2. analog
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Help with new Nottingham Spacedeck

I would appreciate help and/or advice from anyone willing. I am literally going crazy trying to figure out what’s wrong with my system. Let me preface this by saying that I am newer to analog. I started with a cheaper turntable (Project), loved the analog sound, accumulated many lp’s and decided to upgrade. Since I recently upgraded to the Nottingham Spacedeck, my system sounds thin and even overly bright at times. It didn’t sound like this with the project table. The details and soundstage seem there, but the sound always leaves me wanting more … I feel as if I went backward with this table. Perhaps it’s the cartridge on the table or maybe it’s a gain issue with my pre-amp( which is passive) or maybe my phono stage isn’t up to the task. My equipment is listed below. I am a college student who must save money to buy hi-fi gear so I am sort of upset that this table isn’t workin out.

Front-end: Nottingham Spacedeck/SpaceAce Arm with Nottingham Cart. # 1,Cambridge Audio 500se Cd player
Amp: Belles 150A
Pre-amp: Belles 8GR passive pre
Phono-stage: Project-tube box
Speakers: Totem Forest
Speaker cables: Straight-wire Rhapsody
hokiehi0
john_paul
3 posts
 
Here are a few more tips I learned that helped improve the performance of my Spacedeck.

A) Do not over-tighten any of the assembly fasteners, including the cartridge mounting screws. All the fasteners should be just tight enough to keep the deck together.

B) The distance from the outer edge of the motor pulley wheel to the platter should be about 6mm. The belt may seem too limp at this distance, but it works.

Hope this helps.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I Googled and couldn't find anything on it. Did you buy the cartrdige from this Nott' dealer? They should certainly be able to help.

If you post a picture on VA someone may recognize it. Good luck.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,151 posts
 
Good call Doug, I didn't even think of loading. I do think the Nott cartridges are MC and he may need to load it down a little. That would certainly explain the thin sound he is experiencing.

Oz
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
The "Nottingham" cartridges are named "Tracer" cartidges and look for all the world to me to be based on a Goldring body. The Tracers are MM cartridges. I once had a Tracer 3 and it was pretty damn decent. You should NOT be getting a bright or thin sound out of either the Spacedeck OR the Tracer cartridge even if the VTA is off by a ton. Sorry, I'm not sure at this point of the elsewhere, but I'd suspect you should look elsewhere.

If you want more info, contact 'Not because the US distributor ASL group will likely provide little. To the best of my recollection, the output is around 3 mV and tje VTF about the 1.75-2.00 range.
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