Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II

Just a brief post to say that the mighty Lenco L75 rebuild recently completed smokes my Micr-Seiki RX-5000 and my heavy plinthed Technics SP 10 Mk2. Second best upgrade to my system after rooom treatment.

I will try and post pics and a more lengthy description plus trials and tribulations over the weekend. Currently playing a ZYX UNIverse on a Triplanar V11 thru rebuilt Sonic Frontiers phono 1, Line 3, Power 3's and Focal/Raven sealed boxes with sealed 12" Shiva subs.

Steve in Ottawa

Hi all,
Work has been a lot lately and the only good thing was a small package from EIFL with a ,hm, weird but beautiful RS A1. Man, that device is strange, but I think I will like it a lot, it's a tweaker's dream and that is really what I like. But Tessera, are you just putting it on the plinth or do you position it below the plinth, underhang 19.6 mm? And how do you adjust VTF? I am still on a business trip and when I come back I will play with it a little more, can you please show some pictures of your setup, please? And have you tried it with different cartridges? I have a Denon 103 to try first before funds permit a Shelter 501... The other thing that I noticed was that the bronze cup of the bearing is somewhat very crude, there is no fine point that the spike can make a contact with, should I try and polish that? And is it removable-looks like it but I am not sure... If there is some info on how to set up this beast apart from the article at Enjoy The Music and Sakurasystems please share. Thanks for your posts on the RS A1, it really encouraged me to send the money and now the only thing I do is dream for a free weekend :))

Radialsteve, That's very encouraging news that the Lenco/Triplanar can best two such a hallowed analog ikons. I'm sitting here waiting for my re-plinthed Lenco (gloss black base with ruby red chassis) to arrive from the mighty Jean who posted it just before departure to Cyprus. My only concerns are or were regarding how the combo of a Lenco and Triplanar would work. I'm going to mount my Triplanar and Koetsu Urushi, as soon as the thing gets here, if customs will ever let it go.

Lewm, the best result so far has been with an SME V and a Kondo-IOj. I always thought the SME was a stellar performer but somehow lacking the 'soul' that allows you to feel the pace and rhythm or "being there" with the music. On the Lenco, the SME is a different arm and it truly brings out the best in the Kondo - such that no one element trumps any other in the presentation of the whole. I have a renewed respect now for the SME, especially when the damping is applied judiciously.
Steve

Hi Kravi4ka,
Congratulations on your excellent arm purchase. I am sure
that you will have years of enjoyment out of this beauty.
Yes, overhang is 19.6 mm, but you can also experiment. I
position the arm basically like JNantais does in his setups. Except that I may be positioned a little higher vertically as I use a round 3-4 mm rubber spacer under the base of the arm to keep it steady. I don't place the arm on the metal part of the Lenco. I rotated the table (like in JN's pictures)and place the arm on the plinth proper. See JN's Bauhaus Lenco. I did not make a separate arm cutout though, so the arm will rest on laqured MDF. I have some quarter inch bubunga hardwood to make an arm platform and an aluminum one as well as a pink ivory piece. I will experiment as to the best sounding one and laminate it on the plinth. I have a higher platform probably because the Shelter 501 is a taller cartridge. VTF is adjusted with a hex key at the base of the tonearm. Be careful when adjusting because the arm gets excited when things get set in motion and it does'nt take much to get the counterweight swinging and then the arm as it rests on the cup to swing.
Also,always remember that those little tonearm leads are what holds the whole contraption together, just don't force
them to support the weight of the arm by dangling one part. Always use two hands when you handle the arm. I like to grasp from on top at the bearing the armand base together
while supporting the bottom of the base with other hand.
I don't have a digital camera to post a picture. Sorry. I tried the arm with a factory modified benz silver before my 501 and it played better than when it was on a modified Rega. I have an OC 9 and a Rega Elys kicking around but ever since I mounted the 501 I have not bothered to hear these on the RS labs. As to polishing the cup, I have not done anything to mine. For set up info, I have the original papers included in the box, and basically they are the same as the Sakura info. On their website,look for the diagram
of thearm as seen from the top riding in an arc accross the record. Follow that at 19.6 underhang and your in business. The junction box that I had removed from the arm and wired direct was suggested by the designer of the arm
in Japan. I had requested from Yoshi the Sakura head guy a full four foot long arm lead to go directly to the pre.
He called the arms designer to order but he cannot supply that length. As an alternative he recomended to try the mod.After about 2 hours of breaking in it already sounds much more open and direct. Very very worth the effort and cost to do.
Start playing the arm and experiment with VTA, underhang,VTF to your hearts content. You will discover a whole new world of flexibility. For me it was my greatest upgrade. Well that and the Lenco that beat my Linn/Lingo which I am still trying to sell. Enjoy Kravi4ka.