Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II

And Peter, good to "see" you again, happy to see you're still enjoying the Mighty Lencos :-)!!

For an update on my system these days, I last reported I had acquired a pair of Klipsch Heresy's which totally blew me away and conquered me, and in a new development I have matched them to a tube amp, an Audio Innovations Series 800 MKIII, an EL34-based push-pull 25-watt Class A amp, which is monstrous power for the ultra-sensitive Klipsch, as I spend my days and nights diving for the volume control (due as well to the monstrous dynamics of idler-wheel drives, now Unchained)!!

Now the AI is not exotica, or classic vintage/legend, or even subversive/fun like the Dynaco ST-120, the Worst Amplifier in the World (which, come to think of it, I'll try with the Klipsch, as due to its stiff regulated power supply it has very fine control of detail and minutiae, should be fun ;-)), but, it IS musical, it does detail, it does bass, and I am very happy. It plays such beautiful music. Which is to say, a properly-balanced system will be superior to a system built up of legends and exotica. The fellow who came over yesterday, who has a very high-end system, also admitted it did not sound as good as mine. But, he will soon have a Lenco and I predict it will then become superior to mine in all kinds of ways, as I know and admire the individual components, Wyetech tube electronics (superb) and Coincident Victory speakers, which should be an excellent match.

Hey Dave, those Yamahas ARE good aren't they?!? A total surprise when I first hooked up my 625s in my system by a series of accidents, which I had bought strictly to test old electronics. Actually, I'm thinking they would sound superb with my tube amp!!

Anyway, have fun mixing and matching guys and girl(s ;-)). The Dynaco is actually sounding excellent with the Heresy's in the background, very smooth and detailed, had a feeling this match would work (and fun to challenge people's perceptions/prejudices), more later!!

Jean, EL34 PP or class A = one of the best stereo setups there is for music lovers. Like PP6550, it does more right than most amp setups. Only audiophilia, oneupsmanship or the need for more power drives one to seek more. If you ever get a chance to hear Art Audio's EL34 amp you are in for a surprise. It has been on the market for long enough now that one might seek it used.

Mike

Has anyone ever used Jean's massy-plinth philosophy with a quality direct-drive table like a Technics SP10 or one of the big-daddy Kenwoods? I'd be interested to know how the best of DD fares against the idlers in a similar plinth.

Reason I ask is my Lenco was well-worn when I received it and has developed several problems that are not expensive on their own to fix (needs re-tread, etc.) but together form a lot of variables that can rear their ugly heads at any given moment. I also restore my own tube equipment so between the Lenco and some fussy Dynaco gear it seems every time I sit down for a listen some crackle or short or buzz comes into play and I spend my time fooling with that. My goal is to be able to listen for a week straight without a pair of needlenose pliers or soldering iron in hand.

I was thinking a quality DD table might not be as high-maintenance as my worn specimen of an idler and if properly plinthed might reap some of the same benefits.

My Lenco is finished! All I can say to anyone contemplating this project is, "Just do it!" and "Run, don't walk!"

It's taken me about two weeks of obsessive tweakage, burn-in of tonearm wire, etc., but the results are absolutely glorious. Frankly, I have to say that what I am listening to right now is, without a doubt, the best music playback system I've ever heard. And this is with a $300 cartridge and a $600 tonearm. The complete cost of this record player stands at under $1,500. That includes cartridge, arm, a $150 fee for renting shop space for a month, $200 for the used Lenco and under $200 for supplies including some tools I had to buy.

My Lenco has just replaced a very highly regarded belt drive table that I've had for 18 years and has been very well upgraded and tweaked.

And not to conflate two different threads, but anyone who says that digital currently beats vinyl in any kind of sonic way either has not heard excellent vinyl playback or they have tin ears. Sorry, but it's the way I see it. I have what was Naim's top of the line CD player just a year and a half ago, and while it sounds very GOOD, it does NOT sound NATURAL, like what I'm listening to right now. Granted, I have not heard the new top-of the-line Naim player, which some have said sounds analogue. But then again, the vinyl playback system that they're using as their reference is probably a belt-driven LP12.

Uh-oh....Am I becoming an "idler snob"?

Hey Billybuck depending on the quality of the rubber on your idler wheel sometimes a very light sanding with a fine grade sandpaper helps in addition to replacing the steel spring for the idler wheel with a rubber band. You can vary the tension on the idler wheel and this can sometimes solve the problem.