Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II

Exciting, Exciting EXCITING !! Lenco comes into the Light !!

Congratulations to ALL who have contributed in the Great Experiment, kicked off by Jean oh-so-many years ago ! We have learned many lessons together, through the community of Da Thread/Da Thread II.

I must personally thank Jean for being the Raving Lunatic he is... and for his unswerving conviction to what he believes in. When I stumbled onto Da Thread in early 2004, it seemed this guy was waaaay over the top in expressing the greatness of the idler-wheel drive, and the Lenco design in particular. Talk about blowing out huge gusts of hot air :-)

BUT... I kept reading with interest, and day by day the hyperbole sounded more and more credible. I went from A) highly suspicious of these outlandish claims, to B) questioning my own assumptions of "what's the best TT", to C) believing in the Gospel of The Lenco, to D) voting with my dollars, and acquiring an L75. Quite a leap of faith for a skeptical guy like me. This is the power of the Nantais Prose.

Today I'm thankful I didn't rush into a plinth rebuild... no, it's been the opposite ("Woe is me... Will I EVER get that thing running ?"). The reward for waiting: today, the Monster-Class design details are pretty much understood and
shared freely to all who will listen. Thank you Jean and thank you All, for developing these refinements to the basic "solid plinth" we began with.

A year ago I had the pleasure of sitting in front of Jean's system - my first chance to actually hear what the fuss was all about. The Man is Right. He does not exaggerate in his wild and wonderful descriptions of the portrayal of Music via the Lenco... I heard it for myself... and must concur and support his claims.

As if that audition was not enough, I was even more fortunate to accompany Jean and his Monster Lenco to the Wyetech Listening Room. My (audio) life will never be the same. We were treated to the most effortless, lifelike recreation of live music I have EVER witnessed. Tom Waits - Nighthawks at The Diner... not even a special Mo-Fi pressing, but Jean's bargain bin find.

THEY were not in the room with us... No, we were in the club with THEM. Completely magical... transported to the venue... transcending all the reviewer-cliches you've read a thousand times - there was no "hey listen to the top end sparkle", or "boy, the bass sure flaps your pants" - it was just a thrilling performance happening before us. Totally "natural" in dynamics, from muttered comments between songs, to the band roaring full-tilt. We just HAD to sit through both sides... yup, the complete album - it was that compelling. D'you ever do that with your audiobuddies, or is it the same 3 tracks from the same 3 records ?

Arrestingly, unspeakably impressive. Roger Herbert is one crafty designer... I didn't know electronics could get out of the way like his do, and let the music speak as though through that elusive "straight wire, with gain". Bravo !!

While I can only D R E A M of having all that world-class gear at my personal command, the good news is, the crucial front end source for this amazing lesson is The humble and Mighty Lenco. ("Hey, I'm making one of those right now...") And if it ain't in the source, you can't make it up further down stream.

Thanks again and again and again to the Lenco Brotherhood, for the gift of Knowledge & Friendship. I almost missed this group... it was a random search that dropped me into Da Thread - and curiosity in what the H*ll that Jean Guy was blathering on and on and on about - that made me stick long enough to be converted. Now I'm poised for Everlasting LP Happiness. My L75 project is underway, and with the benefit of all your collective experience, I'll steer clear of many pitfalls.

Three Cheers and Vive la Lenco, Vive la Idler-Wheel!!!
Grant

Hmmm... and OOPS.

What strange double-post phenomenon is this ? Not my intent to have the message repeated in the thread. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Grant

Hi Grant: the post Audiogon found so nice, they posted it twice! I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't a bar up in the A'Gon control room ;-). Thanks for stepping forward with corroboration of that amazing experience a while back, offering a window into the Lenco experiences up here in the Great White North (especially white this weekend with an ongoing snowstorm)! Thanks to Oregon too for his unfailing energy, support and enthusiasm!

You're welcome Kravi4ka, and good luck with your project! You're not too far from my yearly summer peregrinations. I hired a lovely Bulgarian singer to work with me in that bar on Rhodes Srajan mentioned, her husband working the front disco bar (mine was more MUSIC-oriented, of course ;-)). They were a great couple, and she got into the work with great spirit. The bar's theme song was The Pink Panther, and somehow, playing that song always turned the flame up high on the party/business. She didn't question it, and whenever things got quiet she would come to me and say "Play the Pink Panther." No sooner the opening bars came on, the doors would burst open an a crowd stream in, like magic, every time. I've since bought the LP, and the music is terrific, and the recording fabulous!

As to making history, the review is another step in my original War to have the Lenco/Idler recognized as the Truly Great and Mighty system it is (the first being Da Thread, made a success and possible by all those intrepid participants over the years), in fact The Best, though a mighty indirect baby step, as it won't be compared with other vinyl spinners, or in a vinyl context, but instead be inserted into an all-digital system, and auditioned by an all-digital Man. A very very serious all-digital system. In fact, a perfect test of my claims of Lencos/idlers and the importance of and performance in speed stability over the years. The Lenco/Idler phenomenon continues to grow and expand due to its, indeed, actual, in-practice, tested and proven, Mightiness. The Lenco, again as developed by all the participants of Da Thread/s over the years (and I have UTTER faith in it) will be undergoing its first baptism by fire!! An interesting experiment, dontcha think? And, perhaps MOST importantly (at least to me), I'll get to sip drinks on the beach on my way to somewhere/something interesting, and on my way FROM somewhere/something interesting :-). Getting back to music, as the Aerosmith song says, "Life's a Road, not a destination" (often featured in that bar :-)). And who knows where on that road the Mighty Lenco will go?

Enjoy your Lencos all, and all the other idlers out there! Time to start testing combos with the Lenco/RS Labs and get to work!

Hey Grant,

That was fun! And in two-track mono to boot. Your primal skepticism only lends credible weight to the chorus – a mass constrained sandwich in its on right. Not many months back, when the three of us were together, you continued to ask pointed, in-depth questions of Jean about many facets in audio. Of course, our savant host had an answer for just about everything. Lazily, after finding my ears agreeing with all Jean’s other audio recommendations that I’ve been able to try (Petra ICs, Athena budget speakers, V-FET solid state), I’ve found it very economical, just to sit back and reap the benefits on this road to stellar music listening.

But Grant, you’re an excellent and fun writer and this was a treat. Since you’ve made me privy to some pics of your Mighty plinth build, I can see that this is going to be one heck-of-a Lenco.

- Mario

Greetings Mario, fellow adventurer down the Audio Path and fellow amateur historian/archaeologist. Thanks for the kind words.

Time to address some of the usual misleading and distorted postings out there, provoked by the Preview, and to learn something of the scientific process in the bargain! Part of the reason I believe in the Scientific process, but often have serious doubts as to the Scientists who should be following them (who are often – but not always - to Science what the Enron accountants are to accountancy), is because of their often selective reasoning/consideration of the evidence...favouring of course whatever it is they choose to champion. Sort of like a certain forum’s (you all know which one) recent treatment of the 6moons Preview: the 6moons INTRO, CLEARLY marked as such, is in the PREVIEW section, and so is a PRE-view, not a RE-view. Nevertheless, it is there treated as a RE-view, the better to mock and denigrate it for....not being a Re-view after all. Nothing new here, as that forum has been the home, first of those who attacked any suggestion on my part that the Lenco was a serious ‘table, and now any suggestion that I ever battled there to have the Lencos and idlers taken seriously, that forum now dominated by DIY idler projects (due not only to my battles with what have now become Captain Idlers, but to the activities of two who followed the Home Despot/Lenco forum, Freek and Fred)! Take a look at this, from the early days of the thread:

“02-19-04: Musicus53
Hi, John

I just wanted to let you know that your fame (or in this case, infamy) is rapidly spreading since you've now a subject in the Vinyl Asylum! I thought the post about you was actually laughable, but I had to repond (as "Vinyldork"). I just hope a "deprogrammer" doesn't kidnap me now and convince me that Lencos are crap before I get to do the project! Some great links from bornin and I'm looking forward to the pics.

Don”

The denizens of that same forum (is it something in the water there?) – the one which, as the preceding post makes clear , evidently thought my promotion of the Lenco and idler-wheel drives was to be stopped and was laughable - NOW claims I never conducted the battles there I evidently did, to have the Lencos and the idlers recognized. Let’s have a look at another reference to that same forum for Old Times' sake :-):

“02-20-04: Rich121
Did you not read the posts? They basically repeated what I said in this thread earlier.... These are Lenco owners who posted... I'm talking about the posts on AA that Musicus53 reported. Obviosly, you did a search of AA to dig up the few positive posts, why don't you tell the truth, about the overwealming negative posts? That are from Lenco owners. Most every one that still owns a Lenco, says that it is only useable for old 78's because of the rumble (which you claim is not there!, Which you claim can be eliminated with a massive plinth...) What it amounts to, is your claiming that it will (plinth) defy physics and magically divert the rumble from the platter, to the plinth!!! What a joke!!!! The plinth is not even directly connected to the motor/idler wheel/platter.... it is connected to the plate, then the plate is connected to the motor, motor to idler wheel, to platter WHICH IS WHERE THE RUMBLE ENDS UP!!!”

Now Richard wasn’t lying here, I had to dig long and hard to find ANY positive mentions of the Lencos, because any such mentions were quickly punished by Yahoo-like avalanches of abuse, and they learned to keep their heads low (as on all forums at the time, though not with that Yahoo-like intensity characteristic of that particular forum). Apparently things don’t change, and neither do their ways, three years down the road. Some of the less rabid on that forum should begin to think about cleaning up over there.

For the literate (those who can tell the difference between “Pre” and “Re”), one could also consider Swift’s “Yahoos”, he evidently had these types in mind which existed in his day 300 years ago, as they do in ours: “Several of this cursed brood getting hold of the branches behind, leaped up into the tree; from whence they began to discharge their excrements on my head: however, I escaped pretty well, by sticking close to the stem of the tree, but was almost stifled with the filth, which fell about me on every side.”

To show further examples of this type of selection, they – again Yahoo-like – select my early plinths for mockery and denigration - which I let stand to constructively encourage amateurs to join in and feed the Idler Ranks, and which Srajan selected with no argument from me (thus disproving any ego issues on my part, as I might have asked him to post some of my better efforts: the top Lenco is Willbewills - say Hi! - and the centerpiece is Tom's) – and carefully avoid mentioning or displaying the later plinths which have been up posted under my “system” on Audiogon for months now. Then, following the same utter lack of logic (but a very fine sense of prejudice and pettiness), they charge me with having too large an ego! Not that they get away with it: for while they egg each other on and thus think themselves clever, I receive regular e-mails from frequenters of that forum, informing me of the latest antics of the “court jesters” and “the usual suspects” (and thanks for the info all, but truly, I’d rather not know ;-)).

Any who are interested in witnessing the antics of these Yahoos, or practicers of selective consideration of the evidence, go ye over on that forum, and check out the 6moons thread, and identify them! Then, simply as a spectator sport, watch for their next postings whenever my name – or Lencos – comes up. A very interesting lesson in a certain type of human behaviour, and an excellent example of what I am talking about re. certain scientists' selective consideration of the evidence, and other techniques used over the years, such as: claim a statement which was never made was made (just like deliberately taking a "Preview" and presenting it as a "Review," to then take issue with it), and then attack the statement to discredit the individual! I have seen these tactics – and many more - used in the history of science (of which I am an avid student), and in the 20th century and the 21st century too.

And now, let's get back to Lencos and away from spelling and dictionary lessons, to Mightiness, Hyperbole, and Political Correctness (yes, one of my favourite subjects because one of the biggest problems). Many have accused me of hyperbole (of course) because I make "outrageous statements" with respect to the Lenco, and this, of course, offends the Politically Correct (and provides an excellent handle for certain Yahoos to focus on). But, as Grant so courageously pointed out, the statements are NOT, after all, exaggerations, since they are accurate descriptions of the Reality of the Lenco. Let's look at the question in terms of logic: the Upper Limits of the Lenco have not yet been found. In fact, so far, the Lenco has CLEARLY beaten all comers up to $20K in the Land of Belt-drives (haven`t had tests higher than this...yet, though I am slowly Climbing the Ladder), and even some very Scary Classics like the EMTs (even the BEST of the EMTs). So, given the Upper Limits have not been found, then how is it even possible to hyperbolize?!? Ergo, they are NOT hyperbole.

Dare to Think the Unthinkable you watchers out there: what if I'm right?!? What if, after all, Idler-Wheel systems ARE the Superior System?!? How else to explain the incredible success Lencos and idlers are having out there, despite the over-engineering of many of the current belt-drives, after THREE years. It's not because they suck, uh-uh. Gadzooks! Could I, after all, be right?!? Of course, the Yahoos won't like that one bit, as then some serious amounts of egg would be flowing from their collective faces, so you can bet they will oppose the Unstoppable Lenco Juggernaut (as they already are), in order to avoid the destiny they (NOT me) have carved out for themselves, to be an ugly little footnote in history as....Yahoos.

YOU BET I'm gonna make this review happen, and place my destiny in the hands of the Audio Gods and roll the Audio Dice (I've never heard the phono stage to be used, and don't know which cartridge will be provided, for one).

Though I have often thought to simply abandon the whole Idler/Lenco thing and let the very persistent and tireless Yahoos (what IS their diet?..I gotta get me some) have their "victory" (elimination of me from my own history/activities/achievements, and theft of the same), I also am fundamentally unable to let it happen, and am doomed, dammit (I often wish it weren't so), to battle (though I had hoped, very FAINTLY hoped, knowing what I do about the often ugly history of the development of science - silly me - it would be about evidence and logic). When Bob asked me if he could approach some magazines on my behalf, I told him to go ahead, secure in the knowledge I wouldn't have to take on this burden/pressure (and as the Yahoos demonstrate, it is a burden) as no magazine would touch me with a ten-foot pole. I here take the opportunity to post the relevant parts of the e-mails:

From: Jean Nantais [mailto:ripplefritz@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 5:59 PM
To: Bob Olson
Subject: RE: Riggle VTAF

"Hi Bob,

Yep, pretty busy these days, but I don't think one of my Lencos will ever get reviewed, too much of a threat to the industry."

"Jean,

Geez, 7 or 8 turntables in one year - and I thought I was extravagant moving up to two tone arms! You may well be right that no one in the mainstream audio press would review the Lenco. But if anyone would, it's Srajan Ebaen of 6moons.

Bob"

It turns out Bob was right. It is also damned exciting stuff - this is the stuff of LIFE! (I think I'm gonna faint ;-)) - and we, Lenco followers ALL, owe Bob a big thank you! It turns out he read both Srajan and I exactly right. Had I known that I would have told Bob "NO!", but, here we are, heading into the perhaps-Great Unknown. Feel the adrenaline, Home Despot threaders!! Now, where IS that suntan lotion?!?