The Well Tempered Record Player

Alex, how much does it cost?

Steve B

Alex,

You appear to have turned into Dev.

Matthew

To do that you need to go back to the sondek.

Alex I fear its all over for you.

Hi Alex, I did the same about a year ago and I am still being staggered at how good it is, it really is fantastic. I had various LP12s for 20 years including the all singing and dancing ekos/lingo and Aro Armageedon etc but this Well tempered is another step its just so natural and uncoloured. Its the best turntable I have ever heard

Chaps

The LP12 is over rated and I just cannot understand the ongoing love affair with it. It seems to be a case of " I want a TT so I will buy a LP12".

I suspect that most of them are poorly set up because most of you are not really up to the job of getting it right.

Most LP12 owners are paranoid as to whether their table is up to speed or not.

Most of you would be better off selling the things and buying something more reliable like a Rega P9.

Regards

Mick

Rich, at least there's someone out there who doesn't think I'm mad. The WT is so even-handedly good at playing all types of music.

Dozy, didn't audition any exactly but I've heard a few. Most super decks are far too much hi-fi and no music. I like the WT Ref and the Orbe, both well out of my price range.

Steve, I think its 2.3K for deck and arm.

Matthew and Simon, and then buy the WT back, sell it yet again and re-buy the Sondek. Then . . .

Just one thing for any WT RP owners - the bigger/better clamp is a big improvement.

Alex

Blimey.

I thought LP12s were tough to learn how to set up butthis thing looks positively scary.

Good luck.


P

Alex, your spot on in that it lets the music through and sounds so stable. My attention was brought to it by a very good friend who is high up in the music business who bought one saying it was closest he had ever heard to replaying the original master tape. This I think says it all. I then like him tried and bought the Reference.

Mick

"Most of you would be better off selling the things and buying something more reliable like a Rega P9."

The only slight drawback to your suggestion is that a top spec lp12 walks all over a p9.

I think the Well Tempered is a really good deck with some great strengths but I prefer the LP12. My first LP12 which I sold for the Well Tempered was worse than it, but the second LP12 was miles better and hasn't gone "off song" in the two years I have had it. Weird huh? I am going to have another listen to the WT though and will post back.

Happy Easter Hols to you all,

[The only slight drawback to your suggestion is that a top spec lp12 walks all over a p9.]

So does the price tag! Also, Bollocks!

Fair point.

Here's more info and reviews if anyone's interested. I'm sure you can find bits for pseuds corner.

Alex

quote:

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Steve, I think its 2.3K for deck and arm.

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So therefore an LP12/Ittok owner thinking of upgrading to say an Aro/Cirkus (About £1800-£1900) might be better off selling his beloved LP12 and......hmmmmm.

Steve B

Naturally, I think so. Its at least worth an audition.

I think this setup business is a red herring. Who cares whether its difficult or not. If you don't know how to do it you ask someone who does. The problem with the LP12 is it goes 'off' and needs re-setting. The WT, set up properly in the first place, need not be interfered with for years.

Rich, out of interest, what's the rest of your system?

The only problem with this uncanny closeness to the original master is occasionally the original master is crap and the WT shows this up more than the Linn. One or two very bright recordings can set your teeth on edge (that's why I'm so surprised Dev doesn't like it).

Alex

Thats the thing about the Linn, Alex. It smoooooooths those nasty sharp edges off

redeye

I agree redeye, but its a trade off I'm willing to make. So far 98% just sound better and 2% sound brighter but still better in all other respects.

Alex

Alex , I don't have the problem with it ever sounding bright or harsh.
my system is 552 NBLs active. with a clearaudio insider reference cartridge.
Unfortunatley, most people like a sound if it is coloured and not truely acurate. I think with source and pre amp it is vital not to have anything added to the sound at this stage but attempt to get a true replay of the recording.

I really like the economis of the P9. An LP12/valhalla/ARO is a bunch more money - but it gives more than a bunch better impression of real music.

But this is a matter of opinion. I'm right - for me. The p9 fans may be right for them. And anybody who takes either word for it ... will get a good 'table.

Regards.

Phil

Alex--

First off--I'm delighted you've found a TT you really like. They can be so hard to find....

Which do you have? WT, last I checked, made 3 tables: The Record Player (quite affordable in the US), the Classic (which is what I suspect you have) and the Reference.

I've heard the Classic at length. In direct comparison with my LP12 (Geddon, Aro, etc) it is a bit smoother, a bit quieter, and a bit more detailed. The LP12 still sounds "faster" to me, with better separation of musical, as opposed to sonic, lines. The Classic is better at imaging/soundstaging, but, IMO, not as good at tune. God might know why, I do not.

Overall, I think it is one of the very few tables that offer a satisfactory alternative to an LP12, along with the Rega P9, the Xerxes X, various Michells, and so on. In certain systems I have no doubt the Classic or Reference would easily see off an LP12, I think the converse equally true.

In any event, congratulations on finding a piece of musical nirvana!

Best,

Bob

Thanks for your comments. I've just got an old Record Player but its been totally rebuilt and perfectly set up (not by me of course). I'm interested in your Classic/LP12 comments since they match my expectations. I was expecting, for want of a better phrase, the round earth values you describe. However, what I'm also getting is all the PR&T I could wish for. Also, with the pitch stability, timing and instrument definition thrown in I'm getting a real star when it comes to Classical music.

I think there are 2 main reasons why my RP sounds so good. Perfect set up, ie not over-damped which I think is what slows it down normally (I think some instructions advocate severe over damping) and very good system synergy with the Dynavector phono stage and amplifiers.

Alex

PS Rich, I bet the WT Ref/552 combination is very satisfying!

Hi Alex S

Good choice however I wouldn't recommend listening to the Classic V or the reference unless you can afford them.

I replaced my LP12 Aro Armageddon with the WT Record player and was well pleased with the extra detail and lack of surface noise however the Classic V with XX2 is stunning.

I still need to place it on something better than my QS cabinet and am prepared to buy Hutter without an audition.

At present I have a slab of granite under the WT but I'm about to replace it with a 30mm slab of slate hoping it will be better suited.

By the way Alex S where did you get your WT ?
I wonder if it is my old one ? In any case how much did it cost ?

Finally Alex S which Hutter do you recommend as I understand there are different models.
I am limited to one stack and don't want it to be ridiculously tall.

By the way I listened to my old LP12 over the weekend and it sounded brilliant in my mates system but the soundstage smaller and I can't quite make out the lyrics of Tom Waits as well as with my WT and it is annoying when you have to tip toe around an LP12 whereas no such problems with my WT which tracks superbly and one can dance close to it even on my Victorian suspended floor.

LP12 good WT far better !


All the best


Mark

I was extremely lucky with the WT, so lucky that I'm not allowed to say where it came from or how much it cost. I've not heard the Classic but I've heard the Ref - superb, but mine is very much the same family. Its surprisingly close really. It sits on a piece of blacked-out kitchen worktop, on the StraBase platform on top of the Hutter, a silly arrangement until you hear it.

I'm sure you'd like Hutter, I've tried a lot of others and this is far better, for me anyway. Its also not silly money. I've got the standard shelves in black with as small a spacer as I need for each shelf. You should get the 'hi-fi' base then normal shelves. My base and 5 shelves is about 1m high which is fine.

Alex

PS apparently granite can ring a bit, slate should be better.

Dear Alex S

Thank you but what is the StrataBase ?
Is it the same as someone posted as being unnecessary if one owned Hutter ?

I assume you are using slate as well as the StrataBase or is it instead of the slate ?

My anonymous source suggests the heaviest mass possible under the WT is
preferred.

I agree with you that granite rings hence my trying to source slate - luckily I have found a very amenable man that owns a Stone Mason's place in Bristol who is also into spending stupid money on Hi-Fi supports and is selling me off cuts at reasonable prices !

I do apologise for being so uncouth by asking you questions about price but it if it was my deck that you own then you can rest assured that it was looked after well and that it was then cleaned up and re-set by the only Man in the United Kingdom that I would trust with my gear.

The one problem with WT turntables is that they love dust and I would highly recommend some sort of cover.

I enjoyed reading about the Tunbridge Wells Riders account of your system recently and although I know little about you I feel,
Alex S, that you ought to bite the bullet and and go for the Shahinian Obelisks.
There surely is a path to finance these speakers otherwise I fear for your mental health - I hope my comments about your mental health are more acceptable than my earlier question about how much your WT was !

However I still think that others on the Forum should be educated about how 'cheap' it is to own such a superior sounding deck to the ubiquitous LP12. And it doesn't need faffing about with every other day with a 'bounce' to allay ones paranoia that it's still O.K.

With Easter greetings to you all


Mark