Finally found a spinner that beats the lenco!!
A studer 1/4" 2 track with master tape copies!
Of course, I can't find 15ips tapes in the dollar bin! |
You two remind me of a great old song.... " Love is in the air......."
Ahhh... the seventies! |
Please Johnnantais, do try the slatedeck diy tweak! and let me know what you personally think of it.... Giant killing on the cheap, in true Lenco Lovers tradition and spirit!! I posted a thread and pic on Lenco Lovers under 'slatedeck' |
Lewm, there is a photo of the Lenco on the LL site, under "Slatedeck' in works in progress section. Yes this whole Slate bs is just that IMHO... BS! I actually asked the Welsh Slate guy to price a slab of Welsh slate for me, so I could have it Machined here, and do an A-B with my 'cooking' slate plinth, and see what all of the fuss was about..... I haven't heard back from him (big shock).
John, the 'filter' syndrome you speak of has been given a lot of thought, I took off the slate today, and did an a-b with the mdf.... the slate has really tightened things up... yes, there is much more detail, and I think the surface noise is only more apparent because I am now afforded a deeper look into the recording itself... bright recordings do sound bright... but the great recordings really are now at a whole new level! I read your post re: the ceramic bearing with great relish, and I do think it is necessary to revisit one's first impressions with a clear and unbiased mind. I really do feel that this Non-Welsh slate has made a big difference in my Lenco's performance! I am going to now bond the slate to the plinth, and there it will stay!
Btw, it looks GREAT!! |
John, the slate is said to have natural CLD like properties, as layers of different sediment make up the slate itself, each layer itself differing slightly in composition, density, etc. Apparently slate has excellent damping properties because of it's makeup, and will not 'ring' like a crystalline rock will (granite, marble, etc) I just look at slate as a CLD on top of the CLD so to speak! And I can confirm that no bass is being drained whatsoever as I listen now to the 200g pressing of Pictures at an Exhibition"..... Wow!
I will once again dismantle this little beastie, and clean, lube, reassemble the bearing, motor and idler wheel, before locking it all down for another week of listening.. |
Oregon, pics of my 'table are on the LL site! |
Opus, I prefer the looks of the Boxed CLD plinth by far to the slab or skeleton plinth, and I wanted to have a modular system where I can sub the slate for mdf, ply, hardwood, lucite, etc. whithout having to build a whole new plinth each time.
The plinth is 20" x 16"
the Slate is 20"x16" x 1"
the box is 5" x 1" solid oak.
I don't know why someone would want to go modding the heck out of such a cool looking deck as the Garrard, when they could just buy a Lenco and be done with it!! ;-) |
45 dollar slate slab vs. 1100 dollar Welsh Slate plinth..... after a lengthy debate with the slatedeck guy as to whether Welsh Slate would improve twenty, ten, or even twofold what I was hearing from the plain old slate I used, It all came down to.... "Well, either you want a Merc or a Mini" or some such elitist nonesense!
Typical snake oil BS!!! I guess the $1100 would put me on high street, regardless of sound quality.... I have kind of left that forum alone for a bit, as my little DIY experiment thread became a 2 way pissing match with a marketeer... sheesh! Anyways, I finally wallmounted my beastie, and I will give it another month of listening, just to be absolutely sure I am not merely going thru a honeymoon phase! John, send me your address and some specs for your piece!
Harv. |
WOW! A lot of emotion surrounding these slate plinths!!! I hope no one on this forum is marketing anything!!!! I seem to have really ruffled some feathers over at LL with my less than genial response to the UNSOLICITED advice heaped on me concerning my lo-buck slate experiment... I would consider the whole thing a big mistake if it didn't sound so damn good!!!
I said it at the other forum, and I will say it here, at the end of the day, we're talking about a piece of slate, with a hole in it. If someone wants to go all steak and lobster about it so they can justify charging $1000 at the door, so to speak, good on 'em!!! |
My apologies in advance to Darren for my brash, abrasive stance on this.
I would obviously be buying a slateplinth instead of DIY if I had the $$$$.
Regardless of the reviews, I think they look great, the wife thinks they look great, and after hearing common slate in action, I am sure they sound FANTASTIC!! My experiment is not intended in ANY way to compare to the original, highly reviewed Welsh Slatedeck in any way whatever. Darren has established a well-earned positon in the marketplace by creating a great product, to very high standards. I simply decided to give something vaguely similar a go in my own back yard. I felt as though I wre building a wagon, and suddenly the Head engineer at Rolls Royce was on the phone, that's all....
Sheesh, I'm really truly sorry for being so snitty about the whole thing
Humbly (for a change) Harvey. |
Yeah, bottom line is: "I want the moon, but can't afford it"! I have moved on, but can't believe that no one has yet commented on what a cool idea my 'modular plinth' is!!!!
I won't hold my breath! |
Cool! Mrjstark! I was hoping to hear something like this from the onset... I for one have vowed not to spend over $1000 on any one component (to maintain harmony in the home) so that means a lot of used, and a lot of DIY gear.
Apples and Oranges are just that , Apples and oranges... though I admit, after a lifetime of eating apples, one probably would naturally pine for a taste of orange..... or something like that!
Anyways, I like the sound of the slate plate so far, even though it is soft, and green,,, good point RE: vibration damping Mosin! |
Everything you have said is true, Mosin... Despite the preparation, discussions with the shop, measurements... There were still 2 complete failures bfore the third go round. When i got the "correct" one home, the table still wouldnt seat properly! After much grinding, swearing, testing, swearing,grinding, swearing VERY loudly.... I finally got the thing together.... Slate is not easy to work with, and yet i want to do it all over again..... Insanity. |
My whole idea with the slate layer was to add another layer to the classic, high mass, giant CLD plinth... I was picturing the slate as described by Mosin, as an infinitely finely layered cld..., but I still wanted to retain the qualities, and (in my eyes) beauty of the "Nantaisian' Lenco plinth...
I was considering what John brought up, regarding ringing... and I am seeking out a suitable damping material for the pressed steel itself for this reason.
Even if I eventually go with a solid layered slate plinth, i will still box it with oak, to maintain that classic wood plinth look.
Your debates are healthy, and raise valid questions, and useful perspective that we can all benefit from. Theory and practice are two different things... so none of us should get too emotional over any of this stuff yet... I will stick to getting emotional about the music! John, I will talk to my friend next week! Harv |
'he lives in Montreal, a terrific city with fantastic food and sexy women,'
You can say that again John!!! Wow, I can't wait to hear about those Beta 8's.. I have been wanting a set of those for years!!! I am building some Saburo "spawn" horns with 6" Corals... Can't wait!! Guess I had better start looking for a flea amp....
I found out (unfortunately) that my all-slate Lenco will take some time to put together... The key to finding 'cheap' slate is to get 'offcuts' or leftovers from installations, My friend happened to have a spare piece that suited my purpose, hence the low price.. So my friend is keeping his eye open for suitable pieces.
I believe I will stick with what I have for now, and see how I feel when I finally find a 'Broken-In" DL 103 for sale!!! (Hint-Hint) sigh.... |
thanks John, the twl is in place on my arm already, i added some mass to the tube, and am enjoying the 103 so much, im not even going to bother with the 103r just yet! |
Anyone here have experience running cinemag sut's with a denon 103r?
My 103 sounds great but I am getting stridency with the 103r.
any ideas? I only post here because it is all connected to my rega rb250 on my beloved LENCO!!! |
Gadfly.... you have totally lost me, LOST me. I was remarking on you and Jejune's back and forth, nothing more. I really, really do not understand your last post, the reasoning behind it, and what exactly you are trying to say, other than you don't like idlers, which we ALL know anyways! so, ...... your point? |
Here's an idea you two... since you don't like lencos and idlers, and this is a thread primarily about lencos and fixing them up, why not buzz off, and find an anti-idler, anti-lenco thread where you belong? |
Gad: " Sadly, there is a high degree of misinformation, mutual back slapping, and an obnoxious amount of self-love. But the fooles parade marches on."
Well, if it is a 'fooles parade' why are you ever so eager to be a part of it all? Nothing better to do?
Anyways, if you derive entertainment by stirring things up, more power to you!
At the end of the day. our opinions are just opinions, and really make no difference anyways. Positive constructive advice is usually applicable, and sometimes bears fruit, while naysaying is simply naysaying. And so it goes. |
Beautiful 'table Gadfly! Do you still have it? What other 'tables do you have? |
well I think I jumped the gun a bit on your stance concerning idlers. Regardless, we're a weird bunch, us auduophools, but at the end of the day we all share one thing: a passion for good music, and damn good sound! Amen. |
This stuff is so sad, I'm not going to name names (or rather 'nick'names) but the idea of grown men engaging in sniping, sideswipes, character assassination,and the like, over different types of turntables is truly pathetic. It is sad that the site was 'hit' because it was a fun site, full of fun people. I didn't know anything about lencos until I stumbled upon the 'despot II' thread. I can't understand how a grownup could see fit to 'take out' the first Despot thread, but to take down Lenco Lovers? If I have a differing point of view with someone on a forum or thread, I try to express my differing pov, and express my perspective. If that fails, then I agree to disagree. It's called being a grownup. Sad. It was nice while it lasted, see you all in another life I suppose. Harv. |
My Biggest upgrade yet: the Panasonic Strain Gauge cartridge with a custom made gain stage.
It's a new world. The studer doesn't spin nearly as much tape as it used to.
I'm trying to find a new reengineered idler wheel and bearing. I'd like to start giving the Lenco a bit of attention again.
Cheers! |
Finally! The lenco is getting the review we all know it deserves... Let's all consider ourselves lucky to have gotten one ( or two)! While they were still unknown/unaccepted by 'the connisuers'!
My humble Lenco remains unchanged in essence two years on... I think that is a testament to the satisfying wholosity and groovidacious goodness one can attain with these humble machines... For a nuerotic tweaker to say 'good enough' ..... Speaks volumes!
Ancillaries will come and go, but tge centerpiece of 'tha system' the mighty Lenco, shall stay!
Jean, my belated apologies for not getting that slate to you but a new child, career, and obsession with flea amps, single drivers and horns sidetracked me considerably!
It seems that non-welsh slate has been widely accepted as an upgrade, or at the very least, alternative, to the classic cld plinth, and all I can say is: 'amen, and rock on, brothers'!!!
Harv |
WoW!!!! What an amazing thread this has been! Jean, My apologies for not getting back to you regarding the Slate! I've had busy, crazy times, I am a father now... (3yrs. old! time flies) and a foster parent to two teenage boys, a career change, a major move.... but one thing has remained constant: My rather utilitarian looking, but incredible sounding Hybrid CLD/Slate Lenco!
I've not changed a single THING in over 2 years! And that's saying a lot... Phonostage, cartridges,amp, speakers, CD player have all changed, (some several times) But that Lenco has remained unchanged!!!
I want to thank all of you guys for your enthusiasm, and sharing of ideas, and encouragement! To find a component that truly completely satisfies in our often maddening hobby is a blessing... being able to DIY such a component is even more so!
Now.... I keep hearing about these bearings, and spindles and such, and I'm getting mighty curious!
Maybe it's time to haul out that old 88 I have gathering dust in the basement?
Muahahahahahaaa!
Daiwok, Jean, RF, and all of you other fellows, it's nice to know you are still out there, keeping it going and getting others interested!
I've been following Arthur's website for a couple of years now, and will continue to do so.
Yayyy Lenco!!
Harvey |
Lewm, I am using a DIY slatedeck, I had a 1" thick slab milled and polished as a top layer for my CLD plinth, and I am VERY happy with the results, to say the least!!! The guy from Wales jumped on the thread at Lenco Lovers to tell me why only Welsh slate sounds good, and he has to charge the prices he does to run a business, and put food on the table, and any other slate sounds like crap, because it is 'too soft' ( I guess wood plinths sound right horriffic if one applies THAT logic) and on and on he went, I said HOGWASH! And still do!
For (well) under $100, I had a beautiful slate slab custom made for my Lenco, and it sounds FANTASTIC!!!
http://www.lenco-lovers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2388&start=40 |
