Myself and James (JWM hereabouts) took a trip to 'Cymbiosis' yesterday, for Peter to do his thing with the Scottish gramophone.

And a fascinating experience it was, to see an LP12 stripped down to its bare plinth, and re-assembled with such attention to operational and cosmetic detail - fitting a new motor and a Lingo p/s in the process.

I took some pics to record the event:-







We had a listen to a CDX2/202/200/Neat Motive 2's, which was making a great sound.





And when the fettling of the Linn was complete, it went into the same system for a listen, and sounded fantastic. The pic isn't brilliant I'm afraid due to camera shake, but James' rosewood Linn looked quite superb.



Many thanks Peter - not forgetting the tea and chocolate Hob-Nobs!

John.

John - thanks very much for accompanying me on my day out with Linn! We wouldn't have got there without you!

And thanks for great photos - happy memories of the day.

Ass also the thread I started JWM and JN's Excellent Adventure (LP12 to Leicester)

And it really was agreat curry to end the day!

All the best,
James

Apologies guys - this should have been one thread and not two. I missed the fact that James had beaten me to it.

John.

He kept that one quiet, I could have turned up!

Regards

PB

We thought of you, PB, as we passed the Leicester pub of the same name...!

Anyway, not being an obsessive geek or anything, thought I'd just add a couple of my own photos of my lovely Rosewood LP12 post-Peter...

The inside inside cleared of all extraneous crud (extra washers and nuts, wrong nuts, etc, etc) that had somehow crept in over the years. The top plate was 'gently'(!) set by Peter in order to fit the plinth tightly with no rattles. And a lovely new Linn on-off button (rather than the interloper OL nameplate...)


New arm board perfectly parallel with freshly-oiled plinth. And you should see the 'bounce'!


Arm and cartridge completely reset, new headshell bolts and leads. And the bit you can't see, new motor running perfectly.


So how does it sound?

When we got home, we set the DV17D2 at 1.9g, slap bang in the middle of its recommended range 1.8-2.0g. To be honest, although it was doing good things, it sounded rather laboured and bloated. Huh?! We adjusted to 1.6g, as recommended by Peter, and much better. Never pay attention to the manual! (Paying attention, Adam?) Always listen to your dealer.

We also brought the D15s forward a tad, and after trying the TT just on the board shelf on the wall shelf, today I also reinstated the glass shelf and ball nutters (homage to Fraim). This has been the cherry on the cake in just bringing the bottom end into sharper focus and helping the top end to really sparkle.

The result is a beautifully balanced sound. The top and bottom are there, without either feeling overblown. And a real sparkle; with authority, but somehow also relaxed. Groove and boogie!

Don't get me wrong, I am still grateful to the OL kit - at the time two years ago, it was the only option open to me to keep my LP12 spinning; and it sounded much better than the failing Valhalla! But I am delighted to be able to go back to a recognised power supply.

In overall character, I would say that comparing the pre-Peter'd OL Advanced LP12 with the post-Peter'd Lingo'd LP12 feels a bit like comparing a Naim system using after-market mains and interconnect cables from a well known supplier(!) with a system using proper Naim mains cables and SNAICs! Less 'hifi' stuff, and - guess what - more music! Thanks again, Peter!

I'm looking forward to hearing how Chillkram's getting on with his new Armageddon.

(And I am still trying to find the 'substantial degradation' in sound that, apparently, a Lingo 1 inevitably brings.)

James

Good stuff James. Glad to hear that she's cookin'.

The really interesting photo was the one of Peter rolling round the floor, with his knee in the LP12 top plate.

Sadly is was deemed unfit for publication here, to protect any minors looking in.

John.

James, I'm jealous of that Rosewood LP12! It looks gorgeous. As I told you in my email the other day I always wanted a rosewood plinth when I was younger but it was too much of a premium over the afromosia.

I haven't got mine back yet I'm afraid, as the Armageddon had to be ordered in from Naim. I won't be able to collect it this weekend either as I'm away. Never mind, the wait will make it even more appreciated when I get it back.

Regards

Mark

So, peter,
shed some light on the 1.6g tracking weight for the 17d2!!! (you also have mail re this)

cheers

andy

Oh, the joy of experimentation!

And Andy C - sorry if you've had heart palpitations! My further experimentation might settle your mind.

After reinstalling the glass shelf/ball nutters earlier today, just as a matter of interest I have been doing a bit more experimentation with tracking weight - trying 1.6g (a bit below recommended in the manual, but recommended by Peter), 1.9g (middle of the range recommended in the manual) and 1.8g (lower end of manual's recommended range).

Whereas 1.6g with the LP12 just on the board surface had sounded clearly better than 1.8g to both John and me, now with the glass/ball nutters 1.8g seems to me to have more grip and authority without losing that lightness of touch - which was then lost by then going up to 1.9g on the glass.

But equally, 1.6g on the glass was better than 1.6g on the board; and 1.6g on the board was better than 1.8g on the board!

(Does this make any sense?!!!)

I'll keep experimenting across a range of musical styles and recordings...

But - having braced myself for the 'degradation in sound quality' on CD which I was assured would be an inevitable consequence of installing the Lingo 1 - it's the improvement of the CD also that I can't get over! Lots of new and real fine level detail (no, not distortion...).

In Leicester we hadn't really noticed any difference in CD performace with the Lingo plugged in or out. - So I do not actually attribute the CD improvement to the Lingo! Rather, presume it is a result of further fine-tuning the position of the D15s, moving them forward an inch!

(JN might let you in on the secret as to why I've been having to move my speakers around ... it's not only post-Lingo adjustments...)

James

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:
So, peter,
shed some light on the 1.6g tracking weight for the 17d2!!! (you also have mail re this)

cheers

andy

Ok.

I normally use between 1.8 - 2.0g.

I thought I'd check what John Burns at Pear Audio suggests: He is pretty much of a similar opinion to me at 1.8 - 2.0g but anything up to 2.3g will work.

I suggest that experimentation is the order of the day and let's have some reports on findings so as we can all benefit.

James, one cautionary note: remember I had to re-allign your cartridge as it was miss-alligned according to my Linn protractor. So, it's likely/reasonable that it will need a little running time to settle in again.

Kind regards,

Peter

What kind of speakers are on this picture?

The word "gramophone" does have a certain gravitas doesn't it.

Looking at the rosewood plinth, I wonder why I sold my 18 year old one a couple of years ago - that plinth is exceptional. Must have been mad.

I am pleased for you that your LP12 is sounding good for you. It would be interesting for Peter to post a picture of the contents of his "items removed" box the next time he has a fudged LP12 in his jig

Cheers

Brad

PS I like the photos - a once removed momento of my visit to Peter earlier in the year. I had my camera, but was too caught up in the experience to remember it was there.

quote:

I suggest that experimentation is the order of the day and let's have some reports on findings so as we can all benefit.

Of course arm dependant so only an example....But I tracked my 17D2 at 1.9g in the SME M2. Experimenting with weights between 1.8 & 2.0g I found that lovely silky feel to the highs was at it's best at 1.9g.

Also of course VTA is a variable. I found having the arm very slightly low at the back added a nice bit of bass drive....But of course with the 17D2 youve got to watch out for the body clearence on the record.

regards
Geoff

Hi Robbert;

Look above my photo.

Best wishes.

John.

hey, nice photos John, thanks for sharing - nice to be able to see another emporium from topside.

JWM - lovely rosewood non-fluted plinth.

quote:

Originally posted by Rico:

JWM - lovely rosewood non-fluted plinth.

It's a beauty and looks like new, despite it's years

quote:

It's a beauty and looks like new, despite it's years

Indeed, like your shop eh Peter?

Erm, yes...............Empty coffee cups everywhere

Robbert said:-

quote:

What kind of speakers are on this picture?

Sorry, late to the party as always, but the speakers, as John correctly pointed out earlier, are Neat Motive 2s, just like mine in fact, except the pair depicted above appear, if I'm not mistaken, to be beautifully finished in oak.

Stuff the speakers, whats in the mug and where are the chocolate biscuits