Hi all,

I am very new to Naim and this forum. Earlier this year I upgraded my 15 year old Hi Fi setup to the following:
CD5x, Rega P3-24, NAC122x, NAP150x, Stageline, Rega R7 Spkrs - i do a fair bit of time under the headphones and have AKG 701's through a Rega Ear Headphone Amp.
To say i am happy with my investment would be a gross understatement! - I absolutely love my setup, the first thing i do when i get up is play music, when i walk in the door at night, i play music until falling asleep on the couch or bean bag. I might as well sell my TV as i haven't had it on for months!

Anyways.....back to the TT thing. After a very long break form Vinyl, i decide i would pick up a TT and start playing some vinyl again (Hence the P3 purchase), needless to say, i am going through a bit of a Vinyl Renaissance - i probably evenly split my playing time between CD and Vinyl, but really starting to spend more time and $$ on vinyl of recent weeks - loving it!
I'm very happy with what is being punched out of my speakers, but after reading this forum and few others i can't help think that i could be getting more from my TT with a few tweaks, adjustments or positional changes?
Could anyone let me know of a few hard and fast rules with TT setup? I know most of you are Linn LP 12 folks, but what about isolation platforms, spikes, wall mounts, different platters, Felt mats etc - I know it ultimately comes down to my ears eventually, but if someone could point me in the right direction...that would be cool.

Right now, i don't have the ideal set-up in terms of positioning - my TT sits on a Mahogany piece of furniture with the Black boxes sitting in individual compartments, but separated from each other. Speakers are well forward of all this.........In fact, if some one could tell me how to post a pic, i will attach one for you all to see, critique - Cheers.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Kind regards.

The Rega benefits from being isolated from the environment as much as possible. So, if you have a solid wall, a nice strong and massive shelf screwed to it, is the best place to position your turntable.

quote:

Originally posted by Hi-Fi Dave:
So, if you have a solid wall, a nice strong and massive shelf screwed to it, is the best place to position your turntable.

Odd - I would have thought the slim, lightweight and strong Rega wall shelf would be ideal.

As Hi Fi Dave said get a wall mount. A target or rega works nice. You will find that the music sounds so "right" with a shelf. It's the most important thing you could do. If you cant do that a good isolated stand with spikes and not too heavy a shelf. The other tweak I found excellent was a heavy weight counter weight but since you have a P#/24 you could have the RB 301 arm and maybe the heavy weight isn't as significant as it is on the rb 300.

ken

thanks for you prompt replies!

I'm not sure if a wall shelf will work for me?/ - if i look for some sort of isolation stand or platform, what material should i be after? wood, glass, granite....?? should this also be spiked??

quote:

wood, glass, granite....??

None of those IMHO.

The best wall shelf for a Rega TT IMHO is this one.



It is made by Rega.

If you don't want a wall shelf then I've had a lot of success with Max Townshend's Seismic Sink, but the latest edition seems rather too expensive to me, but if you could find an older one it'll work nicely. So I'd recommend the Rega shelf. Max makes a TT for about £8k that sounds fantastic - his starting point is the Rega P3-24.

Another useful upgrade to your TT is Rega's TT-PSU.

Now I've tried lots of tweaks of Rega TTs in an attempt to improve upon the original design and mt best advice is don't bother. Terry Bateman and Roy Gandy at Rega know what they are doing; it does make sense to go for all these tweaks (unless you're Max Townshend in disguise) as by the time you've spent your cash you'll be in LP12 territory.

So my two recommendations are Rega TT-PSU and Rega Wall-Shelf made by Rega to get the best out of Rega TTs - and you know what - they really do a very fine job of optimising when of the best vfm products ever made.

Very good, well-balanced system BTW, no wonder you're happy.

ATB Rotf

BTW - there was an interesting university project where they studied TT mats and came up with a recommendation for the perfect material from a theoretical perspective - turned out to be felt, just like Rega and Linn use and, of course, you've got one.

Hi ROTF,

Thanks very much for the detailed reply and compliment.
I will discuss the option of a wall mounted shelf with my Landlord (Fingers Crossed).
Would a TT-PSU integrate OK with the Naim set-up i have?
Looking down the track in terms of upgrades: i would like to add a Flat-Cap 2x to my CD5x and look to upgrade my Headphone Amp (not too sure with what though).

Cheers.

quote:

it does make sense to go for all these tweaks (unless you're Max Townshend in disguise) as by the time you've spent your cash you'll be in LP12 territory.

Sorry I meant it does NOT make sense to go for all these tweaks (unless you're Max Townshend in disguise) as by the time you've spent your cash you'll be in LP12 territory. You can read about some of the tweaks I tried here - please don't think I'm not saying they're a rip-off, they are good products, but IMHO a step too far and just modify the performance rather than improve it.

Yes the Rega TT-PSU will work well in almost any circumstance. It just makes the TT more accurate in terms of pitch stability and isolates from mains borne problems. It will work well in your Naim set-up.

If the wall-shelf is not allowed then you could use an isolation platform under your Rega - if you can't find a Townshend sink then I'd suggest putting some nuts on a flat surface with some ball bearings in them and placing a piece of Corian on top of it - I did something like this, but used Solid Tech Feet of Silence, but they are a bit expensive now (why have all the prices gone up so much). However, Rega's wall-shelf is my firm recommendation if you can.

The Rega Ear is a great little headphone amp - to do better you'll need a Naim Headline and a NAPSC or better to power it. This is the best headphone stage I've heard with MC headphones - I do like Stax cans, but sold mine as I didn't really use them enough to justify keeping them.

The Flat-Cap should work well with your CDP and Pre - I'm relying on recommendations from folk I trust as I've not directly heard this combo. Though I know the bare CD5X and it is a fine CD player and an ideal match for your NAC122X/NAP150X.

ATB Rotf

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

Thanks ROTF.

Plenty of good info to go on there - i appreciate it.
Flat-Cap will be well demo'd before purchase, I've only heard very good reviews of this upgrade, so when the $$ allows it, i will investigate.
I use my Cans quite a bit as i have a family of 5 living above me, so after 7pm, it's Can-time.

Chili-P, I'm in your predicament. I'd like a TT wall shelf, but I dare not put bolts into my plaster walls in my apartment. My land lord wouldn't like it at all. Maybe a separate stand, spiked and possibly with big piece of granite or marble at the base.

There are so many setups it's not funny. I bought an Acroplat for my P5 after reading about it online and people's reviews. It is a lightweight white foam platter that replaces the glass one Rega provided. I've swapped it in and out only a couple times and the difference is minor, or my ears need tuning. but I've had it on for the last year.

I also bought a Neuance platform which has a multi layered foam core which absorbs vibrations, I ordered one to my shelf specs after talking on the phone to the maker. He was quite detailed about his ideas and experiments with different space age materials he gets thru Boeing suppliers and found a layered core he likes, It is a dark charcoal gray on the outside.

Some would think this not worthwhile, but I live in a 1940s building in Los Angeles on the second floor and a busy road is close by. I put the Neuance under my CDX2 and took out the glass Fraim shelf but it sits on the bearings. Acroplat on the TT. As I feel the source components are the most critical.

g

Hey Wolf2.

Hows LA treating you these days? do you ever head over to Catalina Island? - i was there for a wedding last year, fantastic place.
Thanks for your comments and suggestions - i will try and persuade my landlord with some nice wine and conversation and see how things play out. If that fails, i will contemplate some sort of isolation platform, shelf.....?
Would love a wall mounted shelf, and a Fraim (of course) - how do like the Fraim? - mixed reports on this board.... big $$. Is a long term vision for me.

Chilipepper. I will have the same set up as you, with the exception of the components. I will be driving with a supernait. I have sold my current TT to a friend. I will be purchasing a rega wall shelf for my new P3 TT though(adding a stageline also). If you cannot mount the shelf, Symposium makes a platform called a svelt. Plus there are other platforms. Quantum, super, etc. Let me know how everything works out. What kind of cartridge are you using?

What do you think of your R7's, I love mine!!!



The Svelte Plus

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

Well i thought as much from your handle "rega1"
As above, i will try for the wall mounted shelf, but my options are limited as to where i can mount in relation to my "Black Boxes" if not i will look into the isolation platforms - thanks for the recommendations - appreciate it!
I'm using a Dynavector 10x5 Cart - very nice.
Love the R7 speakers also - i auditioned many setups before settling on these - i need a bigger room though - i call it future proofing.
I must say I'm really enjoying getting back into vinyl after a 20 year hiatus.

excellent, I could use a bigger room too. Hope all goes well. Keep us posted. What is your liking for vinyl preference/ music?

rega1

will keep you all updated with progress for sure!
Hey - how do you go about posting pics? - do you need to be a "member" rather than "new member" before they allow it?

My liking for Vinyl preference is simple - it's what i started out on, i love the whole deal with records from the covers, the in lay sleeves with lyrics, the actual process of playing records is just cool!! Plus the big factor is playing music the way it was originally meant to be played and heard. I've been picking up loads of 2nd hand stuff from a big dealer here in NZ - $5 - $10 for some really good stuff.
My listening preference is 60's, onwards rock and and pop, Country, Folk, Alternate Rock, dabble in a bit of Tech, Dance stuff but nothing serious - today i have been going hard on Pink Floyd - The Final Cut spinning right now.... great stuff.

What about you?

I am into the old stuff also. Doobie brothers, Floyd, Crosby, stills, Nash, and Young, Hendrix, Beatles, The Who, etc. Now it is jazz, real bad!!!. Pat Metheney, Ralph Towner, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus. Jazz sounds so good through the R7's, it is incredible what they deliver for that genre. You want to hear something unbelievable, buy Ralph Towner, "Solstice" on CD or Vinyl. It has a black cover with a blue outlined Tree in the center of it. He is about the best 12 string guitaist I have ever heard. You will be blown away at the reproduction and delivery through your kit and the speakers!!!

Be sure you are using Naim NACA5 speaker cable too.

Not sure about the Picture posting issue. Maybe you need more posts .

Similar tastes, although, i never really got The Who - have tried, but no luck.
Thanks for the recommendation - I'm always keen for something new and different.
Definitely on the right cable here as i bought my gear from a Naim dealer who wouldn't sell me anything but...
Have you considered a FlatCapx on your CDP? - have heard nothing but good reports about that as an upgrade.
As for the Pic's not sure what the go is there, and feel like a tool posting a question.

quote:

Originally posted by chilipepper:
Similar tastes, although, i never really got The Who - have tried, but no luck.
Thanks for the recommendation - I'm always keen for something new and different.
Definitely on the right cable here as i bought my gear from a Naim dealer who wouldn't sell me anything but...
Have you considered a FlatCapx on your CDP? - have heard nothing but good reports about that as an upgrade.
As for the Pic's not sure what the go is there, and feel like a tool posting a question.

CD5i not able to run off FC2X. Got the 5i as a demo, cheap, so I nabbed it. I would like the FC2X for my snait and stageline come bonus time after the new year. Getting my "source first" options in, then comes the FC2X.

Might be able to get one second hand by then.

rega1

Sweet - should have checked your profile before typing eh!

Agree with source first approach.

LA is great, lots of things to do and great concerts. I haven't been to Catalina in a long time, decades actually, but I have favorite drives into central CA that have wonderful roads and views of beautiful rural scenes and moutains. The Islands tho have a special beauty and are mostly all parks now with guided tours and very special. Visit Santa Barbara north of LA next time, amazing country around that area.

I too am into 60-70s rock, I came of age when the Beatles hit America in 63 and the British invasion. I don't do edgy jazz, but have a new fondness for the classic singers like Ella, Sarah, Etta, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and big band music of my father's era.