Has anyone moved on from idlers, Garrards??

[Rensselaer]

The initial scheme is a combination of this deck, plinth and veneer. I currently have a 2-arm deck, I may go for another one.
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The arm is a regular 12" Reed 3P like this.

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The second arm is an Origin Live Illustrious Mk3 that is pretty good, but not very pretty. Aesthetically and budget-wise, a Schroder Model 2 would probably be a nice fit.

An arm I was interested in before I bought a Reed are the Wand units from New Zealand. They were impossible to fit to my existing turntable. They are giant killers and the styling is a nice match - possibly. I have a local dealer.

The Wand — Shop — VAL HiFi

valhifi.co.uk

I bought the Reed 5A pivoted linear-tracker for mine, I will include a short video so anyone interested can see how the mechanism works.

 

[jeff1225]

Have always wanted to try one of those....seem like a great combo of belt and idler...

I have a friend with an audiophile system with McIntosh, Wilson XVX, Brinkman Balance with Lyra Etna, and Nordost cables. For some reason he also has a Schopper TD-124 with SPU A, doesn’t really fit with his system but he owns it nonetheless.

A few years ago several of us were over at his house listening and the sound was….well very analytical and boring. Then on a lark, one of the listeners asked to hear the TD-124 and BOOM! You had real engaging sound. It was amazing. I knew right there I had to own an idler.

 

[dcc]

I have two fully overhauled/upgraded TD 124/II in my secondary and office systems. I would not imagine something else though in the main system I have a belt driven turntable.

 

[kozzmo]

I have two fully overhauled/upgraded TD 124/II in my secondary and office systems. I would not imagine something else though in the main system I have a belt driven turntable.

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how do you like the Etna on the CB arm?? and what is that monolithic thing hanging over your table....I keep seeing those on this forum??

 

[Robert Young]

Have always wanted to try one of those....seem like a great combo of belt and idler...

Indeed!! Here’s the story of my “acquisition…”

The fun never ends!

Just recently I spent a week with my parents in Boston. Dad's 97, Mom's 88, and we're so lucky to have them...particularly given the result when I asked my Dad if any of his buddies had any interesting older audio equipment hiding in their basements that they'd like to get rid of. Not 2 weeks...

www.whatsbestforum.com

sometimes good luck happens. Not enough sadly.

 

[dcc]

how do you like the Etna on the CB arm?? and what is that monolithic thing hanging over your table....I keep seeing those on this forum??

the Etna and the CB arm are a great match and an excellent synergy with the TD 124/II.

The monolithic thing is the CSPort static electricity removal & magnetic eraser. I have a second unit in my main system. it is similar to the DS Audio unit that I also have. It is very effective.

 

[kozzmo]

the Etna and the CB arm are a great match and an excellent synergy with the TD 124/II.

the monolithic thing is the CSPort static electricity removal & magnetic eraser. I have a second unit in my main system. it is similar to the DS Audio unit that I also have. It is very effective.

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well...something new to look into!!

 

[ssfas]

It's a pain to set up that arm in the back on a two arm table...drives me nuts...

With my modest budget for a second arm, I'm looking at the Schroder Model 2, Glanz B and possibly the Wand.

The Wand installation is a real pain, the other two very easy.

 

[ssfas]

I bought the Reed 5A pivoted linear-tracker for mine, I will include a short video so anyone interested can see how the mechanism works.

I see you have some Townshend feet installed. I was thinking or repurposing the feet I just installed under the base of my deck. Maybe I should get some Townshends.

 

[kozzmo]

With my modest budget for a second arm, I'm looking at the Schroder Model 2, Glanz B and possibly the Wand.

The Wand installation is a real pain, the other two very easy.

I just dont like aligning them with another arm in the way.....

 

[ssfas]

I just dont like aligning them with another arm in the way.....

All my hifi is in one unit on wheels, so I just pull it out into the middle of the room and do it in comfort.

 

[Rensselaer]

I see you have some Townshend feet installed. I was thinking or repurposing the feet I just installed under the base of my deck. Maybe I should get some Townshends.

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My Townshends do not stop footfall from causing the cartridge to bounce. I sometimes wish I had just placed the plinth upon sorbothane balls (or even squash balls).

 

[ssfas]

My Townshends do not stop footfall from causing the cartridge to bounce. I sometimes wish I had just placed the plinth upon sorbothane balls (or even squash balls).

Years ago I had my turntable on a Townshend Podium. As you can fine tune the springs, I could jump up and down and the thing didn't bounce at all.

Those legs are made mostly for rebuilds and the chap has sold over 3,000 sets on eBay alone. They isolate and height adjust, but it may be sorbothane balls.

My music room is the only suspended floor, but it's an inch of solid oak. Max Townshend used to have a video showing that vibration transmits through concrete.

 

[Agrail]

A fast track to audioneuroses...The rub with Squash balls or sorbothane is most turntables don't have even weight distribution. This makes leveling fun but also has ramifications in terms of resonance, (compression variation) squash balls in particular worsen over time.

 

[Rensselaer]

A fast track to audioneuroses...The rub with Squash balls or sorbothane is most turntables don't have even weight distribution. This makes leveling fun but also has ramifications in terms of resonance, (compression variation) squash balls in particular worsen over time.

I agree, the turntable corners weighed and fortunately the 100lbs weight fairly evenly distributed to each corner. The Townshend’s are adjustable if screwed onto bolts placed into the recesses cut by Russ into the bottom of the plinth, something we asked Russ to do, however the bolts were never placed so the plinth so it just rides on fully expanded devices, hence springy. Fortunately, the rack is fully adjustable for levelling and the turntable mass so great that the bubble spirit level atop the Reed tonearm doesn’t even flinch when I place a heavy metal puck over the spindle.

 

[SONDEKNZ]

With my modest budget for a second arm, I'm looking at the Schroder Model 2, Glanz B and possibly the Wand.

The Wand installation is a real pain, the other two very easy.

I use a WAND PLUS 9.5"on our hot-rodded LP12.

The WAND uses a fairly slim central "pole" for mounting and will fit any (original) REGA hole of similar.

It can be a bit fiddly to fettle - and get all of the critical parameters right - but I'm not sure why there are references here to this arm being a pain to install.

It seems to fit most turntables pretty easily.

What have I missed?

[Yes - the WAND PLUS sounds awesome! ]

 

[ssfas]

I use a WAND PLUS 9.5"on our hot-rodded LP12.

The WAND uses a fairly slim central "pole" for mounting and will fit any (original) REGA hole of similar.

It can be a bit fiddly to fettle - and get all of the critical parameters right - but I'm not sure why there are references here to this arm being a pain to install.

It seems to fit most turntables pretty easily.

What have I missed?

[Yes - the WAND PLUS sounds awesome! ]

View attachment 118599

A Wand cannot be fitted to an arm like this because the bolting system underneath is too short. A standard Garrard 301 plinth would not be a problem.

 

[ssfas]

I'm curious, was reading some set-up notes on a Schroder arm and they have readings for channel separation etc. when adjusting azimuth and anti-skate. I there some sort of gadget that people use to take the readings?

I suppose I could just get something like a Rega Mini A2D which has a usb output and use Audacity.

 

[mtemur]

I'm curious, was reading some set-up notes on a Schroder arm and they have readings for channel separation etc. when adjusting azimuth and anti-skate. I there some sort of gadget that people use to take the readings?

I suppose I could just get something like a Rega Mini A2D which has a usb output and use Audacity.

You can use any of those together with a test record;
- Fozgometer
- ADC + oscilloscope software
- Two channel oscilloscope
- ADC + Analogmagik software
- Parks Audio puffin

 

[ssfas]

I use a WAND PLUS 9.5"on our hot-rodded LP12.

The WAND uses a fairly slim central "pole" for mounting and will fit any (original) REGA hole of similar.

It can be a bit fiddly to fettle - and get all of the critical parameters right - but I'm not sure why there are references here to this arm being a pain to install.

It seems to fit most turntables pretty easily.

What have I missed?

[Yes - the WAND PLUS sounds awesome! ]

View attachment 118599

I spent quite a while looking at the Wand a while back. I was looking at the Schroder set-up and it looks really fiddly. I've only heard good things about the Wand, it suits the SoundSmith I want to use and my other option would be a DL103, which apparently is the most popular cartridge for the Wand. Plus I'd rather buy from a chilled New Zealander than a German who's slightly up his rear end, the artistic temperament apparently. So I've spoken to the Wand dealer and will likely go ahead.

My DL103 is the Expert Stylus upgrade with ruby cantilever and paratrace stylus. Well worth investigating. Giant killer for £850 (20% VAT inclusive).