Post your turntable setup...can't get enough of those spinners!

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by shaizada, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    My friend who owns the RMG309i considered the Groovemaster II but decided to get the RMG309i instead since he found it NOS in Japan at a great price! Personally, I'm also curious how the Groovemaster compares with the RMG309i, RMG309 and the AB309. Out of those last three tonearms, I think the Japanese reissue has a slight edge on detail and resolution due to its fine tolerance bearings. But the AB309 is a fantastic bargain and also easiest to set up with different cartridges.

    I keep the Altec 4722 as a benchmark for musicality. By audiophile standards, it isn't a very high resolution device. The Tamura TKS83 has better resolution especially in the frequency extremes but there is something magical with the midrange of the 4722 that one can only find in classic equipment. I'd say the HM-7 retains the resolution of the TKS83 but is mellower but not quite as 3D in the mids as the 4722.

    I hope that helps!
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2020
  2. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    Both are no longer manufactured. I went for the TKS83 because it was slightly cheaper + all my friends in the 90s got the MCT999. ;)

    I consider the RCA phono circuit a classic just like I described the Altec 4722 above. I chose the slightly higher transconductance of the 5691/6SL7 (vs. the 12AX7) since it improved detail and dynamics without diminishing any of the virtues inherent in that circuit. For similar reasons, I used the 7F7 (a 6SL7 on a loctal base) + 7N7 (6SN7) for the 834P phono.

    While playing my wife's favorite Bananarama LP yesterday, she indulged me in an informal EAR Loctal vs. RCA Octal shootout. To her ears, the more upfront presentation of the EAR Loctal sounded more like how that music was played in the clubs during the 80s compared to the more reserved RCA Octal. The RCA Octal is best for Classical, Bebop Jazz and Vocals.

    To put things in perspective, I have two good friends in Manila who own the EAR 912. One resides in an Altec based system while the other uses large format JBL (2441 + E140). I'm quite familiar with both. In spite of the more sophisticated engineering which went into the 912 - high gm tubes and transformer outputs, for sheer musical pleasure, I'd rather listen to a well executed 834P clone any time. When music loses its soul, something is wrong, IMO.

    Glad to be here!:)
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2020
  3. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    I forgot to add, I'd like to know how you're getting along with your Groovemaster II. It really looks well engineered and have read a few good things about it.
     
  4. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    I absolutely love the EAR 912 preamplifier....a lot! I guess the performance of a single piece is hard to pin down unless other preamps are compared in the same system, and even then, the synergy of the piece may or may not gel well with associated equipment / room / listener. Too many variables unfortunately.

    I love the EAR 912 so much, I had bought a second one to run more turntables and phono sections through.
     
  5. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    I apologize for using the EAR 912 as an example to verbalize my personal taste and expectations from an audio component. I didn’t intend to offend you or other fans of the EAR 912.✌️
     
  6. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    Oh no offense taken at all! I enjoy the discussion a lot and know one thing...there is no ONE component that can satisfy everyone. That is the total beauty of this hobby...listening tastes vary across the board.

    To me, Tim de Paravicini is one of the legends of the audio world and has brought immense musical joy to my life, in my system, for my listening taste.
     
  7. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    I'll let you know! I just got it and also just moved, so haven't had a chance to try it out yet. My only point of comparison will be Jelco 850L. But I'll be using an SPU #1E and a Koetsu Black, so in the same ballpark (-ish) as you cart-wise.
     
  8. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Btw, @je2a3 do you have any good tips about where to source a solid 834P clone? I see a lot of Chinese-made boxes on ebay, but no clue if any are any good. Thanks.
     
  9. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    I have no hands on experience with any of the Chinese clones since I built mine "old school p2p wiring style". But this 834P kit discussion at Lenco Heaven should be a good starting point. If you take this route, I suggest modifying the cathode follower stage to use a med-mu/lower Zout 12AU7 instead of the hi-mu 12AX7. To my ears, it improves detail and dynamics.

    Looking forward to your impression!
     
  10. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    Snagged a Yamaha YP-D6 that was gathering dust at my local shop to fill in for my living room turntable while my Yamaha PF-800 is having some repair work done. A perfect match for my Yamaha CA-610 II that I recently bought. Honestly a great sounding vintage combo for under $500 total. Have it paired with some Epicure M100 speakers, so natural and effortless sounding. Enjoying some Townes Van Zandt on a rainy Saturday morning, sipping on a cup of coffee and getting a kick out of the 18 month old clapping along with the crowd between songs.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Superexchanger

    Superexchanger Friend

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    I'll share my humble system here. I ran a stock Debut Carbon for many years, and to my ears it was basically "good enough" when compared to my previous all digital systems. The table was a generous gift, and a fine starter to see if I had any interest in the externalities of collecting and maintaining large format physical media. As it happens I did, so I've kept with it, and put a few upgrades in place as improvements in the rest of my 2-channel setup came along. An acrylic platter, a 2M Blue stylus, and updated pulley system to remove a persistent low frequency rumble were all done over a few years.
    The rest of the system is a TC-750 pre into a Denon AVR, out to a Crown pro amplifier and Usher speakers.

    I was a little disappointed with the recent upgrade to the 2M Blue, not sounding a lot different from the Red, but when I brought the system back fully to stock as a sanity check I noticed a fairly distinct difference in sound quality. I'm reasonably happy where this sits at the moment and it's always been a much less isolating way to enjoy music (cf. personal audio) regardless of sound quality, while doing something hands-on. Spinning records with my kid in a situation not unlike the one @Inoculator described above is my favorite way to listen these days.

    Cheers
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    Last edited: Aug 22, 2020
  12. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    I miss my Debut Carbon, my first serious turntable as well, went through the exact same upgrades. I seriously think 90% of people can stop there unless they are vinyl nuts. It is still my go to recommendation table for more serious vinyl newbies. It is crazy to think about what a runaway success this turntable has been for Pro-ject, apparently nearly a million sold. Will be interesting to see how successful the new Debut Carbon Evo is for them. Some other turntables have seriously been challenging Pro-ject budget go-to dominance. Seems like the improvements of the Evo could give it the edge, but it is $500 now.
     
  13. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

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    Here’s mine, new to vinyl, again.
    852064C6-1463-4E22-9C54-A1263E72ECA8.jpeg
     
  14. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Comments from the peanut gallery: marble tends to ring like a MF'r when used as part of a rack. If it sounds good, i'm not gonna argue, but something like a thiiiic, coupled maple butcher board from Ikea might be worth trying out to mass-load the TT. Anyhow, great looking setup!
     
  15. Superexchanger

    Superexchanger Friend

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    Thanks for the tip. I do have one of these blocks on hand, so that's an easy check. I'm not optimistic I'll hear a difference (I mean, I'm not sure I could distinguish between 2M Red and Blue blind), but I suppose a negative result means I'll keep the stone. And stone is baller!
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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  17. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Army sergeant-major voice... "Get that record cover off that amplifier now!"

    You're blocking the amp ventilation. But worse, if you have the habit of using that as a surface to put things on, one day you'll put a cover with a record in it down there (easily done with a double album!). And it will be ruined by warping in minutes.

    Heat and LPs... I still suffer agonising guilt for the friend's triple (Grateful Dead in Europe) album that I destroyed in 1970-something. Replacing it was well beyond my means back then.

    Apart from that... Your room and your system looks wonderful :D
     
  18. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Deep into the Mariana Trench

    Better pics later
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 9, 2020
  19. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Nice. What is it?

    And the 401 in the background!
     
  20. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    STST Motus II, Schroder CB arm, SG-200 System.

    It's a direct-drive, low torque, delrin platter, suspended design.

    Asked for a slight red paint to the traditional brown veneer and it came out perfect.

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