Show us your Sondek

Very nice deck :wink:

I asked a very similar question earlier this week on the back of previous extremely positive comments about the javelin arm. Apparently RH is still around, but his involvement with audio has not resumed and there are no signs of a return, which is a real shame.

Peter

My LP12…in desperate need of some TLC so at Darran’s for a make over! Needs a new cartridge by all accounts! Circa 1985, Armageddon/Trampolin/Cirkus (i think) and thats it…basic by today’s standards!

Errr…no circus :grimacing: so booked into Cimbiosis for a circus, lingo 3 and a new cartridge.

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Here is mine, a special Ekos 2 with a silver head

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is that a SE head on an ekos 2 arm?

My special custom order to Linn ! The problem of the Ekos and Ittok is that you can see scratches on the head every time you change the non-linn (2-hole) cartridge and I do not like that.

That’s pretty cool :+1:

Well it’s all new to me, For the life of me an Aro manual would be nice as the set up did not come with one. I have found one site that has one but it’s difficult to see the most important bits. I think I’m on the correct track…

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Traded in my 20+ yrs old Rega P9 for this LP12.

What can I use to clean up the dust from the cartridge?

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Try this, I’m sure you will be able to fine it

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What’s the cartridge @rnyeung?

If a Linn I would not use the Lyra liquid cleaner.
It’s good at cleaning (had some myself once) but possibly deadly to some cantilevers. Or so I have read. I don’t use it on my Kandid, or the Krystal before that.

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It’s a Krystal.
btw is there a brush you can recommend?

Is it complicated to use? I shall investigate. cheers

I use Onzow Zerodust and DS Audio ST 50.
Pads that you touch the stylus to, and the fluff, dirt etc is left on the pad (which is easily cleaned under running water and is reusable for months or longer).

Seriously, from the horror stories I’ve read and photos I’ve seen (cantilevers corroding and snapping), I would think twice about using a strong wet cleaner like the Lyra.
It’s easy to use, it’s effective against dirt, but if it gets on your cantilever…could be nasty.
I believe Linn themselves say it should not be used. But look it up - I’m only going by others’ posts on other forums.
I wouldn’t use it, personally.

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Defo avoid any cleaning fluid with the Krystal as Stevie said.

I use green paper and the old audio technica AT-637 tool. Probably find one on ebay.

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“Green paper”? Is it one of the components in the AT kit?

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Do you only play 7” or 10” records or you intend to get a bigger mat to play 12” albums as well? :wink:

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It’s a little bit of…fine sandpaper, I guess…Linn and the dealers used to give them out to clean styli.
Still got mine.

The AT vibrator is good too…but turn your volume down!

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I guess Lyra do not know what they are talking about. Must of been sued a couple of times by now I would think :thinking:

LYRA Stylus Performance Treatment (SPT) is a purified water-based, non-alcohol stylus cleaner that helps keep cartridge styli scrupulously clean.

In addition to highly purified water, SPT contains only very small amounts of organic chemical cleaning agents. SPT has proven to be completely safe to use with all phono cartridges (not only LYRA’s). Whatever the cartridge, excessive amounts of liquid should never be applied to the stylus and cantilever.

A key component of SPT is the accompanying brush which has been designed with super-soft bristles. Thanks to the bristles it is OK to drag the brush across the diamond stylus of the cartridge. Most other stylus brushes on the market have harder bristles that are not gentle with the diamond stylus, and could potentially cause damage. Even the LYRA brush must not be allowed to come into contact with any other part of the cartridge.

Lyra are a reputable company with excellent products. I’m not dissing them. But I think it befits the questioner to do some research. SPT? Is that a different formula to the Lyra liquid cleaner I’ve read about? Different formulation? I don’t know.

But I think it’s worth informing the questioner (that’s you, @rnyeung!) to just check it out…a bust Krystal is an expensive event.

And I know…I broke my 2 day old Krystal through sheer stupidity - nuthin to do with Lyra or wet cleaners :slight_smile:

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