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set up the deck in my system. Pro-Ject say this platter is designed to
be used without a mat, I tried it bare and with a felt mat and
preferred it bare. The Terminator arms on the fly VTA adjustment came
in handy for quick back and forth comparisons. Because I've made quite
a few changes in one go, it's impossible to say which of the changes is
having the biggest impact and they need to be assessed as a package. So
I'm comparing my old deck - Concrete plinth, Sorbothane feet, modified
stock bearing and stock platter. With this new deck - Plywood plinth,
Isonoe feet, Pro-Ject bearing and platter. Both decks use the same DIY
external PSU, internal regulator and the same linear tracking arm and
of course the same Technics Direct Drive System. To me there is no
contest, the new deck is better by some margin and my guess is that it
is mostly down to the new bearing/platter combination but I have no
evidence to support this. The sound has a rightness about it, a
solidity which comes across in the bass and yet a warmth in the mid
range that was some how missing before, timing is precise and the
treble is clean. Normally I hear highs and lows in the presentation of
my decks, some areas emphasised more than others but here it
seems very even handed. That's not to say it isn't dynamic or that
it's boring quite the reverse and the sound stage is wide and deep.
It's only had a few hours listening but I can say without hesitation
that it's the best deck I've ever owned. It may be possible to squeeze
some more magic out with further VTA optimisation and possibly by
adding an Achromat. Either way I am really pleased with the
performance, I can finally move on to other areas of my system which
now need urgent attention to bring them up to the standard of the
turntable. |
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