Hi Rich,
I haven't heard these other Lenco rebuilds, which I'm sure are excellent, but I like my Nantais Reference Lenco a lot. Two years old, it is a Mk I, though I'm actually sending it to Jean this week to have all the Mk. II mods performed.
I commissioned mine in solid Santos mahogany sheathing and it takes two arms. I find it beautiful, given its bulk, with excellent fit and finish. (To see a pic, scroll down this page.) Speed stability is quite good overall, though it tends to creep a little fast over time, so I re-set with a KAB every few months. Otherwise, it is trouble-free.
I really like the sound. It presents great rhythmic grip and drive with an outstanding bass foundation, low noise floor, and very good detail retrieval. I ran a Clearaudio Innovation Wood (with Outer Limit ring and Statement clamp) next to it in the same system for nearly two years , so I had a fairly neutral frame of reference. The Clearaudio had a little quieter background (though not by a huge amount), which allowed for slightly sharper attack and a somewhat deeper soundstage. It's a very fine deck but I thought it more mechanical and less organic-sounding--more like great digital--using either a Phantom II or Tri-planar. Speed stability over the short term was basically a toss up, which is saying something, since the Clearaudio has sophisticated optical speed correction.
Ultimately, I preferred the Nantais Lenco and sold the Clearaudio, replacing it with a Brinkmann Oasis, which is a great-sounding direct-drive with extraordinary articulation of instruments and rock-solid timing. Its background is even quiter than the Clearaudio. Still, the Nantais Lenco holds its own and even does some things a little better (bass weight, drive, flow), although I'd say it is comparatively a little colored towards the mid-to-upper bass, which is not a bad thing in my room, and less resolving at the very top. The Brinkmann is clearly better in its precise delineation of instruments in space--I've never heard its like in this regard--bringing everything into super-sharp focus without losing musicality or the textures of instruments. The two decks sound different but they're equally enjoyable and valid in their presentations. I'm sure the Mk II mods, which are now standard, will be quite an improvement, too. I find Jean to be a pleasure to work with, BTW.
Any way you go, you'll end up with a great idler, so enjoy.
Best,
Bill
I haven't heard these other Lenco rebuilds, which I'm sure are excellent, but I like my Nantais Reference Lenco a lot. Two years old, it is a Mk I, though I'm actually sending it to Jean this week to have all the Mk. II mods performed.
I commissioned mine in solid Santos mahogany sheathing and it takes two arms. I find it beautiful, given its bulk, with excellent fit and finish. (To see a pic, scroll down this page.) Speed stability is quite good overall, though it tends to creep a little fast over time, so I re-set with a KAB every few months. Otherwise, it is trouble-free.
I really like the sound. It presents great rhythmic grip and drive with an outstanding bass foundation, low noise floor, and very good detail retrieval. I ran a Clearaudio Innovation Wood (with Outer Limit ring and Statement clamp) next to it in the same system for nearly two years , so I had a fairly neutral frame of reference. The Clearaudio had a little quieter background (though not by a huge amount), which allowed for slightly sharper attack and a somewhat deeper soundstage. It's a very fine deck but I thought it more mechanical and less organic-sounding--more like great digital--using either a Phantom II or Tri-planar. Speed stability over the short term was basically a toss up, which is saying something, since the Clearaudio has sophisticated optical speed correction.
Ultimately, I preferred the Nantais Lenco and sold the Clearaudio, replacing it with a Brinkmann Oasis, which is a great-sounding direct-drive with extraordinary articulation of instruments and rock-solid timing. Its background is even quiter than the Clearaudio. Still, the Nantais Lenco holds its own and even does some things a little better (bass weight, drive, flow), although I'd say it is comparatively a little colored towards the mid-to-upper bass, which is not a bad thing in my room, and less resolving at the very top. The Brinkmann is clearly better in its precise delineation of instruments in space--I've never heard its like in this regard--bringing everything into super-sharp focus without losing musicality or the textures of instruments. The two decks sound different but they're equally enjoyable and valid in their presentations. I'm sure the Mk II mods, which are now standard, will be quite an improvement, too. I find Jean to be a pleasure to work with, BTW.
Any way you go, you'll end up with a great idler, so enjoy.
Best,
Bill