Unfortuneately, Marigo's site sais nothing about their tonearm specific kit...the dots are way difft than sorbathane dots though...hard and not soft. You can buy them with a a 30 day guarantee from www.musicdirect.com for $50 and check out audio asylum threads for user info. I'll swear by these things BUT i have no clue the sonic benefits unless you are removing your table's vibes with Mapleshade's brass feet. The VTS kit is 4 2mm dots, 3 3mm dots & 1 4mm dot. check out marigo's site for that info...intersting how you can use these on drivers...they definitely work.
As to Dreadhead, i'd bet a glass platter would be better than the stock, but i'm just guessing. My experience is that the thin felt mats are always the best..all others seem to improve one thing or another which means they are taking away in other areas. I hear acrylic is really the way to go. Anyone seen a replacement platter for the 5lb metal ringer on the XPression?
one thing i'd like to add that really perplexes me: Before i ever changed anything on my table you could audibly hear the music being played even when my amps volume was not engaged (but the stylus was engaged). i could stand 3-5 feet away in a quiet room and hear what tune was playing that is - and now i cannot. I swear i have to get within inches of the cartridge to hear anything and that even goes for albums recorded at high levels...even the cardas sweeper track isn't audible. This must have something to do with the fact that i'm taking the vibes and sending them into my rack. There really aren't anymore pops, ticks or crackle on any of my albums either...which is quite cool too. To say its CD clear would be a huge understatement which is great since i'm only using the Grado Gold cartridge...thinking about getting the $500 Dynavector DV-20XH. feel free to e-mail me for pictures of my setup.
As to Dreadhead, i'd bet a glass platter would be better than the stock, but i'm just guessing. My experience is that the thin felt mats are always the best..all others seem to improve one thing or another which means they are taking away in other areas. I hear acrylic is really the way to go. Anyone seen a replacement platter for the 5lb metal ringer on the XPression?
one thing i'd like to add that really perplexes me: Before i ever changed anything on my table you could audibly hear the music being played even when my amps volume was not engaged (but the stylus was engaged). i could stand 3-5 feet away in a quiet room and hear what tune was playing that is - and now i cannot. I swear i have to get within inches of the cartridge to hear anything and that even goes for albums recorded at high levels...even the cardas sweeper track isn't audible. This must have something to do with the fact that i'm taking the vibes and sending them into my rack. There really aren't anymore pops, ticks or crackle on any of my albums either...which is quite cool too. To say its CD clear would be a huge understatement which is great since i'm only using the Grado Gold cartridge...thinking about getting the $500 Dynavector DV-20XH. feel free to e-mail me for pictures of my setup.