Back into vinyl - part 1


About five years ago, while I was living nice, quiet, and boring vinyl-less life, I run across some very nice LPs while walking around my local flee market. I got rid of all my records years ago, almost immediately after Sony and Philips promised us all “Perfect Sound Forever”. My music life was easy and simple, few hundred of my CDs were complemented by couple hundred cassettes and only sometimes I was wondering how come some of my cassettes sounded very obviously better than CDs.
But I would not let these thoughts bother me – digital was better, period. Doesn’t every manufacturer of audio equipment say so for 20 years now?
Anyway, the albums I run across were so dear to me and so impossible to find on CDs that I bought them, without even thinking about the fact that I had absolutely no idea how to use them. Did they even sell turntables anymore?
Being a nerd I started searching the Net for information and to my surprise discovered that not only they still sell TTs, but there is a whole range of them, from 50 Presidents all the way to tens of thousands.
I was considering getting me some of those 78s, so three-speed machine was needed. I quickly found a site of KAB Electro-Acoustics, and called the guy.
Kevin was very helpful and knowledgeable. After hearing my pathetic story he very kindly described me current situation on the marked and few days later I was a proud owner of KAB Broadcast Standard, equipped with Shure V15VxMR.
The LPs that I bought sounded amazing. They were almost 40 years old, though in very good condition, but the sound was so real that no CD could even touch it.
Bare in mind, my system was nothing to write home about – middle-of-the-road ES Sony CD player, amplifier and cassette deck and Mission speakers.
And then I found audio forums.
OK, I have to admit – I am always questioning my knowledge. Even when I am 100% sure about something, there will always be a thought buried somewhere deep inside, saying “What If You Are Wrong?”
So I started asking questions and in return heard condolences about my TT and really stupid explanations about why direct drive is inferior to belt drive. Someone even quoted well-respected magazine reviewer stating that DD table is constantly changing speed at a rate of about 3500 times a second, which is quite audible.
I bought it.
I sold my KAB table (surprisingly very close to the original price), in my heart blaming Kevin for selling me this junk, and got myself a … well, I don’t think I should use any more names here – it is really irrelevant. Let’s just say that the table was listed at $750 and at that price point is considered to be a de facto standard in audiophile world.
Well, this is where my problems started. First, the damn thing was running fast. I was trying to get my dealer to fix it with no positive outcome. “The table is flawless” was the answer. Oh and did I mention “No Returns” policy?
Running fast, switching between speeds was a nightmare, and then in 2000 they released an updated motor in which was supposed to fix speed deviation problem (what problem?) which set me back another $150. With no positive outcome.
I had to let it go, losing a lot of money in the process.
What do you think I did next? Correct, I bought another belt-driven table from different manufacturer. It was about twice as expensive as my first one and was coming from the company that is even more respected in audiophile world.
The construction of the table was very unusual. Almost as unusual as one of the first models from this company, shown in one of Stanley Kubrick’s movies.
Built quality seemed to be better, but as I discovered, in order to achieve best results, I needed much better tonearm, special power supply etcetera, etcetera… Oh and did I mention that you can’t really clean the record on this table? Friction between the belt and the platter is too low for it…
I got back to the previous company and purchased their just-released top of the line model. Exotic materials used for platter, outboard power supply, fancy words used in its description… I was not as stupid as I used to be, so I purchased it from Canada, thus loosing my US warranty, but saving about 30%.
Well, what do you know? The table was running fast! The brilliantly engineered power supply did not allow for speed adjustments without knowing the schematics and friendly technical support staff of the manufacturer was too friendly to respond to my request.
Another bummer.
I was getting smarter. No more purchases, I said to myself, before I am sure I know what I am buying.
Very famous and very local manufacturer just released reasonably inexpensive model, which I borrowed from my local dealer. Build quality was so low that I still don’t understand how people can actually mention the word “quality” when talking about this table? Platter bearing was loose, table was running slow and besides the motor was running hot as hell. I called the company with my questions and they responded that bearing has to burn-in (oh really?) motor has high operating temperature and speed can be easily adjusted by using their power generator costing a mere $1000! Thanks!
I tried few more tables. The more expensive they were getting, the more I was shocked by their poor quality.
I got tired. My vinyl collection was several hundred LPs by now but I had no means of listening and enjoying.
Then I called Kevin.
I told him about my experience and my frustration and his simple and knowledgeable words got me back to real world.
I have a degree in electrical engineer for crying out loud, cant’ I do something?
And I did.
To be continued…
alex_yakovlev
Ha! I was under the impression that AY had already done this and knew it was 'easy'...I was gonna ask him how it should be done!...Maybe the way to go is to simply buy a spare 1200 'arm (thanks to mass production and an R&D and tooling amortization that had probably paid for itself while I was still in elementary school, I understand they're not very expensive) and experiment on it...
The toneram rewiring requires to make a spacing jig. The distance from the collar to the clips must be EXACTLY equal to the originals or the spring loaded gold plated pins will not work properly. Also, the soldering temperature must be exact and the technique flawless otherwise the plastic will melt. Technics does not sell arm tubes--only the complete arm but it's only $65-70. I can look around and find if I still have the messed up tube.

So far the #1 candidate for tonearm wire is the Van Den Hul solid core silver. I am also thinking of the new Cardas ($11.50 ft), but am wary of copper "warmth" being introduced in my system as I use Ridge Street Audio silver interconnects and military surplus silver plated copper for speaker wire.
Alex,

What cartridge and stylus do you have on your technics? I have a Technics SL-1301 and need new cart. and stylus.
Hi I read the article on these turntables. I am seriously considering the Technics SL-1200 turntable from KAB electronics (with audiophile modifications). I just want a table that's a bit simpler, less finicky, yet still accurate and durable, too. I presently own a Linn Sondek LP12 which seems to be excellent as far as sound and speed accuracy goes(in comparison to the "R", "T", "JAM", or even the "V" brand from the US). Even though my early motor/early platter 60hz LP12 runs perfectly 33.3rpm at 60hz, I do have mine plugged into the VPI Synchronous Drive System (which happens to work nicely, btw). There is a speed accuracy issue regarding some Linn LP12s(early vs late - fixable though depending on route taken -read on). The earlier LP12 tables had a slightly larger inner platter than later production units (Linn seemed to not acknowledge this problem, even denying it when asked). -reason unknown but my guess (NOTE: my guess only, may not be fact) is that someone goofed slightly on a batch of motor's pulley size and the "cheapest short term solution" for Linn was to match all "present and future" inner platters to the "newer" spec motors. Their "long term solution" however seemed to be "change the story" or "cover up" (tell dealers that early Linns may have "bearing problems" if speed is too slow with the "later motor" installed, thus requiring platter and bearing replacement as a set per Linn). The ONLY time the speed problem isn't fixable is if one chooses to either upgrade an earlier stock LP12 deck to current "Cirkus" standards with the original motor installed OR if someone wishes to install an earlier (or any?) 60hz motor in a later LP12 (I'm not sure, but it's been said that all Linn 60hz "LP12 Basik" motors, even the latest 60hz have been machined to the early spec .689 inch, thus making them run slightly fast when installed on later decks). However, the later Valhalla and Lingo decks (50hz motor) are all correct in regards to speed and machining of their pulleys. Just wanted to share my thoughts.
.......Paul
note: When first auditioning Linns in 1992, I noticed their "mid-fi" Axis deck, while sounding ok, played a bit fast(I could tell just by hearing it -and I think the dealer had said something about speed adjustments). It wasn't until recently that I confirmed that the Axis has an internal "fine tune" adjustment for the 33 and 45 speeds (50 and 67.5hz). If only those "R" brand decks had such an adjustment, they might be halfway worth something (my thoughts)
libellule11@comcast.net, I own three cartridges - Grado Statement, Ortofon Kontrapunkt B and Rega Exact. Because of using RB600 I was only playing Grado, but now that I am looking into switching to Technics arm, I will be using all three of them, which was my goal initially.
I am hearing very good things (from people I do trust) about Denon 103, will give it a try.
Paul, I think you are going in the right direction. Kevin is your best sourse, if I was in your shoes I would probably get his Audiophile table with PSU and damper.