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  3. 1037668126

Best Way to Use Turntable with System Cabinet

I'm wanting to get a cabinet for my system, which will consist of a preamp, tuner, CDP and turntable (amp seperate). I like Salamander's cabinets with the metal grills on the door and sides, for good air flow. This would be useful should I decide to put an integrated in it. Anyhow, the question is, how do you cabinet users work with a turntable? Do you put it on top of the cabinet? Do you have some sort of a drawer? I don't think a rack would work when it comes down to (the more politically correct) "spouse acceptance factor". Any advise greatly appreciated.
peter_s
twl
3,251 posts
 
Yes, Peter, the TT optimally should have its own stand, that is correctly designed for that type of TT. However, I often encounter situations such as yours where the person cannot accomodate the optimal arrangement. The answer here, is that you will make a trade-off. Either you will trade-off some of your decorating, or you will trade-off some of your sound. The most clever arrangement I've seen, was where a guy made a place that would fit his TT, inside the lower portion of his cabinet, and drilled holes through the bottom of the cabinet, so that the legs of the correct TT stand could go through the bottom of the cabinet, and contact the floor and no part of the cabinet. This allowed proper floor-coupling and rigid lightweight stand for the TT, and allowed him to enclose the unit for appearance purposes.
peter_s OP
1,348 posts
 
TWL - that is a cool idea that I will look into. I'm thinking of seeking out a local cabinet builder to make a custom cabinet. The rigid lightweight stand would need to have a relatively simple leg design. Anyone have any to recommend? Bob - I like your ideas too. I may throw out a few more questions once I have the cabinet thing resolved (e.g. a couple of months). Thanks, Peter
twl
3,251 posts
 
Peter, the very best stand that you could buy for your Linn LP12, is the Sound Organisation TT stand, that used to cost about $125. Don't know what it costs now. It is a very plain stand made from square section steel tubing, that has almost a cube shape. It is about 18" tall. This stand was made for the Linn LP12, and it is the best Linn TT stand ever made. I have personally done A/B listening tests with this stand, and without, and there was about a 10% increase in sound quality with the S.O. stand, than on an any other stand tried. Tall equipment racks full of gear, and credenzas were the worst. Also, even though there is a set of bottom rungs on the S.O. stand that could be used as a lower shelf, nothing should be put on it. If you could get a S.O. stand, and incorporate that inside your cabinetry, in the way I previously described, it would give best sound, and fit into your decor.

PS- Always have the dustcover completely removed from the LP12 when playing. It has better sound without the dustcover on it. If you have the TT enclosed in the cabinet, then just put the dustcover in a box, and leave it off forever.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
I really wish I had the room for a stand; had a chance to get a deal on a Lead Balloon but unfortunately I had to pass. If I could only convince the wife to do away with her video monitor then I'd be able to fit in a stand, but it'll be a cold day before that ever happens & she's a wonderfully supportive audiophile wife so...
The idea behind a dedicated stand is to couple directly to the large & quiet mass of the floor. Lacking that alternative I chose to isolate the big heavy Black Diamond shelf & couple to that as my deadmass. That's the theory anyway, but I have never compared to the performance of a stand.
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