Trans Fi Salvation rim drive tt and Terminator air-bearing linear tracking arm

spiritofmusic · Apr 15, 2022

After a little bit of deliberation, have gone w Stacore CLD footers incorporating M12 threaded rods to replace stock ceramic rollerballs under the Permali/Aluminium plinth. Recent changes have been so positive, good chance these will be as well.
Kind of full circle to the first meaningful change to my analog rig back in the heady days of nearly 5 years ago, the Stacore Advanced vibration isolation platform.

spiritofmusic · May 7, 2022

Just installed the three CLD Stacore footers using M12 threads to replace the stock metal/generic ceramic rollerballs footers.
Very impressed w the machining and apparent quality of these Stacore babies, they certainly weigh enough compared to the feather light stock jobbies.
Using Decca box Brahms Complete Works For Solo Piano, and Violin/Piano featuring Julius Katchen, Josef Suk and Jean-Pierre Marty. Well, I could have gone Black Sabbath/4, but thought, no, some nuance, decorum and delicacy better as a test.
Not gonna claim any epiphanies (I'm epiphany'd out over the last few years). No, this change is an evolutionary or refining one, after the more dramatic changes wrought first by Stacore platform, then SOTA motor/Farad LPS, and most recently, the Permali/Aluminium plinth upgrades.
If I had any minor criticism of the plinth change it was that a small but discernable level of stridency entered my sound, noticeable mainly on stuff like this Brahms where fast piano strikes had a slightly hard character. But was a hint rather than a spoiler, and everything else so much improved.
So upon fitting the Stacore footers, was interesting to return to these Brahms LPs.
Immediately noticeable that stridency is much less marked. Piano strikes maintain percussiveness, but hardening up much less, even in fast runs. I'd call this an extra level of calm, in live classical there's no feeling notes are clashing even at full throttle. Much more the case here now.
Allied to this is much greater natural warmth in the sound...not the cloying comfort blanket I've heard with some cartridges and tubed amps and cables. No, this is just a subtle but welcome reproduction of tone density and texture, at no penalty on slurring or slowing tempos.
Last difference is somewhat greater seperation of instruments, less congesting. So I'm getting much greater resolution of the piano and violin as individual instruments, but at no compromise to the holistic presentation.
Or piano WITH violin, not piano SEPERATE FROM violin.
So, a really nice uptick in warmth, texture, staging, less stridency. All round another home run from Stacore, to add to the solid gold effects of their Advanced Platform.

Audiophile Bill · May 7, 2022

For Marc:

spiritofmusic · May 7, 2022

No Bill, for everyone else lol. I already know what they look like here. And critically, sound like. Cheers, my friend.

spiritofmusic · May 11, 2023

My decade-long evolution on *Salvation rim drive/Terminator air LT/Straingauge system* analog front end took a really dramatic, beyond positive uptick recently.
I've been working very hard to reduce noise in my system, from wholesale attention to tubes in my preamp and big 211s in my power amps, to moving my balanced transformer and LT arm air pump as far away from me as possible, one or two walls intervening, and caps overhaul in my amps.
This has provided big dividends, as has the change to Permali plinth w Stacore footers, the improved material construction of updated LT arm (incl superior silver Litz wire change), stylii changes and bespoke Straingauge LPS, more accurate and torquier motor drive, and the venerable Stacore bulletproof isolation.
A few days I ago I installed an upgraded Sablon Bocchino power cord, silver Prince to my Straingauge cartridge energizer LPS.
I'm not sure what I was expecting other than the typical uptick I get w Mark's wire.
However nothing quite prepared me for such a dramatic clarification of why despite all the teething issues we all have as vinyl lovers, we can't look the other way. It's a total love affair.
My digital has always been more consistent than my vinyl...up to now.
For every LP that comprehensively beat CD replay, I had a bunch more CDs that had the edge. This has always troubled me, why could I not get vinyl to totally rule.
And I'd never really got to the bottom of this, so stellar is my Eera Tentation CDP.
Well, removing these sources of noise, rejuvenating my amps, opening up my whole sound with the Airblades, seems to have been the foundation for my late career breakthru.
And now installing this Sablon silver Prince on my Straingauge is sealing the deal.
LP replay for the first time feels like it has no shortcomings, no deficiencies, certainly no inferiority to CD.
I'm struggling to reconcile this. I can only think that my system was racked with noise, and this noise was limiting or bottle necking ultimate analog performance.
So yes, my analog rig changes from motor, to plinth, to isolation, to better arm, to LPS over wall warts and superior stylii on Straingauge, has made my LP spinner more neutral, resolved and transparent.
My newly rejuvenated amps are reproducing more.
And my strenuous efforts to eliminate hash in multiple areas has reduced noise floor to the point that maybe for the first time, the full magic of LP replay is readily apparent.
Whatever, this power cord change is building upon all this and then contributing an extra level of help, that synergistically is lifting the whole sound.
I've had real periods of doubt that my sticking to my guns in modding the heck out of my system rather than going anew with something else (modded Thorens 124 w DaVa sounds quite tasty) could have proven to be ultimately a dead end and inefficient use of cash and mental energy. Certainly no shortage of people hinting that my approach could be a cul de dac or dead end.
And my stubbornness could really not have produced the goods.
It's almost as much a relief psychologically that I'm getting such positive results as it is the emotional high of sheer rejuvenated love for LP sound.

spiritofmusic · May 15, 2024

A fascinating addition to the Salvation is my recently installed Acoustic Revive RTS-30 TT mat, which comprises a flexible silica type material impregnated with varied minerals.
Despite a lot of improvements in my sound off vinyl after major plinth and motor upgrades, one consistent shortcoming has been some terseness and "clanginess" on solo piano/piano concerto material.
When Tom/Montesquieu reported hearing too much "excitability" when trialling the Reso Mat (Delrin points that the LP sits on effectively lifting the LP off the platter) system in his setup that I've used in the decade I've run Salvation, it got me thinking.
Anyhow, I came across the Acoustic Revive mat while idly Googling a few weeks ago, and the handful of online reviews seemed to encapsulate the kind of uptick I've been looking for.
So using the new mat has critically minimised this overly "edge of your seat" SQ endemic off my LPs, replaced it with a smoother, silkier sound, but despite some initial misgivings that dynamics would be muted, this proved unfounded as LP after LP had no shortage of verve and pace.
Critically the less terse sound actually has better treble quality and resolution.
The mat has so matched the reviews conclusions I've read, fascinating to have a calmer and creamier sound, but with dynamics if anything enhanced, and treble energy better realised.
What I'm concluding is that the previous stock Reso Mat was responsible for a lack of control and relaxation in my playback that gave the impression of great dynamics.
A little too edge of seat now seen in retrospect.
The new mat both calms the sound and liberates through better resonance control.
A real joy to have discovered this, and early impressions matching and exceeding expectations.

Shuggie · May 16, 2024

spiritofmusic said:
A fascinating addition to the Salvation is my recently installed Acoustic Revive RTS-30 TT mat, which comprises a flexible silica type material impregnated with varied minerals.
Despite a lot of improvements in my sound off vinyl after major plinth and motor upgrades, one consistent shortcoming has been some terseness and "clanginess" on solo piano/piano concerto material.
When Tom/Montesquieu reported hearing too much "excitability" when trialling the Reso Mat (Delrin points that the LP sits on effectively lifting the LP off the platter) system in his setup that I've used in the decade I've run Salvation, it got me thinking.
Anyhow, I came across the Acoustic Revive mat while idly Googling a few weeks ago, and the handful of online reviews seemed to encapsulate the kind of uptick I've been looking for.
So using the new mat has critically minimised this overly "edge of your seat" SQ endemic off my LPs, replaced it with a smoother, silkier sound, but despite some initial misgivings that dynamics would be muted, this proved unfounded as LP after LP had no shortage of verve and pace.
Critically the less terse sound actually has better treble quality and resolution.
The mat has so matched the reviews conclusions I've read, fascinating to have a calmer and creamier sound, but with dynamics if anything enhanced, and treble energy better realised.
What I'm concluding is that the previous stock Reso Mat was responsible for a lack of control and relaxation in my playback that gave the impression of great dynamics.
A little too edge of seat now seen in retrospect.
The new mat both calms the sound and liberates through better resonance control.
A real joy to have discovered this, and early impressions matching and exceeding expectations.

Maybe some of that piano 'clanginess' is simply the Steinway sound, faithfully recorded?

spiritofmusic · May 16, 2024

That's a good point. We've been to a fair few solo piano concerts, and sound can be pretty challenging when attack and volume ramps up.
My issue is that what's jarring with me feels like a distortion or colouration, my vinyl playback effectively losing control or imposing a character.
The mat hasn't totally ameliorated this, but it's gone a long way. And this uptick has had other unexpected upsides thru the whole frequency spectrum.
One of the reasons I'm also considering going from silver to copper tonearm wire.

morricab · May 16, 2024

spiritofmusic said:
That's a good point. We've been to a fair few solo piano concerts, and sound can be pretty challenging when attack and volume ramps up.
My issue is that what's jarring with me feels like a distortion or colouration, my vinyl playback effectively losing control or imposing a character.
The mat hasn't totally ameliorated this, but it's gone a long way. And this uptick has had other unexpected upsides thru the whole frequency spectrum.
One of the reasons I'm also considering going from silver to copper tonearm wire.

sounds like a tracking issue...if you increase your VTF does it sound more in control?

spiritofmusic · May 16, 2024

Not particularly. Why do you make that supposition? I'm not detecting the issue on others genres, VTF changes also not seemingly relevant.
We all know that piano is maybe the hardest instrument to reproduce accurately, it makes perfect sense that there's something inherent in my gear that's contributing to some "artificiality" here.
Solo piano off CD is less of an issue.

spiritofmusic · Jul 10, 2024

Pretty much come to the end of a decade-long project re my highly modded TT front end.
From humble beginnings of Salvation slate plinthed rim drive TT with Terminator air bearing LT arm and Straingauge cartridge, I've pretty much upgraded everything.
Only the platter remains stock.

Stacore Advanced isolation platform.
Permali/aluminium plinth and armboard.
Magnetic bearing.
SOTA Eclipse-Condor motor/Roadrunner speed tach with Farad Superconductor LPSU.
Acoustic Revive mat.
Origin Live Gravity One LP puck.
Upgraded Terminator arm including carbon fibre armwand.
Zavfino silver tonearm wire/Bocchino platinum RCAs.
Airlink balanced transformer to air pump.
Upgraded Straingauge energizer powered by bespoke dual mono LPSU.
Special order ruby stylii.
Funk Firm Houdini cartridge isolator.
SPI Westek cartridge de-ioniser unit.

It's very much been a fun journey, and in the early days I really struggled to get my LP sound to beat my exemplary Eera Tentation CDP.
But in the last couple of years that started turning around. And then each subsequent change made my LP sound leave CD further and further behind.
Yes, for the money I've spent, I could have got a s/h fully loaded Garrard 301, Thorens 128, maybe an SME or Brinkmann (just!).
But I've quite liked having a unique journey, and pushing SQ on each time.
What's most satisfying is that the sound I now have really draws me into music that my stock setup was, looking back, resolutely poor at.
Namely classical, and to some extent jazz.
These are the LPs that I reach for first (over 120 Tone Poets and other jazz reissues, and the DG reissue series).
It was an outcome I'd hoped for, but never confident to start I'd ever get to.
But here I am.
Other than a Record Pi LP flattener to buy soon, it's journey over. And a job well done.

montesquieu · Jul 10, 2024

Just posting some pics up for Marc:

Looks pretty awesome and I've been following the journey .. Marc has been down to mine a couple of times now and I'm looking forward to getting up to Norfolk for a listen a bit later in the year.

spiritofmusic · Jul 10, 2024

Tom, your system and journey has been a bit of an inspiration, the best primarily analog sound in a small domestic room I've heard (Blue58 for digital).
Your modded 128 is exemplary, and tbh the sound I've heard at yours got me questioning what I had/was trying to achieve.
Certainly our chat on TT platter mats got me thinking about one of the last changes I've made, and how this has ameliorated a nagging colouration I couldn't properly shift.
Our friendship has been an excellent side benefit as well, lol.

montesquieu · Jul 10, 2024

Well it's always fun to put the world to rights especially in the run up to an election ....

spiritofmusic · Jul 10, 2024

montesquieu said:
Well it's always fun to put the world to rights especially in the run up to an election ....

Don't get this thread shut down, Tom. Lol

Mike Lavigne · Jul 10, 2024

montesquieu said:
Just posting some pics up for Marc:

Looks pretty awesome and I've been following the journey .. Marc has been down to mine a couple of times now and I'm looking forward to getting up to Norfolk for a listen a bit later in the year.

nice to see some pics of Marc's gear. lovely.

spiritofmusic · Jul 10, 2024

Well Mike, I'm not the greatest photog. And my gear *could* be a little less dusty, lol.
I've made a recent major, and also likely final chapter, change to the system as a whole.
I'll update that soon on my system thread.
27 years, and more money spent than I care to remember (memories kill).
But like my TT changes, I'm really happy with where my system has got to with this most recent upgrade, and how much enjoyment I'm getting from genres that really didn't shine when I started in the hobby, indeed even just eight years ago, before my move to the chapel and this amazing room.

spiritofmusic · Oct 6, 2024

Funk Firm Houdini cartridge decoupler removed from the tonearm.
This was the strangest experience in my ever-evolving system.
For the first few weeks seemed such an improvement.
But in the last month, a nagging feeling of smoothed transients, bumped bass, and a homogenisation of the overall sound, all came to the fore.
Gone back to my carbon fibre shims.
--
May soon audition a potentially fascinating variation on the cartridge isolator front.
But as things stand, I'm happier with the Houdini out.
Never installed anything in my system seemingly so positive for a few months later to be shown to be less than ideal.
Only my balanced transformer experience mirrors this.

lordcloud · Oct 6, 2024

spiritofmusic said:
Funk Firm Houdini cartridge decoupler removed from the tonearm.
This was the strangest experience in my ever-evolving system.
For the first few weeks seemed such an improvement.
But in the last month, a nagging feeling of smoothed transients, bumped bass, and a homogenisation of the overall sound, all came to the fore.
Gone back to my carbon fibre shims.
--
May soon audition a potentially fascinating variation on the cartridge isolator front.
But as things stand, I'm happier with the Houdini out.
Never installed anything in my system seemingly so positive for a few months later to be shown to be less than ideal.
Only my balanced transformer experience mirrors this.

One things I've noticed in my experiments, is that swapping out a component for one that's a bit on the warm side....tends to sounds like an improvement, initially. In some cases a big improvement. But then, as you've said, you notice the loss of high frequency energy, the smoothed transients, and a bit of life missing. Though initially..... you're very happy with what you're hearing.

I recently swapped out two pairs of interconnects (same brand, but shielded versus unshielded) because of that very issue.

spiritofmusic · Oct 7, 2024

lordcloud said:
One things I've noticed in my experiments, is that swapping out a component for one that's a bit on the warm side....tends to sounds like an improvement, initially. In some cases a big improvement. But then, as you've said, you notice the loss of high frequency energy, the smoothed transients, and a bit of life missing. Though initially..... you're very happy with what you're hearing.

I recently swapped out two pairs of interconnects (same brand, but shielded versus unshielded) because of that very issue.

It's somewhat more complex than that. Not so much warmer as a result, but more "one note".
Meaning that in particular, piano, and interestingly, snare drum, sounded "boxy" from one LP to another.
Because cymbals and electric guitar maintained or even improved re bite, shortcomings weren't noticeable, and indeed initial impressions were of improvement.
But once I started latching on to this boxiness, the nagging sensation of SQ overall having worsened started increasing.
I'm going to put this down to either a bumped resonant frequency or a smearing of leading edges.
I find it fascinating that an affectation or imposed character can be not noticeable early on, but come to the fore to actually dominate impressions of overall sound.

Trans Fi Salvation rim drive tt and Terminator air-bearing linear tracking arm

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