Description

The centre piece of this system is my (J&R Audio) Essential 3160 phonolinestage preamplifier. All present and future equipment and modifications are selected to meet its ultimate fidelity without colouration. In this light, I am currently working on a potential replacement or second turntable (my Technics SP10 MK2 with a highly engineered bespoke plinth).

Apart from hoping for a change of home and larger listening room, my experimentation will continue with isolation, acoustics and cabling. Any other changes will need extensive in-system A/B testing: I am that happy with where things are at.
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Components Toggle details

    • Acoustic Signature Mambo
    Mambo with Jeweltone Crystal Stabilizer on Symposium Ultra platform sat on birch wall shelf. Simply superb
    • Analysis Plus Silver cables
    Scientifically accurate cables at unbelievably low prices. These replaced my Siltech and Kubala Sosna Emotion speaker and interconnect cables
    • Arm Tower AS
    This is the stand alone arm tower arrangement that I currently use. It is the basic Acoustic Signature Mambo arm tower plus weights and spikes at three points. Although a case of expedience and therefore not the prettiest arrangement, its performance has been a revelation
    • Arm Tower AS 2
    A close up to indicate the spikes arrangement on my arm towers.
    • Audiocraft AC 3300
    Dual point oil damped tonearm with s-shaped arm wand
    • Audio Technica AT-20 SLa
    A world beating cartridge. Although these are early days, every aspect of its performance seems perfect.
    • Audio Technica Pneumatic Footers
    Range of three distinct sets of Audio Technica pneumatic footers. Each one is an excellent means of isolating turntables and are highly recommended.
    • Dynavector XV1-s
    A phenomenal MC cartridge that perfectly complements the excellence of performance offered by the Nagaoka MP-50 MM. Audio doesn't get any better than this (unless, of course, the new XV1-t proves to be better and not just different)
    • Essential 3160 (J&R Audio)
    3160 phonolinestage. Offers two MC phonestages, two MM phonostages and a comprehensive line stage in one package. Simply SOTA
    • Essential 3160 power supply
    The dual mono power supply is part of the Essential set up
    • Glanz cartridges G7 & G5
    The two Glanz statement cartridges were produced by Mitachi Onkyo Seisakusho factory in Japan. They need further investigation ut clearly deserve it. More as soon as...
    • Grace G-660P
    12" gimbal pivot tonearm. This is a very rare tonearm but claimed to be an ideal match for the Dynavector XV-1s cartridge.
    • Ikeda IT-407 silver wired
    The top of the Ikeda food-chain
    • Keith Monks Record Cleaning Machine
    Rated as the best RCM, a joy to keep your vinyl in mint condition
    • Marantz CD-7
    The best CDP I have heard: resolving and beautiful, similar to a good turntable. See review at http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?rdgtl&1112565957&read&3&4&
    • Marantz ST-17
    A beautiful and greatly underestimated performer. It is a perfect match for my Marantz CDP and outperforms my other more expensive tuners by some distance
    • Mark Levinson No 23.5
    This is a heavily modified model with Eichmann cable pods, top grade resistors and internal cross set to cut off at 70Hz (everything below 70Hz handled by my Velodyne DD12 subs)
    • Morch DP6 red point
    Beautiful. The Moerch DP6 is a dual bearing radial arm with interchangeable arm tubes with either 9 or 12" effective length and various mass options. Moerch's top model, the DP6 tonearm has conventional bearings, a silicone damped high precision ball bearing for the horizontal plane, and two precision sapphire bearings for the vertical plane.
    • Nagaoka MP-50
    An amazing MM cartridge that outperforms top end MC cartridges costing up to ten times its price. Realism
    • Symposium Isis Svelte stands
    Apart from wall shelves, these set a bench mark in my experience of isolation and damping
    • Symposium Ultra
    I use the Ultra, Super and Svelte platforms beneath most of my system. On a sprung wooden floor, these have proved indespensible - along with wall shelving
    • Talon Audio Hawk
    40Hz-40Khz ceramic driver monitors on Escalante Hoodhoo stands. Operating down to 70Hz only - remainder (70Hz - 15Hz) handled by pair of Velodyne DD12 subs
    • Technics SP-10 mkII
    Technics with new bespoke plinth. Works marvelously.
    • Technics SP-10 mkII
    Technics with bespoke plinth sat on AT363 pneumatic footers.
    • Technics SP-10 mkII
    I am trying the Technics with a stand-alone (AS Mambo) armboard. Will report more when certain.
    • Technics SP-10 mkII
    Technics SP10 Mk2 turntable (naked on Audio Technica AT616 pneumatic footers). Early days but trying it out without the still-in-progress plinth following enthusiastic feedback from fellow Agoner
    • Various cartridges
    Selection of Astatic MF100, B&O MMC2, Glanz G5, Andante P-76, Spectral MCR and Nagaoka MP50 cartridges
    • Velodyne DD12 (1st)
    Pair of Velodyne DD12 subs used in perfect stereo with Talon Hawk monitors. Handling everything from 70Hz to 15Hz. Microprocessor controlled with Texas Instruments computer chip; Digital Drive room equalization system; Digital High Gain Servo system; Four listening presets for action adventure, movies, rock pop, jazz classical; Transformer-less Class-D digital energy recovery amplifier; Dual tandem voice coil and Kevlar-reinforced cones
    • Velodyne DD12 (2nd)
    A pair of these used in perfect stereo with my two Talon Hawk monitors. Hearing is believing

Comments 84

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Desmond,

Thanks, the pictures look great.

I take it you like the sound better than the non-plinth style you had before?

The twin arm setup looks excellent as well.

fast_mick

Hi Dgob

I noticed one of your replies on the epic MC thread. I just bought a bare SP10 mk11 and am looking for ideas for a plinth. I have a few arms I can use. I have a FR64S and an EPA100. i was thinking of using the EPA100 on it.

Can you please elaborate on your new SP10 plinth.

fast_mick