What is turntable “liveliness”.
I have listened to turntables for sixty years. I bought my first high end TT about thirty years… it was revelatory. I do not swap tables often. I do a huge amount of research and then stay with one for fifteen years or so. My most recent upgrade was from a VPI Aries (heavy mass) to a Linn LP12 (light weight, sprung)…very nearly the very top level. Could we please not turn this into a religious thing about Linn… mine is an outstanding TT which compares favorably with any other $45K analog leg (TT, cartridge, and Phonostage)
The term lively comes up in descriptions. One of the differences in character I noticed between the VPI and Linn… which I thought might be considered liveliness was to me a bit of what I perceived as the images very slightly jumping around… the kind of thing you would think of when you see films of “The Flash” maybe vibrating in place. While I found this gave me the feeling of the notes wanting to jump out at me, I found it a bit disconcerting. I attributed it to a relatively light weight rig, that is really good at rejecting low frequency vibrations (it is a sprung table… known to be lively sounding) up to a relatively high frequency… but beyond that not. Something a really heavy rig would not be effected by.
To test my theory, I had a Silent Running Ohio Class vibration platform constructed for my turntable. The image smear, as I called it disappeared. There is no smear and it has great solidity.
Is this attribute “liveliness”?
@pindac Agreed. Concrete made all the difference for me. So much so that any other support or floor compromised the ultimate sound quality.
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@noromance If you like the effect that a Concrete Base has under the supporting structure, in recent years the next best thing to this has been for myself, using Phenolic Resin Impregnated Densified Wood, such as a Panzerholz Type material. I highly recommend this as a Sub Plinth or Sub Plinth - Sub Sub Plinth assembly. My own usage has also extended for it to be used as Plinth Material for a TT.
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@pindac My plinth builder offers slate or Panzerholz between two aluminum plates. I’m tempted but an owner of one said it was a little softer and warmer than slate. Note that my turntable sits on 3" of maple which sits on the concrete blocks which stand on a 4" concrete basement away from other buildings. The maple definitely introduced some sweet woody color. Replacing it with PRIDW might work better than maple. My sound preference is to extract as much detail as possible from the solution without harshness. Thankfully, system sounds wonderful. |
I prefer to suggest Sub Plinths as the initial trials as they will offer a impact on the Sonic that will show the traits of the Board. The Sub Plinth is more ubiquitous and easier to source as a reasonably priced item. The TT Plinth in the same material is carrying additional cost, your want to extract detail, is exactly where the PRIDW Board comes into its own. The New Linn TT, has a version of this material incorporated into the design, even though the description is being used to not let an individual recognise the Brand selected. |
@ghdprentice "Anyone familiar with the term “ lively” as applied to turntables?” Yes! I compared the same soundtrack in dig and vinyl.. dig is a lil dead! only vinyl gives sense of live music! I agree analog sound reproduction path has some challenges and many components involved, where every part of it matters! But, digital way never explained what DA output filter should be used for the best experience.. much too many options and still no satisfaction! |
