Help Me Improve My Turntable Set-Up

Okay budget table, probably don’t want to put a $400 table on a $1200 Platform. Even though it would be awesome. Really. You have no idea how good this stuff works until you try it. But okay, I get it. In that case then use Nobsound springs. You will still get a lot of improvement, for sure more than any other thing you can get for $30. And one set will be enough to do the turntable and the phono stage. Get two sets and do your amp and pre-amp as well.

PHT will still be well worth it, and get TA-102 fO.q tape. One sheet, thin, will transform that rig, with plenty left over to help the phono stage and amps. Run a thin strip along the underside of the arm tube. Put some more on the plinth around the motor. Keep it under the platter where it won’t be seen. This stuff lowers the noise floor and kills vibration without killing dynamics, making the sound seem slightly more dynamic.

Try these first. Then once you know this stuff is for real, remove the cartridge and cut a piece to fit between the head shell and the cartridge. This will be a lot of work but you will be surprised how much difference it makes. And for way less money than the stuff designed for this.   

Another terrific cheap project is to build a sand box. One inch of sand packed down and covered with MDF or a butcher block is a terrific poor man's turntable platform. Put the whole thing on Nobsound, you won't believe it.

All that.....and no cartridge post
Amazing!?

"...Tekton. No, seriously..."

Yes the loudspeakers are holding you back. Doesn't have to be Tekton but something bigger and more efficient. 

Your Harbeths just need subwoofers. They should be up on stands at ear level. With good subwoofers and two way bass management they will out perform any Tekton loudspeaker by a landslide. I would certainly do this before you spend money elsewhere. You can not tell how good your bass is if you do not have any. But, the Harbeth midrange and tweeter are superior and smaller boxes generally have less trouble with resonance issues. 

Harbeth speakers have a great reputation. They have great potential.

What specifically is the problem. Lack of bass? Lack of details… imaging?

What is your room like? What is your speaker placement? Is all the equipment broken in… that is do all the components have at least 200 hours playing.

It is very possible the system is not set up very well, that can make a huge difference.

The system should start by being roughly in triangle you being at the apex and a bit further back than the distance between the speakers.. Start with them toed in pointing at your listening position.

The speakers need to be on solid stands (no vibration) and out of the corners.