Dev's Well-Hung Table

Posted by: Joe Petrik on 22 November 2000

With so few threads on tables these days I've started a new one instead of having this discussion buried within the ArkivB thread.

Dev, which Well-Tempered table do you have and in what ways does it better an LP12, or other tables for that matter? (Frank, I'm interested in your opinion, too.)

I've heard only one Well Tempered product (I think the Record Player -- a table with an acrylic platter that toppled over if you touched it) and that was about ten years ago, but it certainly didn't redefine LP playback. At best it was a competitor to the Rega P3. But I assume you have one of the more upscale models, like the Well Tempered Reference.

Very curious.

Joe

P.S. Congratulations for having the gonads to try a table outside flat earth orthodoxy.

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Tony L

Check out www.welltemperedlab.com - I can't imagine Dev using anything less than a Reference (its only stands he compromises).

Its got a clamp, though still looks pretty funky.

Tony.

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Bob Edwards

Joe--

We played with the WT Classic at the shop I used to work at. It was cleaner sounding//less colored than the LP12s we had on hand and a little better at the round earth stuff, but in terms of tune, groove, and musicality the LP12 blew it into the proverbial weeds.

I agree that Dev must have the top of the line otherwise he could never claim it better than a Linn (esp at Flat Earth !).

This also brings to mind the old Linn ad: "There are 23 turntables better than the Linn Sondek. 19 of them are no longer in production." (Numbers may be off but you get the gist.) Food for thought !

Cheers,

Bob

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Frank Abela

Hi guys,

Dev's using a Well Tempered Reference. In terms of the difference between the WTR and an LP12, let's just say that the LP12 is VHS to the WTR's DVD.

The WTR is better than the LP12 in *every* respect as far as I'm concerned. It has better scale, lower noise floor, fabulous timing, linear frequency response, great engagement and involvement. It really is an awesome deck.

Yes, if the belt is removed, the platter will fall over - it's in the nature of the unique bearing design. The arm is weird too, not having a bearing as such, and being suspended by wires. Damping, VTA, azimuth, anti-skate, arm height can all be changed easily and quickly. Azimuth and anti-skate can even be adjusted while playing a record!

The downside for me is that the clamp is a delicate thing to get right. You've got to tighten it just so, otherwise it kills the music. It's weird (just like the rest of the deck), but it does work and I am still thinking seriously about buying one.

Regards,
Frank.

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Dev B

The WT is a pretty awesome deck, I've not heard the more basic ones but the one I've got made my Linn sound lightweight in comparison.

I can't really put it better than Frank has, but I would say that the WT presents detail in such a solid, musical and relaxed fashion it is very easy to listen to.

cheers

Dev.

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Dev B

And here is a piccie...

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Joe Petrik

Dev,

What does the Reference sell for?

Joe

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Former member

Too much for yo cheap ass, banjo boy ;-)

Vuk.

P.S. Merely the entry level one is the price of a P9 (according to Bil at Target Hi-Fi).

[This message was edited by Vuk Vuksanovic on WEDNESDAY 22 November 2000 at 18:44.]

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Joe Petrik

Vu,

So, have you heard it? And when did Bil(l) drop one of the 'l's in his name?

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Bob Edwards

Joe--

Just got a price list from Well Tempered. With arm, the Reference is $5495 US; the Classic is $3495 US; the Record Player is $1995 US.

I am hoping to try a Reference with my Aro--waiting to hear back from WT, who were VERY responsive to my info request.

Cheers,

Bob

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Former member

Joe.

You've been in Kentucky for just a few months and already you (the hippie, communist, environmentalist, vegetarian, brown-socked, flat-earther):

• have a system setup that images
• own a car (Randy still can't get over that)
• are expressing interest in a TT with a record clamp
• have eaten chips fried in Olestra
• are making fun of foreign names

Are you becoming an American that quickly?

It has always been Bil with one "L"--I believe it's an abreviation of Nabil.

Vuk.

Posted on: 22 November 2000 by Joe Petrik

Vuk,

quote:
* have a system setup that images

Yeah, but I'm looking into getting an 82 so I can switch the preamp into mono and rub out the annoying depth.

quote:
* own a car (Randy still can't get over that)

Guilty, but in my defence you can't get around in Lexington by foot. What is it with Americans? Is it that hard to pour sidewalks?

quote:
* are expressing interest in a TT with a record clamp

OK, but only because a guy with an active SBL set up thinks it's worth a spin.

quote:
* have eaten chips fried in Olestra.

And I paid dearly for that mistake. You'd think the chip company would put the warning about Olestra in bolder type and on the *front* of the package.

quote:
* are making fun of foreign name. Are you becoming an American that quickly? It has always been Bil with one "L"--I believe it's an abreviation of Nabil.

Honestly, I thought it was a typo in your message and on his card. Anyways, a guy whose first name is 'Arpad' would never make fun of another guy's name.

(Arpad) Joe

Posted on: 23 November 2000 by Dev B

I think WT doesn't work as well with the Aro as it does with the WT Reference Arm. But give it a try and us what you think.

Also the WT needs lots of mass underneath it otherwise bass is diminshed, so a piece of slate underneath is a good move.

regards

Dev

Posted on: 23 November 2000 by Rico

quote:
Also the WT needs lots of mass underneath it otherwise bass is diminshed, so a piece of slate underneath is a good move.

Dev

is there a Mana or Hutter part number for this slate?

Rico - musichead

Posted on: 23 November 2000 by Former member

is the oil economy reallly so strong?

dev,

how many phants you got now?

what do they eat?

shahreza