Show us your Sondek

Hi @steviebee

By coincidence I was going to ask if anyone had any recomendations for cleaning the lid, is this the stuff?

51aELGUG0KL.AC_SY580

As for polishing the platter, I personally avoid it. It removes the lacquer which I would guess ends up needing the polish to regularly be re applied to maintain the bling finish. I just give mine a periodic wipe with a soft cloth dampned with distilled water, the platter darkens a little with age and has a natural patina

Yes, just a damp cloth with a small amount of soap (or similar).

Agree, re the Platter. Have never cleaned or polished mine. Leave well alone…!!

PS. If I need to polish something, I use automotive products. Either TCut (original or the 2-in-1) Wax version) or Autosol. If that doesnt work, then 2000 grit Emery is next… :astonished:

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Yep, Dread, that’s what I’ve used. Works well - but I’m also going to to try the G3 liquid that Silverback posted as Displex seems only to come in small tubes.

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Usually I just huff on it to wipe any fingermarks

Something other than your LP12 I take it

Took a look at that G3, says it has a high gloss finish which suggests to me that it leaves a shiny residue? Not something you might neccesarily want, think about it, handle the glossy lid then handle your records, tone arm…

My LP12 lid is circa 1987 and Mrs Skeptikal gives it a wash on a bath towel once a year with Fairy Liquid and kitchen towel it buffs up a treat and no grand skating rink.
Micro fibre cloth for general dusting. :+1:t2:

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You could just take it in the bath with you alongside the rubber duck :wink:

IMG_0466

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Oh gawd! I’ve dropped the lid!

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Don’t know about his lid but he can’t find his big top! :rofl:

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He’ll have to sKrabble to find it

The swing test was new to me but its not the wild swings that your really interested in its how many swings it will achieve before the arm comes to a complete rest, I’m guessing they start from the horizontal so everyone uses the same start position. I guess the theory being if the arm only manages a small number of swings it could point to the arm bearings being sticky or worn.

I heard years ago that with a delicate item like a tone arm trying to find play by using physical pressure could actually end in creating play that wasn’t originally there, I will be interested to see how a dealer actually carries out the checks, I’m hopeful it will turn out to be okay.

Look for the Global Audio swing test on youtube. It shows a test at the Linn factory, the headshell moves about the same distance as playing an LP.
It reminds me of school physics, simple pendulum, small swing.

A picture of the Stiletto will be posted tomorrow, honest!

In the meantime, I have a question for all the LP12 cognoscenti here.

The Stiletto comes with an Ekos (older lift-lower design) with Audio Origami internal rewiring and a Lyra Phonopipe cable.

I use a Superline. I saw a suggestion on another thread that Lyra don’t recommend a Phonopipe to Superline users because ‘the SL’s internal load cancels out the Phonopipe’s benefit’.

Does anyone know anything about this?

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Looking forward to your pics, Nick :+1:

Sorry, can’t help re Phonopipe - never even heard of it!

Here we go!

In late September, the estimable Peter Swain @Cymbiosis visited me in NYC and brought my LP12 up to the latest spec. Peter spent more than five hours (!) getting everything just right and installing a Karousel, Radikal 2 upgrade, an ARO Keel, and a Woodsong cocobolo plinth, along with a new top plate and outer platter.

On the subject of the plinth, I looked for about two years for just the right one. Woodsong no longer makes LP12 plinths, and it’s very difficult to import any of the rosewood species into the US. I finally found this one about two months before Peter was set to visit! As it turns out, this was a NOS plinth that had sat untouched in a shop in Arizona (my home state).

The cartridge is a Goldring-rebuilt Karma that I’m running into a Dynavector SUT and an Arkless MM phono stage.

The whole setup sounds awesome! In particular, vocals have gained an “in the room” realism that my previous setup hinted at but never quite got to. Good stuff.

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Beautiful plinth!

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That’s a lovely looking LP12/ARO combo, on which I think I have commented before. Is that the Hudson River outside the window?

It’s a great shame that Woodsong Linn plinths are no longer being made.

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I commented on this in the pink place, but that is such a lovely looking LP12 and an amazing view, it’s worth saying again :+1:

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