Bottlehead Forum
Other Gear => Phono => Topic started by: Pfenning on December 17, 2014, 04:55:08 AM
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Does anyone have experience with these tables or cartridges? It should arrive later this week, and I was wondering if anyone had any setup tips or tricks for me.
Pfenning
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I have one, not much different in the setup of these than in other turntables. Give it some time to settle, at first I could here the motor but that went away in a week or so. I went ahead and bought the speed box, and upgraded the platter, that really makes a big difference (no more manual speed changes) and that may have quieted done the motor.
I have mine in a granite sandbox, dancing doesn't seem to affect it. Whatever shelf you use should be sturdy.
The bias weight fishing line is a little short for my liking, but that's just a preference. I had plans to upgrade the cartridge but the Ortofon Red sounds pretty good and I haven't seen the need yet.
Not many tips but I would recommend the speedbox and a good sturdy vibration platform.
Alonzo
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Thanks Alonzo, I'm glad to hear you like it. I have been looking at the speed box. I'll try it stock first, then possibly add it.
Pfenning
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Hi Pfenning,
I used to own one and it sounded pretty well. But when I realized that I wanted to start upgrading my rig, I sold it and got a Pro-Ject Xpression Classic it came with a Sumiko Pearl (I thought it sounded just ok), I upgraded this turntable with a speedbox and a new cartridge a Dennon DL-103R and now I think I will stop and just sit and enjoy.
A good upgrade to your Carbon would be the acrylic platter, the speedbox, and you could swap the 2M red needle to a 2M Blue Needdle (they use the same body).
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Thanks for the information. If you have to choose one, would you pick the platter or the speedbox?
Pfenning
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Thanks for the information. If you have to choose one, would you pick the platter or the speedbox?
Pfenning
I´ll go with the Speedbox, instead of the Acrylic platter you could get a Cork mat.
Enjoy your TT!
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I'm using a homemade record mat currently. It's a layer of dynamat glued to a layer of cork. I didn't even try the mat supplied with the table, it is a felt material that is about as thin as toilet tissue. ;D I might pick up a speedbox, but the table sounds pretty darn good right now. I have it set up in my hobby room, and I listened to it for about 10 hours yesterday while I wrapped some presents, and finished up a guitar that needs a new home. I have it plugged into a vintage Marantz 2215 (15 watts), driving some bookshelf speakers. It's a pretty great system for what it is. In the right room, it could be a seriously great system. I picked up that Marantz for $20 at the thrift store quite a few years ago, and I'll be hoarding as many of those as I can for the right price. It needs a little service, some lights are burned out, and there is a small hum in the left channel. Nothing that can't be fixed. I'll try and get a picture to post.
Pfenning
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wow that Dynamat/Cork Mat sound so interesting, you did it by yourself?
The marantz 2215 looks great when all the lights are working, you should restore it!!
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Yep. It was easy because the dynamat is adhesive on one side. I used cork from Hobby Lobby or one of those craft stores like that. I stuck them together and piled some weight on top for a week or so. Then I cut the center hole with a 1/4 pin punch, and a wood block with a 5\16 hole in it. Then I used a string to mark the OD circle, and carefully cut it out with an exacto knife. Overall the thickness is just over 1\8". Cheap and easy.
Pfenning
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and where did you get the Dynamat? autoparts shop?
it sounds easy to build, I think I´ll try it later...
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I got mine at the car audio shop in our town. It's a dense rubber product.
Pfenning
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Here's a couple pictures of my setup. Nothing fancy, but it works great.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi156.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft23%2Fpfenningv%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2FD25570A2-45C6-4133-8D05-FD70BB422847_zpsf6lsloe8.jpg&hash=5ebb2a6c1b9554392fd15f516e086a90cc00f912) (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/pfenningv/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D25570A2-45C6-4133-8D05-FD70BB422847_zpsf6lsloe8.jpg.html)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi156.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft23%2Fpfenningv%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2A1FAD57-74A5-46E7-AE14-33F1DCAFDBFA_zpsibrg7ubg.jpg&hash=b850e0223711afd585e3f15dd44cc15aa1a5e27f) (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/pfenningv/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2A1FAD57-74A5-46E7-AE14-33F1DCAFDBFA_zpsibrg7ubg.jpg.html)
Pfenning
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I used to sell the Marantz 2215 back in the Hey Day of Marantz transistor amps. It weighs a lot more than 100X5 WPC AV receivers today. It is rugged stuff.
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After listening to this 2215, I would love to grab a 2250 or 2275. 15 watts on mildly efficient book shelf speakers is quite impressive.
Pfenning
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Also using a Spin Clean here, I picked what I thought was up a pre owned one a few months ago when it arrived it had never been used ;D
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I think it works pretty good. I also vacuum my records dry with a record doctor vacuum.
Pfenning