I like reading threads like this as it teaches me something. Ron's comments about lateral stability coming into play with the Denon 103 are quite interesting to me. You see, all of my arms are linear trackers, so their level of lateral stability is infinitely higher than that of a pivoted arm. I might not have ever come to any such conclusions due to the completely different nature of installations. I know that Twl has made comments to this effect in the past, but for some reason, i never put 2+2 together in this area before. As such, keep up the good work guys. You're teaching all of us dummies something we didn't know or might not have ever considered on our own : ) Sean
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Heres the deal, the Dennon 103 is a great cartridge, but when using it on a unipivot arm you cannot hear all this cartridge can do. Installing it on the rega arm that has better lateral stability will enable the low compliance Dennon to work better. I cannot comment about paint stripped off the armtube ,but the addition of the tungsten counterweight will make the rega arm work better. Put the rega arm with Dennon 103 on your Scout and add twl's hi fi mod. You will be mightily impressed indeed. For more info on the hi fi mod, read this thread, Strange tonearm tweak long http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1032024188&openflup&94&4&&st0good luck Ron |
Yes, it was only when I did some serious tube rolling that my wife finally said she now understands (appreciates) what I was after. |
Plato, yes the HiFi mod is the mod with the lead fishing weights on the ends of the Rega bearing axles.
It is simply amazing when you use it with the lower compliance cartridges on the Rega arms.
Basically, it just makes the horizontal effective mass a better match for these cartridges, and boy does it make a difference in sound! |
Where did the RB 600 arm that the 25 came with go? |
Hey, anytime a cheap component sounds better to you than a more expensive component, that is a good thing, spend the extra money on more cool toys.
Reade. |
Ah, wives and their abilties to hear. I bought a used Audio Research PH3SE a little while ago, and was experimenting with different power cords using my wife's favorite LP. When I put on a used Elrod EPS-2 Signature the difference was so pronounced and positive she asked me what I'd done. When I fessed up to switching the power cord, she asked how much it had cost. It was the Moment of Truth, and I told her, expecting to be berated for spending so much on mere cabling. Instead she said, "Wow... worth every penny considering the difference it makes." Am I lucky, or what? |
I had the paint bead blasted and then shot peened.
This process compresses the surface porosity and makes the resultant part stronger and stiffer. This mod is what made my P25 sound better than the Scout. |
yet another lesson in Synergy to be sure... |
Cableplex, I used to own a VPI Aries with the JMW 10 arm and ClearAudio Gamma cartridge and I could never get it to sound the way I wanted it to. I went to a Michell Gyro SE with a OL Rega 250 (and a Benz) and got much better results. My feeling is that certain cartridges don't perform to their best potential in unipivot arms like the VPI.
I just ordered a BIX turntable kit with Rega RB250 from Sound Odyssey for a second system and I can't wait to receive it and get it up and running. It looks like it should offer plenty o' bang for the buck.
TWL's suggestion of putting the Rega arm on the VPI might be a good one. But TWL, what is the $2 HiFi mod that you mentioned? Is it the lead weights on the pivots deal? |
My P-25 never sounded worth a darn, tried everything except stripping the paint off the arm.wonder if a different color will help. |
I think that the Scout has a better drive system, but the Rega arm is a better match for the DL103.
For Cableplex, if you want that system to really sound good with that cartridge, take 5 minutes to do the HiFi mod to the tonearm for about $2, and you and your wife will really be happy.
Then put the Rega arm on the Scout, and you'll be in business. |
I seem to recall discussion on the Regas with respect to them running fast. Perhaps there is a speed issue causing the difference? Do you have a speed controller such as the SDS for the Scout? There may also be a compatibility issue with the cartridge. Obviously if the Rega sounds better then that is the way to go, but don't dismiss the Scout based just on this. |
make a new nameplate and tape it to the unit and then sell the Scott! |
I guess that's what you get when you listen with your ears instead of relying on the reviewers! Bravo to you. |
Good points all. Cableplex, I don't know about your wife, but 9 times out of 10 when I ask my wife for an assessment of a change to my system she says "You're the one with the golden ear, dear, it's all the same to me." (Golden ear? Hardly.) So when my wife says something like what yours said, I know it's time to sit back and smile because the stereo has just scored points in the WAF area, and that makes EVERYBODY happy! :) |
Be glad you have a wife who cares enough to notice how it sounds. |
Wow! Paint removed from the arm, how does it sound? I bet there is a vast improvement, although I heard it changes the arm resonance and may prove a bit of a disadvantage with cartridges with a stiffer suspension. |
That's the classic dilemma with this stuff - the best sounding isn't always the best looking. |
Sound to me like you just earned yourself some extra cash for new LPs. (sell the VPI)
Pretend the Rega is a pre-industrial design coffee grinder. Or place a photo of a Ferrari in front of it. Cheers |
