Setting up long term storage vinyl rig. Well Tempered Reference/ Zyx Airy 3 SB

[Tuckers]

So I am thinking of spinning up my vinyl rig. It has been sitting for almost 15 years (!).

I have a Well Tempered Reference, which I had tweaked over time to perform way above the general performance. What's nice is that apart from replacing the belt, and checking silicone in bearing, I don't think I need to do much to get it going. All the silicone looks to be the same viscosity it was, I don't think it ages much.

But I am wondering about the Zyx Airy 3 SB, it was probably halfway through its life when I mothballed it. As I remember it, it does not have a rubber connector to the cantilever (which was one of the selling points for me), so that may not be a problem. Is that true?? Any other potential problems apart from cleaning up connections and checking alignment???

Trying to keep costs low as I dip my toe back in. I will need a good phono stage as well.

I have become very interested in the Hoblo Mk II as an end game table, but would need several iterations before I get there.

 

[mtemur]

As I remember it, it does not have a rubber connector to the cantilever (which was one of the selling points for me), so that may not be a problem. Is that true??

I guess you mean the damper (elastomer) by "rubber connector". There is no stereo MC cartridge without an elastomer damper that I know of (I don't say that it doesn't exist).

IMHO ZYX airy 3 does have an elastomer damper as a part of it's suspension and it is most probably dried out in 15 years.

 

[Solypsa]

@Tuckers if you liked how it all sounded when you stopped using the setup then it makes sense to get the cart rebuilt and get started there. If you have lingering memories of not liking the cart then don't put money into it

As for phono stage any preferences based on past experience or current research?

 

[Tuckers]

if you liked how it all sounded when you stopped using the setup then it makes sense to get the cart rebuilt and get started there. If you have lingering memories of not liking the cart then don't put money into it

As for phono stage any preferences based on past experience or current research?

The combo of the WT Reference, which tended to be a bit dark and warm with the Airy3 which was a bit zippy and bright was a good pairing. I have about 10 hi rez digital recordings I made from my favorite records then, and I can still revisit those today and hear the 'sound' of that combo.

I will look into getting the cart rebuilt, I remember it generally costs about 50% of the original price to rebuild them? I guess my question would be for the price is there something modern that might be significantly better?

Well, the last phono preamp I had was the Shindo Catherine, I used it with this TT and a full Shindo TT/SPU setup. (I ultimately significantly preferred my tweaked Well Tempered rig.) I'm not going to access anything as rarified as that preamp these days, I LOVED the sound of that Shindo preamp.

These days, I won't consider tubes, I love them, but want to keep my gear running 24/7, and don't want the fiddling. I am definitely looking for something, probably used, that will also be easier to sell later, as what I choose will probably not be an endgame phono.

For analog, my musical tastes run vintage: classic Mercury Golden Sound, RCA Dynagroove, CBS three eye and five eye, Angel Recordings, London FFFR etc I prefer an old scratchy early pressing that has that ineffable 'life' to the sound that I don't hear with most reissues today. I am pretty old school So my preamp tastes probably go more to organic, flow, tone than analytical. A few phonos that have caught my eye:

KTE LCR-1 MK5 / MK5S – MC/MM/MI – LCR RIAA Phono Stage

Zyx Artisan

https://teddypardo.com/product/phn1-1-two-box-phono-stage/

 

[Solypsa]

will look into getting the cart rebuilt, I remember it generally costs about 50% of the original price to rebuild them? I guess my question would be for the price is there something modern that might be significantly better?

Get it rebuilt by a competent third party, cost will be small. Enjoy until you know whats next

 

[Bso]

Get it rebuilt by a competent third party, cost will be small. Enjoy until you know whats next

Who would you suggest is a competent third party to rebuild a MC? I heard that SoundSmith takes an inordinate amount of time, there is that fellow allied with VPI, a fellow in Australia, and someone in Connecticut who I think is on US AudioMart. If you sent it off now you'd probably get it back after you decide the phono preamp.

 

[audio.bill]

Who would you suggest is a competent third party to rebuild a MC? I heard that SoundSmith takes an inordinate amount of time, there is that fellow allied with VPI, a fellow in Australia, and someone in Connecticut who I think is on US AudioMart. If you sent it off now you'd probably get it back after you decide the phono preamp.

Andy Kim has a great reputation for offering quality retipping services with fair pricing and very quick service times.
https://phonocartridgeretipping.com/

 

[Solypsa]

@audio.bill agreed. Not sure if he does suspension as well but he might. VAS, Ana Mighty, Torlai....

 

[Yeti]

Ana Mighty Sound did a fine job on my Transfig Proteus including the suspension. The stylus profile was my choice, they offered the original too. Depends where you are in the world if that’s of any relevance to you.

 

[Tuckers]

I am in San Francisco, seems to be less options here.

 

[Solypsa]

Andy Kim mentioned above is your way, no?