Show us your Sondek

I’ve found the opposite with Collaro, much less static cling. Maybe because of climate?

Agree, it sounds better!

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LP12 (1991) / Kaurousel / Kore / ARO / Troika (Goldring) / SPEC+ AP-UD1a Disc Mat / Prefix / Supercap on Mana (Phase 4)

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Good to see another Troika Goldring rebuild.

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Hi Graeme - I see you have upgraded your Akurate Radikal 1 to 2. I wonder whether you compared that upgrade with a potential switch to Kilmax Radikal 2? I have an ARad1 and am wondering which way to go - the Klimax would be a lot more though.

@CliveB
Just my 2p but I’ve had all these versions and I’m sure that the change to Rad 2 is much more advantageous than from a Rad 1 Akurate to Rad 1 Klimax.
The Rad 2 is quite a leap in performance having many new parts and the big advantage of the motor being held in with screws into metal inserts instead of the soft motor casing.
The Motor is machined to avoid the Trampolin foot and comes with a new motherboard with much more processing power and a new tachometer system too. :+1:t2:

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Hi @CliveB, I echo what @Skeptikal said. Going from Rad1 to Rad2 is a big step in SQ and reducing noise floor.

I’m going Krad2 later this year and it’s good to see his endorsement. At this point, I would be inclined to leave any Rad1 alone and get Rad2, money not withstanding.

So far my experience of LP12 upgrades is that they are very worthwhile, but a bit pricey.

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Thanks for this. To be clear my query is about whether to go to Klimax Rad 2 or Akurate 2 - and given the apparent improvement of Radikal 2, to ignore Klimax 1.

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Thanks, Graeme - pricey is the word and I was wondering if the upgrade from Akurate to Klimax as well as from Radikal 1 to 2 was worthwhile. Peter Swain looks after my LP12 too so I should probably organise a visit to hear for myself while getting some updated prices.

I get you. :+1:t2:
If it’s a case of Akurate or Klimax 2 then I bit the bullet with a Klimax 2 but what I did mean is that there is a much bigger improvement going Akurate Rad 1 to Akurate Rad2 than the casing change for Klimax it is there but more subtle “ Law of Diminishing returns “
They certainly ironed out the weak spots from Rad 1 :wink: :+1:t2:

Further to what @Skeptikal has said, another advantage of Rad 2 is that you can select the brightness of the LED. If you choose to stay with A-Rad this might be a significant advantage.

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:face_with_hand_over_mouth:
Oooops well spotted Clive how could I forget about the Akurate Laser. :star_struck:

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I wonder if anyone has an Akurate Rad 1 with a Nait 50?
:sunglasses::sunglasses:

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The move from A Rad 1 to 2 is significant. I can’t speak of the K Rad at all because I have never heard it. Soon though, soon.

It seems that Skeptikal has experience of the upgrades and is better able to tell you the differences. Also Clive mentioned the laser dimming capability of A Rad 2, it’s very worthwhile.

The most important thing is you can adjust the brightness of the blue laser!

Oops should have read further down the thread. I’ll throw in a few pics



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I kept mine bright on my Klimax Rad 2
The whole lens arrangement is different on the Klimax cases.
But the Akurate. :sunglasses:

I went for the dimmed option on mine, simply because it was available and I remember the Akurate. That being said, it’s plenty bright enough.

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Personal choice Clive I knew the Klimax case was different at the time.
But the Akurate one is like the Nait 50 only more blue as you know. :sunglasses:

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Do you use a record cleaning machine @Bevo, or just hand clean? I have around 320 records, but only about 70 of these are old ones that I would play regularly, plus about 20 new ones. The cheapest ultrasonic RCM is the Humminguru at $750, and there are manual wet wash systems readily available here for around $150 (manual) to $300 (motorised) that just use racks for air drying. I’m thinking for the number of records, I’m best to go simple?

Go simple Mike

Mate of mine and myself just purchased a second hand record cleaning machine ( I’ll get name of it it’s at his house)

He has used it on some of his old LP’s and they’ve come up good

Most of my vinyls are new/newish they say worth cleaning those also but they sound excellent to me. In time I guess

Wouldn’t go over the top price wise

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Cleaning machine is Okki Nokki

Second hand was $400

Certainly does the trick

Mate previously had VPI 16 a bit cheaper and was also good but loud

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