2. analog
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Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II

“For those who want the moon but can't afford it or those who can afford it but like to have fun and work with their hands, I'm willing to give out a recipe for a true high-end 'table which is easy to do, and fun to make as sky's the limit on design/creativity! The cost of materials, including 'table, is roughly $200 (depending, more or less), and add to that a Rega tonearm. The results are astonishing. I'll even tell/show you how to make chipboard look like marble and fool and impress all your friends. If there's interest I'll get on with this project, if not, I'll just continue making them in my basement. The next one I make will have a Corian top and have a zebra stripe pattern! Fun! Any takers?”

The Lead in “Da Thread” as posted by Johnnantais - 2-01-04

Let the saga continue. Sail on, oh ships of Lenco!
mario_b
gp49
52 posts
 
The same result, reduced vibration with lowered operating voltage, was observed in the Garrard 301 and 401 many years ago.

Something like 90 volts or so (in the USA where 117 volts is nominally "Normal") was generally considered optimal.
stefanl
296 posts
 
I don't hear a negative effect in the bass or dynamics.I did tune the motor early on when I almost lost that little nose-screw too.I believe that the "flywheel" effect of the 9LB platter driven at speed accounts for most of the control of the Lenco and the idler may not be that heavily relied on.Once the speed has been set with a strobe it seems to stay on speed much as before.There is not as much torque as before of course which you can feel with your fingers,but as I stated the speed is fine.I used a stethoscope to judge the best place to set the Variac to where the motor seemed to "quiet-down".At full voltage the motor does seem to vibrate and shake a little too much.The Variac eliminates this motor shaking,which seems to be obviously correctable.
stefanl
296 posts
 
It just occurred to me.... that there in the States and Canada you only run on 110V 60Hz so your vibration floor would be normally lower than mine at 240v 50Hz?My motor runs pretty fast to begin with so taking the voltage down I am now on a par with you?The speed can be regulated just turning the Variac knob as well I noticed,so the Lenco does respond immediately to a voltage change.
stefanl
296 posts
 
Sudden rush of ideas here!!! The motor in the States and Canada is the same except for the spindle right? So I could actually take the 240v model down to 90v or so and have an extra quiet motor,although I lose all that torque,makes for an interesting experiment I think.
oregon
813 posts
 
Bolson,
Thanks for your impressions and historical perspective. I know of 2 fellow audiophools in my area who have dumped their expensive belt-drives. They simply cannot believe their ears when they hear a Lenco with a simple tonearm and decent, inexpensive cart.
It would be fun and interesting to hear from more who have come from the darkside!
Enjoy!
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