KAB modded Technics 1210

I'm glad you brought this up, as I also have an M5G and am happy as all get-out with it.

For some of the questions asked and that will probably be asked in this thread, consult this A-gon review by Ed Kobesky. The thread started over 3 years ago but has had contributions up to this past May. The thread has 104 contributions, and some are about the damping trough, the outboard power supply, and even Origin Live's Rega adapter armboard.

Pay particular attention to A-goner Zaikesman's contributions. He has a very high end system overall, but still uses the SL1200 he bought in 1983. His contributions provide info on the trough and the outboard PSU. In fact, he may have been the first customer for the power supply unit.

I have some comments of my own:

1. I just got the trough about 4 wks ago. I found that (at least with my Denon DL-160) filling the trough about 1/3 is just right. I started at more like 60% and it was overdamped there. I REALLY like the sound of the turntable with the damper now. The music is very focused, yet still plenty lively with excellent transients and a lower noise floor.

2. I got an M5G (from Guitar Center) because it was cheaper than getting an SL1200 Mk2 plus tonearm rewire. Yesterday I extensively listened to a well-matched CD and LP (Pat Metheny's digitally recorded "Question and Answer"). My CD player's interconnects are single-crystal six-9s copper Audioquest. Switching back and forth between the CD player and the turntable, I can confidently say that the M5G's stock (but upgraded over the mk2 or mk5) tonearm/interconnect wire is on a par with my CD interconnects. I didn't feel that the turntable gave anything up to the CD player in speed, transparency, smoothness, frequency extension, coherency, or anything else you upgrade wiring for. Now I am totally happy and confident with the M5G wire.

If you don't want to spring for the time and/or expense of KAB's threaded clamp, his rubber $24.95 clamp will do just fine. It works really well, it will clamp even the littlest bit of remaining spindle, and it noticeably lowers the noise floor, particularly dropping surface noise.

You are not crazy; the SL1210 M5G is a good-sounding turntable and can be made to sound like a *really nice* turntable with the fluid damper, the right record mat, a Sumiko headshell, and vibration damping/isolating platform or feet. I look forward to spinning records every day, and enjoy the music emanating from this rig immensely.

Since I started this, let me try to hit the questions broached thus far bearing in mind my frame of reference has always been the venerable Linn LP12, now so costly it hurts:

So, what does the KAB power supply in conjunction with the Isonoe feet bring to the party? Bass is far more tuneful than before. This is hugely important to me. Frankly, I find tuneful bass to be the cornerstone of music-making. The Linn gets this right. The Technics, with the 2 mods mentioned, does too.

Further, I'm finding (hearing) stuff buried in the mix that catches me by surprise (in a good way, that is-it's all connected to the music, not pulled apart from it). This suggests the mods mentioned above help the TT and arm draw stuff off the record in a more facile fashion.

Finally, the musicians sound like they are more in the groove (more in the pocket). This is what it is all about, folks.

I have the damping trough installed. I will not talk about that mod because I have not been motivated to fill the trough just yet. The TT is so blowing my mind right now, I'm just leaving it alone for a while.

I need to add, this TT is being used currently with the KAB Stanton MM cart. I've used my table with a Shelter MC and it is better still.

What platter mat am I using? Standard Technics mat that was supplied by Kevin. I also own the Herbie's but, with the 2 new mods, have not ventured into Herbie's world at this time. It will improve the Tech mat. It did before. I see no resaon it will not with the 2 new mods.

I hope this helps. I'm not a hifi writer, just a music fan who (I think) knows a good product when I hear one.

TVAD- Yes, your deduction is fair to say as I have not independently auditioned the PS/Isonoe feet. The TT, as currently constituted, kills is what I will say. Perhaps not scientific enough for some, but I'm not a lab.