The following is a information I posted the other day on another thread.
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I am just going through the process of Packing a PTP Solid Nine TT to be taken for a demonstration at a friends tomorrow, where it will be sitting along side a SP10 R, and used to demonstrate Platter Mats and Spindle Weights/Clamps for their effect on each TT.
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As a friend learned I was to be local to his home I was asked to attend their home in advance and listen to their SP10 MkII mounted in a Panzerholz Plinth and to listen to a update to a prototype tonearm that is being produced. I have been close to the development of this Tonearm from the concept stages.
The Tonearms designer had agreed that my assessment of the performance made sense to them, as they has detected the improvements when used on the earlier used plinth material and now the Panzerholz is in use as a Plinth Material, it showed the true value of the tweaks undertaken on the Tonearm.
I have assured them, I can't see it being bettered mechanically at this stage and the attention needs to got to different Cartridge mounting materials and the signal path wiring, fortunately for the designer I have made available selections of wires that the latest wire technologies, through to PC Triple C /EX.
I headed onto the planned meeting and brought along as a additional experience, a Sub Plinth Design not used by myself to date.
This was created using Three Tiers of AT 616 Pneumatic Footers and Two Tiers of Panzerholz Sub Plinths. On this was mounted the PTP TT.
Firstly a few attendees were not familiar with the TT Set Up, which consited of the PTP Solid Nine > NSC Speed Controller > AudioMods Series Five Micrometer (with continuous Silver Arm Wiring) > Hana SL. Other attendees have encountered this on a few occasions, for various demonstrations being PTP vs another TT, PTP vs CD or PTP used for exchanging ancillaries. It is fair to day some have got an attuned ear for this TT being used.
My own experience with the AudioMods Series Five and SME IV has been that these as Tonearms deliver a sound, that can be said to be taut with an impactful presentation. Notes and Vocals are one dimensional, without a noticeable envelope shaping them. The geometry or engineering that allows for this additional quality to manifest during a replay, in my view is not present in these designs.
My experience has shown, when a Tonearm is experienced that can present a envelope and shaping to a note and vocal, it is quite difficult to accept performance from a Tonearm that delivers with a one dimensional note, no matter how well projected and present it is.
After the first few tracks it was apparent that the PTP on the new mounting assembly of materials was offering a delivery that was new to those who have a familiarity, and those who did not know the TT, were quite vociferous about how shockingly good the TT was. All attendees were giving a appraisal beyond the usual, as the Balance across the frequencies was much more accurate and the usual Bass presence was much better blended into the overall of the frequency range. The strong Bass presence is the trait that will usually be detected on a Idler Drive.
Another interesting outcome was that the use of the mats was quite interesting and the choices for preferences were more varied that a previous experience on a Belt Drive TT.
Rubber Mats and Rubber Composite Mats were not in favour unanimously.
Leather was well liked in Two Thicknesses, with the Zavfino Leather Mat being one the preferred options.
Between the Foams in different Thicknesses and the Metal and Ceramic Mats the Jury was out and the stance of one in their preference to another's not so impressed was a real eye opener.
It did suggest that the TT was able to present the variation of the sonic traits on offer from the differing materials used at an interface, and these were seen between a group with differing levels of attraction.
There were differing weights used, along with Zavfino Weight that is a composite construction, the Zavfino Weight won the group over in general.
The meet up ended with a SP10 R > Zavfino Leather Platter Mat >Glanz 12" > being used with two Versions of Ortofon Kontrapunt B and then the Miyajima Shilabe.
The Orofon K'b Cart's are fast and vibrant and deliver with a incisive blow, they will cure lethargy with ease.
Out of all the replays produced throughout the day, the Shilabe when put into use shone, it was not being met with contenders to usurp it in any area of the performance s light well above the water