Lid UP, DOWN or OFF on the LP12
Posted by: David Stewart on 17 February 2004
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Basil
I prefer to play Vinyl with the LP12 lid removed
I have no choice in the matter, the hinge springs on mine gave up a long time ago!
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by seagull
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by David Stewart
Seagull,
That information is now nearly two years old, since when circumstances may have changed, plus a lot of new people have joined the forum. I feel it's perfectly legitimate to ask the question again now in the light of those factors, plus I'd never seen the 2002 survey anyway, but trust you to be a 'clever-clogs' and remember it
David
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by blythe
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by David Stewart
quote:
Which seems at odds with this years survey so far............
Maybe global warming since 2002 has something to do with it?
or perhaps like Basil, more people have developed weak springs
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Goldstar
I do feel that my springs have weakened over the years, despite the tablets.
I prefer the sound with the lid removed, I have tried replacing the lid on several occasions but this has always produced a sense of unease.
Makes a good dust cover though.
Cheers Robert
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Goldstar
Nerdy? Moi?
What about the bottom cover? on or off?
What about another poll?
Cheers Robert
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by willem
Bottom plate off as well. My player sits on 4 tiny 3M thingies, one at each corner, and it sings.
Have tried both the standard bottom plate (1997) and the Trampolin. One (Tramp) is worse than the other.
Sometimes, when the music is not sounding at its best (must be between my ears) I wonder how it would do on three of those tiny rubbers.
Have fun!
willem
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Steve O
You're nearly always better off with your bottom covered.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Dan M
This week I 'ave mostly been listening with the lid open and the bottom off.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Not For Me
For those with wonky LP12 hinges....
One of my hinges broke, so I got some off a bloke who sells them on E-Bay - I think he must have hoovered them all up?
I have lid on on Tuesday, when the cleaners come, and when I or The wife are ironing near the deck.
When playing. it's always off, mainly for ease of use, but with a bit of hi-fi nerdiness for sound quality. I probably couldn't tell in a blind test.
DS
OTT - Stargate
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by syd
I always play mine with the lid down. I think it will depend on the distance between the speakers and the TT( the direct output from my Briks has an effect on the Ittok/cartridge making it sound quite edgy) and I also have it mounted on a target wall shelf on plasterboard wall as Dev mentioned on the old thread.
Yours in Music
Syd
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by seagull
"That information is now nearly two years old, since when circumstances may have changed"
Well Miss Seagull (nearly 4) is now house trained
but Seagull Jnr (now 15) has regressed to neanderthal boy so I still have to play LPs with the lid down
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by domfjbrown
My "LP12" (Rega Planar 3) in the main rig is better with the lid OFF (I voted LP12 lid off, 'cos I DO give a sh** but don't have an LP12!).
My NAD 533 in the bedroom stays with the lid open 'cos I'm too lazy to give a sh** about that one.
__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Goldstar
Willem,
Rubbers usually are sold in threes.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by J.N.
quote:
This week I 'ave mostly been listening with the lid open and the bottom off.
Quite right Dan.
Do you get 'The Fast Show' over there?
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by MarkEJ
Lid off, hinges removed, baseboard removed, 3m feet.
For those that care about this sort of thing (and there is much benefit in attention to these seemingly silly details), the tiny rubber "bumps" which stop the front edge of the lid from scratching your plinth are available from Linn dealers for a quid per six. I found that making equally tiny recesses in the rear corners of the lid with a .5mm drill bit allows you to superglue an extra pair of "bumps" on it, so the lid is then supported on 4 rubbery "bumps" and doesn't slide around even with the hinges removed.
This makes removal and replacement of the lid quick and easy.
Best;
Mark
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by David Stewart
I just remembered I'd omitted to vote myself (bet Tony Blair wouldn't make that elementary mistake!). Certainly so far the majority is in favour of lid removal. Personally I always have mine closed, as it does seem to sound marginally better that way. As Syd said the Ittok does seem to get a bit 'edgy' with the lid up/off.
As I see it, the problem with lid removal is, you have to find somewhere safe to put it when it's not installed and I don't have a convenient place. Also I find the lid quite fiddly to refit (banana fingers probably).
I'm not happy leaving it with the lid up as I don't trust those silly springs not to bring it crashing down halfway through a side, which would likely cause the TikTok to mistrack right of the edge of the record and destroy the stylus.
David
PS: what are these 3M feet that people have referred to - are they better than the standard feet and if so why?
[This message was edited by David Stewart on WEDNESDAY 18 February 2004 at 10:00.]
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by Dev B
I use a smoked black lid (which is lighter than the clear one) interestingly enough I cannot tell any musical difference up or down, I don't know why, but I am guessing that because the Lp12 us about sixteen feet away form the speakers and the fact that lid has a lighter mass? I dunno. Also the lid being lighter puts less tension on the hinges and mine lid stays up even when not fully opened. But honestly I have A/B'ed open and shut and there is no difference in this installation.
I have a much better solution to the 3M feet and baseboard problem but I am not giving that away on the forum just yet!
In my humble deaf opinion, I am getting such good results from the LP12 (it has not been serviced in two years incidentally, but had a new belt eighteen months ago) with the SPU Royal N and the Fraim it has to be heard to be believed, but I do think a well set up CDS2 (and 3) with XPS2 on Fraim is slightly ahead on the PRAT department.
regards
Dev
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by David Stewart:
I'm not happy leaving it with the lid up as I don't trust those silly springs not to bring it crashing down halfway through a side, which would likely cause the TikTok to mistrack right of the edge of the record and destroy the stylus.
He he he - have you seen the intro to Detroit Rock City? It's not a pleasant sight, and that's on a crappy 70s musicentre
Would these Linn "lid feet" thingies work on a Rega?? It's a PITA putting the hinges back into the deck every time I put the lid back on...
__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by P
I always remove the lid c/w hinges before playing anything. Also have no baseboard and 3M bump on feet.
We suffer with static and having the lid down increases surface noise quite dramatically. When using a plastic bodied cartridge the effect is quite pronounced.
P
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by MarkEJ
quote:
Originally posted by domfjbrown:
Would these Linn "lid feet" thingies work on a Rega?? It's a PITA putting the hinges back into the deck every time I put the lid back on...
Probably! The crucial factor is the thickness of the acrylic on the underside at the corners. If you turn the lid upside-down and look at the corners, is there enough material there to take a .5mm hole? If so, the Lin lid feet would work a treat. They're tiny, but they work.
Lid storage while playing: I tend to leave it on the floor, leaning against the wall on one short edge -- never been a problem.
Best;
Mark
PS: Dev, I am amazed that yours is as good with lid on or off. Do you have a Tramp between it and the Fraim, or is it the famous "black flutey flukey" effect?
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by Dan M
quote:
Originally posted by J.N.:
Quite right Dan.
Do you get 'The Fast Show' over there?
Yes, but for some reason it's called 'Brilliant' here. Either way it hilarious.
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by Dev B
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Ellis-Jones:
and the Fraim, or is it the famous "black flutey flukey" effect?
You know it makes sense!
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by willem
quote:
Originally posted by Dev B:
I have a much better solution to the 3M feet and baseboard problem but I am not giving that away on the forum just yet!
Tell us Dev, please! I'd remove the plinth as well if that would make it sound better...
Could the 'tiny rubber "bumps" which stop the front edge of the lid from scratching your plinth' (as Mark says) be fitted underneath the player? I have the idea that the smaller the feet the better (= tighter) the sound.
And yes Goldstar, I know Johnnies come in packs of three, but we're not talking Arab Strab here, are we?
One last thing: My player is black and the tiny rubber bumps on the lid sort of eat away the colour of the veneer. After 7 years or so the front of the player starts to look a bit messy on the corners.
Have fun!
willem
