2. analog
  3. 1430138986

SP10mk2: OMA Graphite plinth vs.Dobbins plinth

According to the price lists they are in one category, but anyone could comment on quality/performance? At the moment i use big Teak Wood plinth (just $750) custom made in Taiwan for my SP10mk2. Looking for upgrade in the future. I use my sp10mk2 with Reed "12 tonearm now. Doest the plinth actually makes a big difference in sound? My stand is well damped with glass, metal and sarbothane in between.

1) Oswald Mill Audio graphite slate plinth (single layer) $2750, double layer looks fantastic but cost $3500

2) Steve Dobbins famous custom plinth cost $2650 including three Stillpoints feet and automotive show quality paint in black or white. Design has changed many times, still hard to find any current plinth picture online.

I know there are Albert Porter's and Artisan Fidelity quality plinth available, but i don't like the design (i mean just how it looks) for SP10.
128x128chakster
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
For my SP10mk2, I had a custom machined SS mat 4kg, 292mm diameter and 8mm thickness made by Tran Van tan <tvan_tan@yahoo.com.vn> for $200USD. He is quite skilled at making a variety of metal turntable parts for vintage tables(e.g. Micro Seiki,) at reasonable prices and of excellent quality. I considered copper, ss and two layer combo of the two. The mass & height considerations led me to choose the lowest price option of the three, ss, which gave me great additional mass but not too much for the SP10mk2 and provided the height that allowed a wider range of VTA adjustment when using my EPA250 arm.
After @dgarretson brought his ss and copper mats over and we listened to each and both, we found about 5kg was max weight that we'd be comfortable with and in general the closer we got to that amount the better the sound in terms of LF performance.  

His work can be found here: https://vnav.vn/threads/tvt-analog-shop-chuyen-cac-phu-kien-ve-dia-than.30728/page-11#post-1426052

Cheers,
Spencer
chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
@downunder

The Tenuto fits the SP10 mk3 and Pioneer P3 fine. Not as perfect as the cu-180 - but at least you can remove it without the need for suction cups :-).

I simpy flipped over the entire SP-10mkII to remove CU-500 or CU-180 easily without any suction cups.


It sounds excellent as well - have not compared to the CU-180 thou. the one I have is 2.2kg, so is heavier than the cu-180 - same weight as the CU-500.

CU-500 weight is 2.7kg, so it’s heavier.


Hi Chakster - I would love your CU-500 or another cu-180 but the cu-180 is up to 3 times more expensive and CU-500 3-6 times more expensive than the Tenuto.

Hey, yep, but you never know what you can buy on secondhand market. However, as i stated earlier, i’m more fascinated by the classic japanese high-end (especially in mint- condition).

I can only use my CU-180 on Luxman PD-444 and it’s a perfect match for the Luxman platter, no wonder, because the Luxman was made by Micro Seiki. Only 3 silicone or rubber dots muct be placed between the CU-180 and the platter to rise up the mat a little bit. The thickness of the CU-500 would be better match, but the CU-500 is extremely heavy for the motor of the Luxman PD-444.

https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37422426_2339189316099222_7361459351321575424_n.jpg?_n...
best-groove's avatar
best-groove
842 posts
 
@sbank   good jobs.... the company if I have not read wrong is Asian?
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
@best-groove Yes, they are in Vietnam. FWIW, shipping to USA was fairly quick and not too expensive. Cheers,
Spencer
best-groove's avatar
best-groove
842 posts
 
@sbank   Well,  I will go deeper by visiting the site better  ;)
More to discover