More Turntable Porn

Hi YNMOAN,

Nice looking deck. Is that a LP12 platter?

Can you tell us about the deck?

SCIDB

 

A couple of ildlie based tt
http://www.teresaudio.com/t-260.html
http://www.oswaldsmillaudio.com/products - saskia.html

 

that is a beautiful exercise in minimalism, oswalds got it right.

...mmm Schroeder Reference - drool.

 

Thank you - yes the platter is from an LP12 although I have plans, and access to suitable equipment (just not the time) to build an alternative platter (we shall see).

The deck is belt driven from an ac motor but otherwise differs from many other designs. The deck is fully suspended but the suspension exists in the base (which is integral to the stand). The suspension is a combination of sprung/pneumatic and fluid damped. The damping only exists in the horizontal plane and not the vertical (it can be adjusted or defeated). The small hole in the lower left of one of the pics is pressure release for one of the suspension elements. in addition, the suspension is configured to be asymmetric and yet each element is equally loaded. The suspended mass is quite high and has good inherent stability (rocking modes are not symmetrical). Whilst the suspended mass is high, the mass that the arm sees is low and extremely rigid, The chassis is constructed from a laminate of carbon fibre and Nomex (twin layers are used in a constrained layer configuration. The main bearing is bonded into the chassis to provide maximum support and uses magnetic lift of my own design and construction. The motor is clamped both from the sides and across the top in a three point chuck configuration to encourage a clear energy path and the motor structure is directly attached to the mass loaded plinth/stand - additional care has been taken to manage energy paths in this area. The armboard is also constructed from CF/Nomex and is mounted in such a fashion as to give maximum contact area and promote a clear and easy path for energy from the arm. The shape of the chassis has been chosen to discourage standing waves and is an exceedingly stiff but lightweight structure. In addition it is mounted by adjustable points to a secondary high pass suspension to the main suspended mass (the resonant frequency of these two suspensions are completely different. The record is supported on a non compliant minimum contact mat. The deck does not follow closed loop theory.

There is other detail stuff too but that’s enough I think (you did ask). Oh yeah, it has a Naim ARO mounted on it.

 

Mine, I think its nice looking. It sounds the dogs doo-dah's anyway

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/kingsxfan/100_0297.jpg

 

I nearly bought one of those from Coolgales, it came back from a review with a scratch on one leg at a silly discount, in a rare moment of practical fiscal thinking I said no. Actually in retrospect I should have said yes, as I've owned at least 3 TT's since then chasing the right sound all based on the law of diminishing returns! I spent a wad on the last one, (see page 16) but at least its a keeper.

 

Hmm...that glass shelf/stand it's on wont be doing it any favours though (other than looking pretty).

 

Lol. It is the one from Cool Gales (and nice turntable BTW)

They ended up replacing the pillar (they are removable) and knocked £1400.00 off the 'new' price. It's one of the best turntables I've heard to date, and makes SME's seem a touch 'expensive', all in my humble opinion of course.

 

Its current home isn't ideal and is just a make do for now until I think about a more permanant solution. The previous rack I had isn't big enough for its footprint, and also that of my Mc amp which is huge. I am lucky to have concrete floors and suffer no footfall effects or overt acoustic feedback through the floor, nothing which would be intrusively audible anyway. The shelf you see in the snap is now twin sheets of toughened glass with strips of thick felt between them for damping. The only negative effects will be had through airborne resonance, which every turntable will suffer with to a degree, although I accept its not optimised.

However, the fact that there is still more to come raises a smile :MILD:

 

Sorry Kingsxfan, I wasn't really referring to your glass stand - I was thinking more of the one SMEagol is using.

 

LOL, never the less, it would have been an accurate observation

 

Yup, its a fair cop. I know the isolation needs working on but at the levels I get to play my hiffy (courtesy of paper thin modern building techniques in my flat) there is scarcely a ripple on my tea. Please don't think I value aesthetics over sound. Eventually I'd like to get it on a plinth with a few of those clearaudio magnetic pods underneath. It still leaves CD for dust. That stand actually weighs a bloomin ton. I realise that like KingsXfan theere is more to be had! - well done fella on getting the TT!

I am looking for a cheaper isolation technique in the meantime though. Just thought of sorbothane pods under a chunk of granite, or is that too easy... Can't really afford another stand.

 

I don't think that sorbothane pucks and granite is too easy, I just dont think it will be very effective (I have tried this combination before). A granite slab (paving slab) and four car valve springs can work quite well for LF isolation.

 

Heavy mass and ultra low compliance spring/material aint where it's at for LF isolation, HF damping yup, but not LF.

valve springs, plinth with sorborthane between spring and plinth to remove any rocking noise would be a great call.

 

Impressive. Was that your own design? Have you tried other arms and/or cartridges with it?

 

Thank you - yes, entirely my own design. I used to have a Rega RB300 and have tried an Ekos (in the past). I've used a number of cartridges on this and earlier designs - Denon, Dynavector, AT - Linn Karma and Troika. This design has evolved over the years and is itself the result of two earlier prototypes.

 

...thought about selling them?, theres a lot of sound and interesting ideas in there. Looks very good too.

 

A few people who have seen/heard my work have been kind enough to suggest production. However, there are a couple of issues that would have to be resolved 1/ this would not be a cheap deck by any means - it was designed to be as good as possible and as such, although it looks reasonably simple, is in fact quite a complex construction. 2/ some of the materials used are remarkably expensive and add on margin costs and they become exceedingly expensive. 3/ does the world need another 'expensive' turntable? No acrylic, no chrome - not as 'bling' as many.

Finally, I have had thoughts for a further design that would take some of the ideas a step onward - I don't have time at present to build prototypes however.

 

The deck looks very cool, and seems well-conceived. I would humbly suggest you try a few "uber arms" of your choice, and a good modern cartridge, to see what the deck can really achieve. I think the Troika will definitely be holding things back, and to a lesser extent possibly the Aro, too.

(ex-Aro/Troika owner)

PS if you are totally sold on the Aro, an Akiva might well be a good next step.

 

Well it's a good suggestion but 'uber' arms and cartridges aren't that easy to borrow and very expensive to buy