Rega Planar 8 aesthetics in person/with my setup, but now that I have it in my space I am enamored. Elegant, functional, streamlined...really just a stunning design that lets you feel like you have no major roadblocks/fluff between you and your record. (even if a lot of the behind the scenes design stuff is rather technical/complicated, out of sight, out of mind)

    Easy to be reluctant at first, first pulling that lightweight plinth out of the box is a trip compared to other decks, but from the first needle drop I knew I was going to enjoy having this one around. Maybe Rega is on to something with the low mass design stuff. I wonder how my vinyl journey would have progressed if my neighborhood dealer was a Rega guy rather than a Pro-Ject guy.

    [​IMG]

    Zu 103r seems to work great on this deck, no VTA shims necessary as almost exact same height as rega carts. Not sure I am sold on Regas grounding scheme. 103r stock when I used it was a bit of a noisy cartridge and no matter what phono stage exhibited some background hum at high volume, things seem as bad or slightly worse with the rega no ground wire setup. (or maybe it is a bit due to the exposed design of the Zu mod). Still not noticeable at listening volumes, so not going to headcase it. Would need to test a MM cartridge to truly assess whether the noise is better or worse than previous turntables I have tried. I do have the heavyweight counterweight on order though, as it is needed for the 14gram Zu 103r. For now just put stock weight as close to back as possible and then adjusted VTF via a scale rather than by the marks on the spring dial VTF adjustment on the arm. Man, this is just such a pure-sounding deck though. I hesitate to call it transparent, as I think it has its own energetic/nimble sort of character, but with my chain at least it is very much working. If I did not have a toddler at home I think I may have never emerged from the basement this weekend, just making my way through my collection.
     
  16. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

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    Did some updates to TD124...

    td_124_two_arms.JPG
     
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  17. fallington

    fallington New

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    [​IMG]
     
  18. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    I purchased this lenco 2 years ago, before the pandemic hit, and since then one delay or another got in the way of completing the project - until today.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  19. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    I love the plinth colour. What's the arm?
     
  20. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    @k4rstar if you have pictures, I would love to read / see more in the DIY thread ( not to add more to your workpile :) )
     

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