Galibier questions

I would also be interested in the effect of the Boston Audio graphite mat on a solid acrylic platter (like the old Teres 240 platter).

Howdy Rsrex, I have the Quattro, platter upgraded to the TPI, Triplanar and the ZYX universe cart. The Triplanar is a marvel, stand alone engineering delight.

Go with the arm

Well,

Some of my smartest customers agree to disagree. It's that close, and I go back and forth on this question myself.

I think the particular strengths of your system, and more importantly their weaknesses will ultimately tilt you in one direction or the other.

I'm hesitant to say more on this forum because I don't want to turn the dialog into a sales pitch (we can talk privately or on the Galibier forum where you'll interact with many of the same players).

Sandboxes (with a couple of tricks applied) get you so much of the vibration package, that I wouldn't think of anything else until I got my rig up to Stelvio Platter / Triplanar / Dynavector XV-1s status (along with dialing in at a minimum, my phono stage).

I'm waiting on delivery from TimberNation, of two sandboxes I'll be taking too the Audiofest next month. Those of you in attendance will be able to see his work which is priced quite reasonably.

At such point that I receive delivery, I'll feel much more comfortable about making a recommendation, but I'm at present, guardedly optimistic that this will be an ideal solution for most everyone.

In addition to "solving" the vibration problem, it will address the problem that many have in transitioning to a turntable with a larger footprint. It will overhang a traditional rack, and employ spikes (resting on the existing top shelf) to facilitate leveling where it might not currently exist.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

I think it depends on where you see yourself ending up after all upgrades that you choose to make. Do you think you will eventually get both the Triplanar and Gavia TPI platter? If so, I would start with the Triplanar since you will lose more money swapping out tonearms than upgrading your platter through Thom. But if you think it is more likely that you will stop with what you have, then I would suggest getting the better platter first because it will have, I am pretty sure, a bigger effect on the sound.

I started with a Galibier Gavia base with the PVC platter (now called the Serac) and a Moerch DP-6 with 12" arm wand. I went through two platter upgrades, first to the aluminum/Teflon/lead shot platter which is no longer available, and later to the current Gavia platter with graphite top plate. I also replaced the Moerch with a Triplanar VII and Stelvio armboard. In my opinion, the upgrade to the Gavia platter with graphite top plate was a bigger improvement than the tonearm upgrade. So if you could only do one, I would go with the better platter and a lesser tonearm. If you are like most of us, though, you will want it all, and in that case I don't think you can go wrong with the full Gavia setup and Triplanar. Good luck!

Dave

I've tried Stillpoints under my Gavia as a means of decoupling it from the granite shelf of my TT stand. It helped clear up the HF smear but at a cost of reduced LF impact. This also required adding spacers to the spikes that the motor pod sits on. Now I have the Gavia sitting directly on an aluminum plate about 1/2" thick and the Stillpoints are under the plate. To me this sounds much better, very good in fact, but I don't in any way claim this to be the best way to go.

A graphite mat is not going to get you any where near what the TPI surface does. In fact, I would not recommend any platter mat on a Galibier platter.

I agree with Dmailer, get the Triplanar and upgrade the platter later.

I personally would go for the Triplanar and start off with the standard PVC platter. Thom is very good about allowing you to upgrade without penalty if you choose to do so at a later time. I have an earlier galibier/Redpoint and started with the PVC platter. I now have the TPI platter and yes it does sound better but the PVC platter is no slouch and sounds very good.

I am waiting on a Stelvo armbord for my Triplaner and Galibier Quattro SE. I asked Thom about my future platter upgrade ( from the Serac) and he told me it would as big; if not a bigger upgrade then switching from my Moerch to the Triplaner. BTW you will love the Gavia no matter which platter you go for. Thom is wonderful to work with.
Peace
Vernon