Technics SP10 mkII

[BobC]

Host the pictures on Flikr or Bucket and link the BCC code across.

[krenzler]

Yes of course thanks Bob. I was looking for an insert picture button but here are a couple of pictures via the Bucket:

[pure sound]

Looks lovely. Very clean & tidy.

[krenzler]

Thanks. It does have a few nicks and bruises but nothing serious and most importantly everything works and sounding sublime. I think my turntable journey has ended.

[fordy]

Looks lovely Kim. Happy with the sound? Any tweaky plans for it?

Worth a check to see if the rubber in the feet hasn't perished. One of mine had collapsed which wasn't initially obvious.

[Tarzan]

That indeed looks like a fine device for spinning vinyl records

[bigdur]

Yes of course thanks Bob. I was looking for an insert picture button but here are a couple of pictures via the Bucket:

Wow! That is frankly stunning!

[krenzler]

Thanks a lot Wammers!

Only had it running for a couple of days now but yes I am pleased with the sound. Very clear with good dynamics (both micro and macro). Easy to listen into and relax and nice tight bass.

I planned to have the feet firmly all the way up into the plinth but the wall shelf is a bit out of true so I had to adjust the feet accordingly but all seems well. I will check with a spirit level occasionally to make sure that it holds.

No tweaky plans as such. Doesn't strike me as a turntable that needs any of that. I like to keep it original with the original platter mat etc. Will try and seek out the original headshell and it would also be nice with the optional extra heavy counterweight but the latter will be hard to come by no doubt.

[jkm]

I am a new member and just read through this thread on the Technics SP 10II. I had a similar isolation problem. The rubber feet on my Technics obsidian plinth had deteriorated, resulting in acoustic feedback and foot fall issues. The best replacement feet I have used are these:

http://www.solid-tech.net/products/i...oclear-4537465

I have no acoustic feedback and foot fall issues at all with these feet. Remove the Technics feet and place these under the plinth. You will need four of them equipped with the extra, optional (heavy duty) spring set. Although the feet are much less expensive than other similar products, they are nonetheless expensive considering their simple construction and common materials. But they are miraculous for isolation!

[Tarzan]

Mmmm wonder if they would fit the SL1200

[jkm]

Yes, I believe they would. The different spring sets can be changed out to optimize for the weight of the turntable. Since these feet do not screw into the base, they need a flat surface on the bottom of the plinth for the turntable to rest upon.

[krenzler]

It really is interesting & assuring to witness how well the in-built damping feature of the EPA-100 works. When initially setting the SL-1000 up I just chose the damping value "3" as per this diagram (from the SL-1000 brochure):



Today I tried to test the damping feature out of curiosity. Using the Hi-Fi News test record to check the tonearm/cartridge resonance (lateral). Set the damping to "0" effectively taking it out of function. And as expected the cantilever vibrated most violently (mistracking actually) at around the 8Hz mark same as calculated via the tonearm resonance calculator.

http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge...anceCalculator

Total mass of my headshell & cartridge (incl. screws & leads): 20g. Ortofon Jubilee compliance (10Hz, dynamic, lateral): 16cu.

Then tried setting the damping at "2" (re-balancing the arm of course) and now the cantilever movement was much diminished but still some vibration left. Finally setting the value at "3" further reduces the resonance behaviour to very nearly non-existent. So a much improved environment for the cartridge to do its intended job.

OK all this perhaps a little long-winded but.. Just nice to see that it really works very effectively.

[krenzler]

Do note that the "B" markings bottom of the diagram are cartridges measured at 100Hz (as the japanese tend to do) and not at 10Hz as most of the rest of the world specifies compliance. I believe that the "A" markings above is for the 10Hz value (also dynamic) - at least it corresponds well my experience (multiply the 100Hz value by 1.5x to 2x to get the the 10Hz value). This also gels with what the test record showed.

By the way the EPA-100 effective mass is 15.5g without cartridge (but with the original 9.5g headshell).

[fordy]

I’ve just fitted one of these “Shuggie” mounting collars to my Jelco. You can order them from Hugo Cass (aka Shuggie) on the Art of Sound forum. The original Jelco mounting collar has a bit of a design flaw in it which this new collar overcomes. As you tighten the grub screw to hold the tonearm pillar at correct VTA, it tends to push and cant the pillar over to one side, effecting azimuth. The original Jelco has a little scoop of material taken out of one side of the internal diameter of the collar which causes this to happen. It may actually be designed deliberately like that so that you can adjust azimuth a little at that end of the tonearm (in case you don’t use a headshell with azimuth adjustment for instance). The replacement collar is perfectly circular and of a tighter tolerance so it does not lean over when you tighten the grubscrew. It’s also a more substantial piece by being beefier and taller than the original (you need to ensure you have at least 5mm between the top of the collar and the underside of the bearing housing on your existing setup or you won’t be able to get correct VTA). It is nicely made from ali with an excellent anodized finish (in silver or black).

The original collar is not an issue if you tend to set and forget the VTA and then adjust at the headshell end with a little bubble level but it becomes a pain if you change carts and headshells often. The new collar allows you to trust that the arm pillar will be vertical from the tonearm board so as long as this is level, you only have to worry about azimuth at the headshell end. I was also particularly interested in this collar as it aids repeatable setup of an SPU. As you know the SPU headshell does not have a flat top so you have no chance to use a bubble level. You have to rely on the arm pillar being vertical to trust azimuth is correct.

Anyway, nice little addition to the arm, especially if using an SPU.

[fordy]

forgot to say, Hugo makes no claims for any inherent sound quality improvement from the collar, if there is any at all, it should be from better set up.

[krenzler]

Well, I finally got my hands on an original SH-100S headshell. This will be paired with my EPC-U205CMK3 MM cartridge (with Jico SAS stylus). Keeping it as much as originally intended as possible.

[krenzler]

Setting up and playing with original headshell plus EPC205MK3. I really like that this is the whole original 1978 package (apart from the Jico SAS stylus obviously). I really like the overall balance with the Technics MM cartridge fitted and am in no hurry to install neither the DL-304 nor the MC Jubilee.