Show us your turntable

That looks great, what’s the story behind the DIY project? Inspired by Well Tempered?

A setup like that must make you feel like you’ve earned the music coming out of it :slight_smile:

Thank you. There’s some hours and a lot of swearing gone into the project!
I bought the Lenco about 10 years ago for next to nothing from a Sunday market tat stall. It was a bit mashed and the original arm was beyond repair. With the help of the friendly folk on the big Lenco forum I was able to replinth in some slate slabs, added an RB250 and it sounded unexpectedly good.

I used to own a WT Amadeus which I really liked so I was curious about how easy it would be to build a golf ball arm. I studied the pictures of the Amadeus and the Simplex to get an idea of the geometry and threw a prototype together. The great thing is, due to the nature of the golf ball/silicone fluid “bearing”, you don’t need to do anything with any real precision. Perfect for a clumsy diy bodger!

The prototype arm has stayed and I’ve been enjoying the music so much that I’m not sure I’ll ever get around to making a nice neat one. Maybe in the next lockdown, we’ll see.

3 Likes

Great album as well!!.

2 Likes

I think my Xerxes X is looking pretty good with it’s new arm and cartridge…

22 Likes

So do I

1 Like

Been think of doing the same to my X. Which version of the SG is that and which cartridge? Worthwhile improvement?

1 Like

The arm is the sg pta hb and the cartridge is the hana ml. I wasn’t planning to change the cartridge, an at art9, which I was very happy with, but unfortunately it had just started showing signs of wear.

The hana is only 25 hours in, but I can already say that the sg pta/ml combination is a big improvement over tabrizi/art9. As I believe the cartridges are at a similar level, then I’m assuming most of the improvement is down to the arm, though by how much exactly, I can’t be sure. I would say the improvement is a larger step up than that when I swapped the roksan xps8 psu for the vertere sg-1 motor drive, which was itself a big step up. I wasn’t expecting that!

Here are some (not all) of the improvements I’ve noticed: A shape and texture to notes that I haven’t heard before that gives a 3 dimmensionality to instruments in a way that is new for me. Instruments that are buried deep in the mix while still in the background, are somehow much clearer and distinct with there own sense of space but still fitting perfectly with the rest of the mix. I’m noticing the slightest inflections in vocals that I’ve not noticed before. Bass notes seem to go deeper ( an area where I never found my sbls lacking in the way others have) but again with more shape to the notes. Overall timing seems that little bit tighter. It’s all quite subtle stuff but taken together, I’m really enjoying it. It’s making going back through my vinyl collection quite wonderful. Apologies for what appears to be a load of hyperbole, especially in view of recent posts on the subject, but I am quite taken with the new combination.

Worthwhile? For me, absolutely. The the arm was pretty big investment for me and along with unexpected cost of the cartridge, made for a pretty expensive day out. However, when I compare it to other upgrades I could make to my system it looks strangley cost effective. In its previous guise I already considered the tt significantly ahead of my streamer, now the streamer seems to have lost touch with the tt completely. Further investment in digital is looking unattractive by comparison, at least for the time being. The parting shot from my dealer when we’d just finished a test listen was, that sounds great, you should really try the HB power cord on motor drive you know (or words to that effect). He’s offered to send me one to try. One for next year I think!

2 Likes

You need to get to grips with paragraphs!!

1 Like

My 5 attempts before getting my o-level english is shining through again!

3 Likes

You too eh?

1 Like

I’ve had a go… do you reckon it’s a ‘c’ pass now?

1 Like

Thanks for a very thorough reply. I’m seriously thinking about the non HB arm with the Vertere Sabre cartridge. Roksan Sara arm is a possibility as well - though the design and adjustability of the Vertere looks more sophisticated and appealing. I currently have an Origin Live arm (their version of an RB250) which came with the Xerxes with an Audionote iQ3 cartridge (breathed on Goldring 1042) that I have had for about 5 years. Will have to see if an A to B comparison is possible. Not sure exactly what I am looking for - but I’ll know it when I hear it!

2 Likes

Without them, it’s really hard to read on a phone.

You’re right, thanks… :slight_smile:

I had an rb300 before the tabrizi on my original Xerxes. This, as you probably know, was a common combination before Roksan had their own tone arms. I considered the tabriz a nice upgrade from the rb300. I couldn’t stretch to the Artemiz at the time. A to B comparison is always best and probably something I should have done. However, I’m more than happy with my purchase. I’m sure the non-HB is just as wonderful. All being well I eventually plan to change to a Vertere tt. I’m not sure if I’ll go for the MG-1 or the SG-1. If I do decide to stretch to the SG then the HB would be the natural partner, if I go for the MG then it’ll be fine too. That was my logic anyway…

1 Like

@Bokermonz thank you.

1 Like

I considered a Tabriz a few years back so it’s interesting that for you it was better than the RB 300. I didn’t in the end as I couldn’t find a really nice one.

It sounds like you have things all mapped out. Hope it works out as planned.

1 Like

I too had an RB300 on the original Xerxes. It really was very good. It needed an SME IV to really improve imo.

That’s interesting Stuart. So I take that for you the tabriz wasn’t enough to usurp the rb300. If that’s right then @AWillby please dont take my word for it, definitely have a listen to the vertere arm first … I’m quietly confident though… i’m just listening to Dianne Krall, “this dream of you” and it sounds magical.

@anon70766008 …as asked by @Richard.Dane I write my answer to your question from the other thread here.

The plinth is heavy (wenge-Wood), but there is a lot more going on inside…To show what the Lyra Atlas is capable of, that’s the goal…and it does in abundance.
I am more than happy to be able to listen to music this way!

Regards,