Spot the difference!
From this:
To this:
Last Friday I drove to Rearsby to collect my LP12 from @Cymbiosis, having had the plinth, top plate and base board changed. I went from Chris Harban Wenge plinth, Tangerine Karmen top plate, Linn Trampolin (Urika) base and Linn outer platter to Tangerine Stiletto plinth/top plate, Tangerine Skorpion base and Revolver outer platter.
I said I’d never change the Harban plinth, which I really loved; it had beautiful grain and was built by a master craftsman. But that was until I’d heard the Stiletto! I’ve long been aware of the importance of the joint between the plinth and the top plate, especially near the motor, and I thought this was about as good as could be achieved between the Harban plinth and the Tangerine Karmen. With the Stiletto, of course, this joint is removed altogether since plinth and top plate are machined as one from a single billet of aluminium alloy. I now wonder if that’s why it sounds so much better?
Whatever the reason, this is the finest turntable I’ve ever heard. With the flutes, it too is a thing of great beauty. And boy, does it sound good!