Aisip, first of all, while I am not sure what is your first language, I wish that my second (Spanish) and third (German) languages were as fluent as your English! Thanks for the review of the Spacedeck. Having owned mine for some time now, I would concur with your evaluation in nearly all respects. It is a most dynamic table that has that very low noise floor that you mention (my epiphany in that regard, so to speak, was hearing the spittle crackling on Art Peppers sax reed while at the same time being able to hear the subtlety of the valves popping open!). I think that many of the Spacedecks virtues stem from a very good and accurate bearing assembly and the provision of very stable speed control.
I am most intrigued by your mention of the tweaking you have done. I should probably just e-mail you, but maybe other Spacedeck owners will benefit from the following discourse regarding each of the excellent points you raise.
a) I agree that, not unlike many tables, one is better served by replacing the stock mat. I am using the Mystic Mat, which is very similar, indeed, to the BA Mat1. Ringmats, cork mats, etc., do not seem to work as well as the stock mat, but the graphite mats are just excellent.
b) I imagine that the Spacedeck looks very nice atop that piano black base! I tried my Spacedeck, with and without the stock plinth, atop a 2 maple cutting board that provides the base for a DIY wall unit that I constructed. I initially liked mine best sitting directly on top of the maple (without the stock plinth) until I purchased a set of three brass cones and pucks from Ed Soler (esoler) here on Audiogon. As you likely know, the three contact pads under the three support pods on the Spacedeck form a nearly exact 10 equilateral triangle. I first found the point at which the pivot arm support pad rested atop the stock plinth, when positioned appropriately, and scribed a mark on the bottom of the plinth at that point. Then, I marked three points to form the same 10 equilateral triangle and used these points to position the brass cones. Finally, with the cones and pucks between the maple and the stock plinth, I placed the table with the support pods directly over the cones. This made a subtle but noticeable improvement by providing even more air and firming up the bass a bit more.
c) I agree, never skimp on the arm. With any table, really. Good to hear that you are having such success with the Twl-modded Silver. There are a good number of arms that find worthy homes on the Spacedeck and it is exceedingly flexible in accepting a variety of different arms WITHOUT drilling a new arm board. One can obtain adapter rings of various sizes to allow individual arms to fit the arm pod collet for about $30US.
d) OVERWHELMING KUDOS to you for mentioning this tweak. In fact, one of us should suggest this to Tom Fletcher as a stock item. I fretted and stewed about the wiggle of the threads in the tapped holes when adjusting for levelness until I recalled the same situation with speaker spikes. I used nylon nuts on mine and it is a MAJOR, MAJOR improvement for just pennies.
The only point at which we slightly diverge is the mention of the new, thicker platter. I have heard the Spacedeck with and without the thicker platter and dont feel that it makes too much, if any, difference. I have a suspicion, though, that this is dependent upon setup and the arm/cartridge employed. I found the platter about the same, but ONLY when using the graphite mat. Without the mat, the thicker platter was the clear winner. I have a hunch that the graphite dissipates resonance sufficiently before the platter comes into play. At any rate, my opinion is that one not shy away from buying a used Spacedeck that did not have the thicker platter.
My next foray into tweaking will be to try a DC power supply. Will let you know how THAT works out.
Thanks again for the review. Very informative.
I am most intrigued by your mention of the tweaking you have done. I should probably just e-mail you, but maybe other Spacedeck owners will benefit from the following discourse regarding each of the excellent points you raise.
a) I agree that, not unlike many tables, one is better served by replacing the stock mat. I am using the Mystic Mat, which is very similar, indeed, to the BA Mat1. Ringmats, cork mats, etc., do not seem to work as well as the stock mat, but the graphite mats are just excellent.
b) I imagine that the Spacedeck looks very nice atop that piano black base! I tried my Spacedeck, with and without the stock plinth, atop a 2 maple cutting board that provides the base for a DIY wall unit that I constructed. I initially liked mine best sitting directly on top of the maple (without the stock plinth) until I purchased a set of three brass cones and pucks from Ed Soler (esoler) here on Audiogon. As you likely know, the three contact pads under the three support pods on the Spacedeck form a nearly exact 10 equilateral triangle. I first found the point at which the pivot arm support pad rested atop the stock plinth, when positioned appropriately, and scribed a mark on the bottom of the plinth at that point. Then, I marked three points to form the same 10 equilateral triangle and used these points to position the brass cones. Finally, with the cones and pucks between the maple and the stock plinth, I placed the table with the support pods directly over the cones. This made a subtle but noticeable improvement by providing even more air and firming up the bass a bit more.
c) I agree, never skimp on the arm. With any table, really. Good to hear that you are having such success with the Twl-modded Silver. There are a good number of arms that find worthy homes on the Spacedeck and it is exceedingly flexible in accepting a variety of different arms WITHOUT drilling a new arm board. One can obtain adapter rings of various sizes to allow individual arms to fit the arm pod collet for about $30US.
d) OVERWHELMING KUDOS to you for mentioning this tweak. In fact, one of us should suggest this to Tom Fletcher as a stock item. I fretted and stewed about the wiggle of the threads in the tapped holes when adjusting for levelness until I recalled the same situation with speaker spikes. I used nylon nuts on mine and it is a MAJOR, MAJOR improvement for just pennies.
The only point at which we slightly diverge is the mention of the new, thicker platter. I have heard the Spacedeck with and without the thicker platter and dont feel that it makes too much, if any, difference. I have a suspicion, though, that this is dependent upon setup and the arm/cartridge employed. I found the platter about the same, but ONLY when using the graphite mat. Without the mat, the thicker platter was the clear winner. I have a hunch that the graphite dissipates resonance sufficiently before the platter comes into play. At any rate, my opinion is that one not shy away from buying a used Spacedeck that did not have the thicker platter.
My next foray into tweaking will be to try a DC power supply. Will let you know how THAT works out.
Thanks again for the review. Very informative.