2020 update : JC Verdier La Platine
@ledoux1238 This is good news that there is a option on the table, supported by a very skilled EE. My thoughts on the the LDA Quartz Lock Controller, is that it was produced to be used in very similar situations, to bring a Vintage TT, into the modern world in relation to Speed Control . Your own intentions will be very closely aligned to this purpose as well. I am anticipating a positive outcome and your needs will hopefully seem to be more than surpassed. |
I recently loaned a SP10 R owner after their hearing the impression it made, one of my heavier Record Spindle Weights that is 1400grams(1.4Kg). When discussing the merits of the added weight with the supplier of the TT, they were informed that the TT has a max capacity for added weight as advised by the manufacturer of 1000grams (1Kg). The following is from a review of the SP10 R and touches on the same subject about added weight to the Platter. The main chassis is also cast aluminium. There are three speed selector buttons and a large square Start/Stop button. The unit runs at the default speeds unless adjusted, whereupon a small blue indicator LED turns orange. Turning power off then on returns to default speed, not last adjusted speed. However, dimmer and torque settings are retained at power off/on. A record clamp weight of up to 1kg is suitable, but not supplied. A rubber mat is supplied, but our pictures show the bare platter to reveal its construction. |
The PTP Solid Nine > PTP Bearing > NSC > AudioMods Series V Micrometer is not my 'go to' TT any longer. It has been extensively compared in my system on the same mounting structure and footers as my DD TT's are placed on. I don't know if it is a age/hearing related influence, but I have moved on from the Idler to DD TT's as my go to TT. The DD TT is without doubt able to present a taut, clean Bass Note which is my preference. Recently I put a Panzerholz Sub Plinth Structure under a Garrard 401 and this had a very positive impact on the performance, the group who were receiving the demonstration of the TT, were quite impressed with the addition of the Sub Plinth and then the 1.4Kg Puck weight that was introduced, hence the weight being loaned to the SP10 R owner. |
@ledoux1238 There is a Thread on this forum that made a reference to the LDA. The use of the device is to have it receiving the Input Power from the Power Cord and the output from the device will connect to the TT's IEC Power Cord Connector, hence supplying the TT with a improved power upply. The first time I ever heard it in use was as a prototype, on a system that has a substantial purchase value, and the Idler Drive and Belt Drive it was used with showed substantial improvements. Later down the line I had a loan of the final design for a few months, and put it to use in other systems and against other Speed Controllers the LDA was the preferred device being made known by all attendees at the arranged demonstrations. On a UK forum there were also reports being made where it was stated attaching this device to CDP's or CDT's ? had a very noticeable effect for the better as well. |
A Speed Controller I have had as a loan item and has proved to be improvement over my owned speed controller, is the LDA Quartz Locked model. Additionally all who have encountered it in use, from my period of loan, have all agreed, the use of it has provided noticeable improvements to the SQ. This assessment of the improvements offered has been for a Garrard 401, Lenco Models and Non Synchronised Belt Drive TT's the LDA has been attached to.
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@ledoux1238 You have done the correct thing in contacting Nick Gorman, he is with knowledge levels that are beyond many EE's, if there is a method and a simplified one available Nick will see it. As for being out of your depth, nearly all that I own is bespoke built by EE's and Engineers who excel in certain disciplines within HiFi, this is where the two edge sword swings. When the sword swings one way, I am most confused by what is under discussion, as a proportion of the methods employed are unique to the individual, with an area of the work to be being undertaken, being unique and their own stamp on a design, drawn from their years of experience. When the sword swings the other way, the experience of the working design in use and as time of ownership passes, where comparisons have been undertaken and others have received demonstrations of the devices offering their assessments. This furthering of the experiences does undoubtedly identify that something special has been done for you, and this knowledge is very satisfying, especially when some of your owned devices are being recognised as being more attractive in use than much more expensive 'off the shelf products' they have been compared against. It is also nice to find a place of rest in the knowing the search for a particular device is definitely seen to be over. As all with many years of enjoying music replays on a HiFi System know, we are a 'curious old bunch' and always chasing a rainbow somewhere 😀. |
I have been listening to a SP10 R > Glanz 12" > Miyajima Cart' in another system on quite a few occasions. The listening sessions are usually arranged over 4 Hours with a break for lunch. Not at any time have I detected a presentation that is perceived as fatiguing or strained. I am not ware of anything that can be suggested as a detractor when LP's are used in this system as a source. My own TT is a SP10 MkII that has been modified by a recognised EE in the UK who has many years of working with them. Again the similarities to the SP10 R is quite noticeable and it is my TT that was the influence that encouraged to the SP10 R owner to buy this TT. |
My experience with TT's has been to use a Belt Drive in the earliest days of building a HiFi System. For a Proportion of the 90's I used a Belt Drive TT. From shortly before or shortly after the Millennium I started to use Idler Drive and it was the impression this TT was able to make, that got myself into learning about different ancillaries to be used with it. I used this Idler Drive for 14 years and then changed it for a modern thought out approach to a Idler Drive, where I acquired a PTP Solid Nine > PTP Bearing and a Speed Controller. Very shortly after this I was introduced to a Technics SP10 Mk II DD, where the TT belonged to an EE who had become very familiar with the TT and have their own Mod's to be used on it. Various Idler Drives including my own and the DD was at a comparison day, and not one Idler Drive was able to impress me to the extent the DD was capable of. I received a demonstration of the my Idler Drive and the DD are the home of the EE, where the outcome was that I signed the dotted line for the DD and Tonearm Purchase and have not looked back with any regret. A Friend who is a long term Belt Drive owner/user, a short term Idler Drive owner /user, when hearing my TT, chose to go for the SP10 R > Glanz Tonearm to have the latest technology used in their system. A similar story for another friend who is a long term Belt Drive user as well, following being demonstrated my DD TT and Tonearm, they purchased a identical set up. Prior to my knowing these individuals through a local HiFi Club, they were both quite familiar with another members SME 20/12 > SME V, I have also through club participation become familiar with the SME TT. The SME owner has now gone for a Idler Drive > Origin Live Illustrious in a lightweight Plinth Design, not adopting the usual Massey type. When an individual becomes Wed to a performance offered by a TT, it looks like for some and probably many, they will follow their own instinct for what they feel is right for them. Only the ears as the tool will enable the necessary information to be processed and allow the individual to confirm for themselves what is the most attractive to their unique preferences and a satisfactory assessment be carried out. I do not see a description being the best method to be used to evaluate the differences to the sonic trait that each drive mechanism can produce. |
I have a take on the Technics Decks. I have not had an audition of a SP10 Mk III so can't comment on the performance of the TT in general or especially a individual one with a assessment being offered about a problem which is suggested as being a noticeable speed fluctuation, that when detected can become a detractor that is seemingly unattractive to the TT's owner. I have received demonstrations of at least Five SP10 MkII's beyond my own one, a few of these have been heard for quite extended play times, and two of these have been encountered in an environment when there has been multiple guests present to take part in the events. All SP10 MkII's I have had demonstrated are models overhauled by the same EE who has carried out work on my owned model. I have also heard the SP10 R for quite extended periods in the Company of DD, Idler and Belt Drive TT owners. At no time from any recollections of conversations had, both as Group Discussion, or as a aside discussion, has the subject of noticeable speed fluctuation been on the agenda. To take this one step further my own SP10 Mk II was used in a demonstration of my main HiFi System at a Public Event where 500 Public attended. My Demonstration Suite was pretty much full to capacity for a large proportion of the day, and on a few occasions attendees in the room were very vociferous in making their observations known. Not at any time was a discussion had about a noticeable speed fluctuation from the TT. I don't disbelieve a speed fluctuation is detectable on a SP10 Model, in the same way I don't believe all Idler and Belt Drives have a detectable Speed Fluctuation, if the basic set up is correct the Idler and Belt Drive should rotate at a very accurate speed rotation. Maybe the speed fluctuation being referred to on the SP10 is not ubiquitous to all SP10 Models and only shows if there is something not quite right with the basics of the TT. |
I am not sensitive to this correction method being referred to and as said, it is not a topic I have heard discussed at any time by known SP10 MkII and a SP10 R owner. At the end of next week I am taking my PTP Solid Nine with Speed Controller to the System with the SP10 R, the idea is to allow the HiFi Group to assess a range of Platter Mats and Weights used on both TT's. The added aside, is that I will be creating a Two Tier Sub Plinth using Panzerholz Platforms and AT-616 Footers as the Base and Intermediate Suspension. I will be keen to see if any of this discussion about speed is detectable with a A/B comparison between the TT's. I am also sure that when the Group Member produces their Kaneta Design SP10 MkII with a New Platter design, this will be compared to the owned EE Overhauled and Modified SP10 MkII and the SP10 R. I will be quite keen to see if the correction speed correction referred to is detectable by myself. |
The Manual Levelling Designs are much cheaper and also cancel out frequencies desirable to be cancelled in audio. Migrating Amplitude from Ambient Energies is always worthwhile to look into measures for managing it, when a TT is the system source and the mounting of the TT and supporting ancillaries are the important consideration. |
@mr_gray I have visited this thread reading Posts from 2024 and 2025, as certain content has an appeal to me. You have Stated " It sounds absolutely tremendous ", such a statement really does touch home with my own discoveries made over many years of investigative learning, where experiences had have been extremely impressive and wanted to be maintained and encouraged furthering the learning to see where betterment has been able to be added. I have been involved in being closely associated with others who are using their knowledge and skills for eking out improvement from Mechanical Interfaces on a TT for near 30 years. I started during the 90's when a Martin Bastin design for a Garrard 401 Platter Bearing was adopted. The impression this exchange made, has been the foundation for the long time follow up for investigating variants of a design on a Platter Spindle Bearing, to get betterment at Interfaces where Sacrificial Parts within a Bearing Housing are occurring. Learning that followed, led to discussion about designs, where low coefficient of friction interfaces within the Bearing Housing and what is able to be achieved for quietness of operation for the Platter Spindles Bearing Mechanical Function were to be pursued. This same discussion led to showing an interest in what was required for accurately maintaining a True Axis for a Platter Spindle Rotation. Always running parallel with these disciplines has been materials selection and machining tolerances that can be produced and maintained at an interface. Stability of materials functioning in a particular type of environment and produced to have extremely tight dimension tolerances, is a critical property when the lowest coefficient of frictions able to be produced are part of a design intent. As Trueness of Axis Rotation was proved to be available, this then led to the importance of producing accurately and maintaining Spindle to Pivot Distance. Materials used to attach the separate Parts for the Replay of Vinyl to occur, during the earliest days were being selected for their stability in a range of environments. Minimum expansion/contraction of a material has been the property wanted for a selected material as the earliest designs objective. Mass Stone (Granite) was my choice, over other choices that could have been adopted, other Stone, Metal or Complex Timber Structure were alternates to be used. A continued interest for materials, led to the most recent material I am a advocate of, being a Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board. Densified Wood Board, is a material type that compared to other more typical options, excels for Damping / Dissipation Properties and is also extremely stable in a multitude of environments, a Typical Home environment is no challenge to it. Densified Wood Board as a material is very suitable for managing energies transferred from a TT's mechanical operation, as well as managing energies transferred from the Ambient Environment. ( Linn recently decided to charge $8K+ for their TT owners to experience Densified Wood Board as a type of material). The end of the road is not yet met, as interest in this subject remains strong, the areas needing to be considered is extensive. Alternate methods for mounting items are already in place and under assessment, Optimisation of Source Medium is also now a discipline that has very satisfying results, Optimisation of the Electrical Signal Path through adopting differing designs have proved through recent designs put in place proven to be game changers. All designs are now wanted to be maintained, but there are those that will not be reversed, only to be built on. All are combined into one improvement for the End Sound and All are very important as they are indicators that the evolved disciplines in practice are very worthwhile. For myself, I am fully getting your wonderment and the keenness to build on what is already seen as positives to be maintained, that add up to more than the sum of the Parts used to achieve the experience.
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