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Optimizing TNT, Triplanar, Transfiguration Temper

I'm writing because of a combination of frustration and potential in my turntable set-up. I have never gotten the sound from the system that I expected, but feel that I am beginning to glimpse the potential of achieving it. I have made some changes recently that have led to more changes that have brought me closer to what I have heard from other systems with similar components. I am hoping someone can guide me toward finally obtaining the basic qualities that I'm looking for and I can fine-tune from there.
What I have heard before from lesser components and am not getting is the sound of the transients jumping off the record. I thought this problem was merely from the characteristics of the Transfiguration Temper Supreme, but with some modifications of the table I am beginning to hear it and wanted to see if I could bring it out further.
Let me back-track and tell you my components and what modifications I have made so far. I am running a VPI TNT upgraded to 4 (w/ the rectangle cutout for the motor), with the original motor and just added an SDS (which made the biggest improvement), a Wheaton Triplanar tonearm upgraded to VI, and a Transfiguration Temper Supreme cartridge.
When I upgraded to the SDS, the timing and solidity of the sound improved dramatically. I then found that using a single belt directly from the motor to the table actually outperformed the three-pully design originally designed for the table, perhaps with some trade-offs, i.e. voices sound clearer and better-defined, but piano may have a little less air and realism.
Finally, the table sits behind the speakers, particularly the left speaker. Moving the speaker forward a few inches seemed to significantly clean up the sound, so vibrations from the back of the (B & W 803) speaker may be muddying the water. My other components are Spectral DMC-20 and DMA-180 and MIT/Spectral reference cables.
Like I said, I am glimpsing the potential of this setup, and the music is starting to clean up and jump off the record, but it's just not quite there. I feel like I'm missing something simple and would like advice before making a lot of changes. I think I've set the cartridge up properly with regard to alignment, azimuth, VTA and no anti-skate. I have not removed the damping trough yet, and that is the next thing I was thinking to try. I am planning to try to further isolate the table from the speakers - the cable lengths prevent me from totally moving the preamp and turntable. I was also considering using different belts or string/dental floss etc. Another possibility is investing in a single-motor flywheel, which also would not use the three pulleys included with the TNT turntable. But, I feel that there is something simple and straightforward with the front-end that I am missing. Any advice?
ctlphd

Showing 6 responses by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
If a cartridge needs A/S to track cleanly then you should use it. Even if you prefer the sound without it, as I do, the improvement isn't worth mistracking and permanent vinyl damage.

I began playing without A/S when my cartridge relaxed enough not to need it. As with VTF, SRA or any other parameter, the cartridge tells you where to set A/S, you don't tell it.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
While I haven't heard a Temper in my system (I also have TriPlanar), I don't believe most Trannys would benefit from damping and I'd definitely remove the trough. You should hear a lower sound floor and more low level detail. Not so much benefit on transients in my system, but certainly no harm.

While you're at it, remove the A/S mechanism as an experiment. The improvements in my setup were similar to removing the damping trough, though subtler. If you're not using it it's just an unnecessary resonance trap.

Importantly, you didn't say whether you've optimized VTF or if so, how. Excessive VTF (like excessive antiskate) saps transient speed and dynamics very quickly. With my ZYX UNIverse if I'm just .01-.02g above optimal VTF I lose some snap, just as you described.

Try fine tuning VTF so that you're playing JUST BARELY above the mistracking point (like .01-.03g above). That's where I play all the best LOMC's I've used. Any less downforce and bass weakens before actual mistracking begins. Any more downforce and HFs go soft and micro-dynamics and transient leading edges start getting smothered. You need to find the zone between these problems and play there.

Where that zone is exactly and how wide it is varies from one individual cartridge to the next. Each cartridge is unique and at this level you can't fine tune by using a test record or sticking to recommended ranges. Optimal VTF changes constantly, not only with the weather but even (once you learn how to listen for it) from LP to LP. Try fine tuning that before spending any money.

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Ctlphd,

Sorry to hear about the new preamp/amp problem. If it ain't one thing...

Your sonic description of missing jump and snap made excessive VTF an easy guess, glad that helped. Those O-rings do fail after a while. I've replaced mine a couple of times.
I had always been told to use near the max tracking force tolerated.
That's appropriate advice for neophytes, who often use insufficient VTF in a mis-guided attempt to reduce friction. Too often, their stylus chatters around in the groove, doing 1,000X more damage than an extra gram of downforce ever could. Playing near the max prevents the worst of all disasters, destroying one's vinyl, but it also prevents hearing the most that a good cartridge can give.

A few years ago Raul was visiting us. We played LP's all afternoon. After a 1-2 hour dinner break we started up again and the music was decidedly duller: no weight, no oomph. I walked over to the Triplanar and slid an O-ring toward the counterweight by no more than the thickness of the O-ring itself.

BANG! All the life came back. Even Raul was surprised that such a tiny change made such a big difference. My .01g digital scale can't even measure the change from that small an adjustment.

This particular VTF adjustment was only needed because of the dinner break, which had allowed the cartridge to cool down and the suspension to stiffen. A hair more downforce was needed to optimize it. As we advance to higher levels of equipment the performance we demand increases, naturally. So does the care we must take to achieve it.

Hope the other thing works out.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Ptmconsulting,

We're in agreement as to methodology. I've posted essentially the same method for years (viz., play real music, get VTF dialed in with A/S at zero, then increase A/S in TINY increments whilst listening for sonic differences).

With respect, however, we differ as to our cartridges, our systems and what we hear and value.

In my system, with my cartridges, A/S does sometimes marginally affect R vs. L balance/weight/dynamics as you described. However, even the tiniest possible amount of A/S slows transients, reduces micro-dynamics and raises the sound floor. Any R vs. L improvement is swamped by these sonic penalties, not to mention the resonance trap effects of the device itself.

Again, this is just my experience. It's no more or less valid than yours. Cartridges vary. Systems vary. Listeners vary. I wouldn't presume to tell you that because zero A/S sounds best for me that it will necessarily sound best for you.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Ctlphd,

There is (should be) a small metal eyelet attached to the black shield on the arm cable. This eyelet should be fixed to the tonearm mounting plate with a screw, using the small threaded hole in the plate. Stabilizing the arm cable there stops it sliding around.

Once you've locked the shield end of the cable down, dress the free wires between the shield and the hole in the armtube so that the arm swings to the spindle and back with no drag or tautness and without the wires snagging.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
What do you mean by dress the free wires?
For "dress", substitute, "arrange". Sorry for the lingo. ;)
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