Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II

We are waiting for the Messiah.
Meantime, you could go to Lenco Heaven.

Gentlemen,

My Panzerholz plinthed Lenco project is completed and for all those who might be interested in exploring less travelled roads in terms of plinth materials (not the usual birch ply or slate), I can suggest you to read the following: http://lenco.reference.xooit.fr/t551-damping-factors.htm
Interesting things there ;-)

F.

...or listen to records...

Arthur Salvatore has posted his preliminary impressions from critical listening to a tweaked, rebearinged and replinthed (looks like a Jean Nantais) Lenco idler-drive turntable, with a Graham Phantom II arm.

Salvatore has already reported that the Lenco/Graham was a better turntable than the Forsell, his longtime reference and itself no slouch.

Excerpts:

"I feel it is "highly probable" that the Lenco/Graham is the finest turntable/tonearm combination I've ever heard in my system (or anywhere else for the matter)...

"...At any one time, I have heard the Lenco/Graham Phantom II outperform, or at least equal, every other turntable/tonearm combination in my experience, at any price, and in every single sonic parameter. In fact, there is not one area where I can criticize it, when I have heard it at its best (with maybe the possible exception of lateral width, but only "maybe"). I find this state of affairs both amazing and inspiring.

"However, it is also important to state this contrasting fact: I have still yet to hear this combination do everything, at its best, all at the same time. This is why I am so frustrated, and also hesitant to make a definitive declaration. Still, I am confident that I can, eventually, and with some help, achieve this complete optimization. When I do, the critical details will be revealed and the highly deserved celebrations can begin, because it will indeed be an audio achievement to celebrate."

Of course, this virtually guarantees that those reviewers who are Salvatore enemies will try out a box-stock 1960 Bogen B-61 with an old slipping idler wheel and say it sounds like a 1950s kiddie phono compared to their latest monstrosity with a price into six figures.

Or they will assume the ostrich position ("I don't see how...") without LISTENING.

In any event, prices of Lencos are about to rise.

References: Salvatore's site

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RECENT.html

Lenco Heaven:

http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=2348.75

Dear Gp49, Have you seen a photo of the actual tt that Salvatore is listening to? If so, does it retain the original Lenco chassis, or has the chassis been ditched in favor of the Peter Reinder's PTP? I ask because I think the PTP makes a big improvement, bigger than any replacement bearing or after-market idler wheel, provided the original bearing and idler wheel are in primo condition. IOW, Salvatore may not yet have heard the best possible iteration of the Lenco. With the PTP, you don't get day to day changes in speed if everything is fastened down as it should be. And of course the motor is much better isolated from the bearing and platter.