Shelter and Triplanar matching ?

Hi Tenmus.

I finished setting up my Triplainer-Shelter 90X a few weeks ago. The first thing I played was Swan Lake. The arm shook so badly that I ceased playing the table The next day a call to Tri Plainer resulted in the suggestion that I back the damping screw all the way out of the damping trough.When that didn't work I just stopped playing records, until today. Of course, nothing changed over the last few weeks and the same thing happened.

A light bulb went on and, Audiogon forums to the rescue. Lo and behold I found your forum posting of the same problem I experienced. The replies were enlightening.

I have only one question that might have been answered, maybe I missed it. If increasing the mass of the arm was accomplished by putting the heaviest weight, the only one with the chamfer, all the way up to the pivot point of the arm I assume that the chamfer was pointing to the rear of the arm. Would you please confirm this.

I am posting this reply to your forum topic as well as emailing you a copy, as it has been awhile since there's been activity on that site. I am anxious to hear how good this set up sounds.

I was unable to access your system on Audiogon, maybe I just didn't look in the right place. If you have a system description on Audiogon, please point me in the right direction. Regards, Ken Kftool

Dougdeacon,

Thank you for the reply, it never occurred to me that there may be a problem with a new arm, but everyone makes mistakes.

The Sota Mellennium table I'm using was a display unit I purchased at the 2005 CES and was set up with a Tri Plainer VII arm . When I later decided to also purchase a Tri Plainer VII, Sota sent the armboard drilled for , and used at the CES show. When I mounted the arm, I automatically figured the board to be drellid properly. After I posted the shaking problem on Audiogon, I thought I'd check the pivot to tt center dimension. The armboard was drilled to 235.5 mm rather than 233 mm as is specified by Tri Plainer. Upon calling Sota I was told to return the armboard so they could check the hole positions and replace the armboard if necessary. I'll have it back in about a week and check the arm again.

Another thread suggested I increase the mass of the arm by sliding the chamferred weight all the way forward, and then use the lightest counterweight to balance the cartridge out to the desired tracking force. I will perform both steps and if the problem persists, I will return it for a bearing check, as you suggested. regards Ken

Dougdeacon,

The Tri Plainer WAS at the end of the slots. At that point,realizing we could do no more, we decided to see what the performance would be. We played with the tracking force, vta, and cartridge loading until we had it zeroed in, or at least, thought we did.

Since It had been years since I had vinyl in my system, the sonics overshadowed my desire to get it perfect. Not until I noticed the shaking, did I think a serious problem existed.

Based on your replies, I will tell Sota to send an undrilled armboard, as I have no problem whatsoever in drilling it properly.

Thanks guys, Ken