2. analog
  3. 1224544234

idler wheel vs direct drive technics impressions

I just purchased on Audiogon from a great 'goner in San Jose, Kurt, the lenco l-75 idler driven turntable which had been heavily modified by Jean Natais with a beautiful cherry plinth. The tt is set with a rega rb-700 tonerarm and a shelter 501mk2 low output mc cartridge.

I can only give a very preliminary comparison of the lenco l-75 versus my other turntable the technics sl-12105mg.

I thoroughly enjoyed the technics directdrive turntable driven by a well regarded benz micro ace low output cartridge. I think in many ways its the perfect low budget table. It provides accurate speed, ample bass, easy to use, inexpensive, and provides for numerous upgrades. I upgraded mine with a tonearm dampen kit and a better turntable mat.

The lenco l-75 is using a new shelter 501 mk2 cartridge which is a highly regarded under $1,000 cartridge. Since the cartridge is still breaking in my observations are merely preliminary. The tonerarm and cartridge have only been set tentatively until the cartridge is fully broken in. At that point I will have it professionally set with proper vta and stuff like that since I am not an expert in these matters and want it done optimally.

Even at the outset one can readily tell that the Lenco is a superb sounding tt with a wonderful sense of rhythm, ease of use, with wonderful imaging and soundstaging.

Many people seem to think that you must go with belt drive or direct drive but the idler seems to me to be the perfect combination of the two. It does not have the speed issues that belts sometimes do (nor need belt replacements) but has better separation of the platter from the plinth than most budget direct drive units. The original lenco l-75 did not have the heavy plinth necessary to optimize the sound but the custom modified ones that you can buy from people like jean natais or make yourself avoids the pitfalls of the original units. The Lenco like the Garrard tt's are a less expensive logical evolution from the technics without spending a lot of bucks. Its nice to know you don't need to spend $10,000 on a tt and tonerarm to get even more analog glory than the tecnics. I would reiterate that I think the Technics is a no brainer purchase in the $1,500 and below category. I think the Technics was better than my previous $6,000 Marantz reference sa-7s1 cd player (albeit not nearly as good as my current playback designs cd player which is better than even the exalted emm labs equipment I used to own)

audiohifila
audiohifila OP
51 posts
 
Gadfly, not sure I understand the linkage comment

Stringreen, I set my speakers and then my dealer came and set it up for good once the speakers had broken in and it sounds much better. I have great equipment with the darteel and a dedicated listening room and at least want to use a professional setup the tt and then I can tweak it from there for personal taste but at least then I have a baseline....if I knew someone who was in LA who was not a pro but was a grizzled analog vet to help me would love that but last time I tried to buddy up a local angeleno 'goner to maybe help he ignored me (even after I true to bribe him with free lunch at local restaurant
oregon
828 posts
 
Audiohifilia,
Congrats on a fine turntable! I have several Lencos and I must admit, I sometimes feel frustrated trying to explain why the Lenco is so darn good. As you state so well-superb, locked in speed, which translates to fantastic pace and rhythm.
I'm baffled by the " Lenco having more linkage than the other idlers" comment. The Lenco has minimal parts (linkage), it is simple, well executed Swiss engineering powered by an extremely powerful motor. As you say, a good heavy plinth is essential to absorb any vibration.
I've rebuilt many Lencos. They are works of beauty. I've seen other idlers- Garrards and Thorens- it is a mindboggling site of gears, belts, wheels, everything but the kitchen sink.
Like most Lenco converts, I'm certain you will fall in love with your LP collection all over again.
Enjoy and thanks for the post.
gadfly's avatar
gadfly
194 posts
 
Here is the linkage under my Thorens TD111: http://home.comcast.net/%7Eomaille/audio/TD111/before3.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/%7Eomaille/audio/TD111/before2.jpg

Here is the linkage under a Lenco:
http://wegavision.pytalhost.com/lencoL75/lenco11.jpg

It appears to have more vibrating parts.
lewm
13,318 posts
 
I own both a Lenco in a "giant direct-coupled" plinth and a Garrard 301 chassis. I've not yet auditioned the Garrard 301, since it has no plinth. In comparing the Lenco to the Garrard and Thorens TD124 on paper, it seems to me that each is different from the other in important ways. The Lenco idler drives the platter in the vertical plane, so there's no eccentric pressure on the outer rim and hence the bearing. But on the other hand, there is the potential for a scrubbing effect where the circumference of the idler contacts the underside of the platter. The only potential vibrating parts are the idler arm and perhaps the mechanical brake, which many people remove. Jean Nantais recently remarked on the beneficial effects of firmly anchoring the idler arm to minimize its tendency to waver. The Garrard idler drives the rim in the horizontal plane and does have a lot of metal parts in its chassis, which however seem very robust. Mark Kelly has advised an adjustment to the eddy current brake that reduces its ability to be a source of noise. The Thorens uses a belt to drive an idler wheel, as I understand it. In my brief listening experiences with the TD124, I did not think it provided a very lively sound, but otherwise, I know little about it. I am soon going to have the opportunity to compare my Lenco to a Technics SP10 MkII, using the same tonearm and cartridge on each table. I look forward to the experience.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Have it professionally set up BUT only if you are sure that the person knows exactly what they are doing. I use to be an audio dealer and set up a lot of them. But I don't see as well now and would have mine set up if I knew someone good. But be warned, there are "experts" who couldn't set up a folding chair. I well remember the customer who proudly brought in his table and told me a dealer had set it up with a distortion analyzer. I was suspicious and checked it with a cartaline [alignment protractor]. It was about as far out of alignment as it was possible to get. Nevertheless, the customer forbade me to touch it on the grounds that I didn't have a distortion analyzer. It was customers like this that who drove me to declare that if I ever opened another audio business I would call it PBS audio, from the Biblical Injunction, Cast , etc. If you want to do it yourself make sure you have the proper tools. With the protractors I use I find it helpful to use masking tape to fasten the platter in one place so you can't jog it while lowering the stylus onto the protractor, but more modern ones may not require this.
More to discover