Removing "***" notes

Posted by: syd on 01 November 2003

Hi All

Yesterday I finally got around to giving the LP12 a good sorting out. The usual things such as VTA,bias settings etc. Then I decided to remove the hardboard base as I've read a lot of good things about this on numerous threads and with the lingo It's no longer so dangerous. I cut small pieces of hardboard to keep the feet level and set it up on the target wall stand and got it nice and level. What a revelation. Much more communicative, quieter silences, better defined Bass and cleaner vocals.Soundstage ls much improved and overall musicality a step up. Today I started to listen to some old LPs which I never got on with before. You know the types. Poor pressings, coloured vinyl, ultra thin and stuff obviously recorded in "Home Studios". I was amazed at how much better they sounded than when I first got them in the late Eighties and on much the same sistem (LP12,Valhalla,Ittok II,Asaka,32.5,HI,250,NACA4 and Saras.) The pressings sound much cleaner for one thing and I attribute this mainly to the removal of the Base as general tidying up of the LP12 hasn't had this effect before. The LPs get pulled out every now and then and given a blast but replaced after the first couple of tracks.
General Question. Can anyone explain why the removal of the baseboard has such a large and fundemental effect on the sound of the Linn? If this type of improvement came from, say, a £300-£500 headamp I would consider it a sum well spent.

Yours in Music

Syd
Posted on: 01 November 2003 by syd
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Russell:
Syd,

You may also want to consider changing your NAC A4 to NAC A5. It is a cheap upgrade (especially if you can find it used) and makes a great difference for a peanuts price.

Regards,

Mark Russell


Hi Mark

Actually I have NACA5 in my present sistem, the sistem quoted in the post was the one I had in the late eighties. It was unforunately sold off bit by bit due to unemployment and it's only in the past 2 years that I've got back into HI FI and music in a big way. Present sistem is listed under my profile.

Yours in Music

Syd
Posted on: 01 November 2003 by Chris L
The "cleaning up" of the sound is probably due to a reduction in sympathetic vibration in the deck. Given the way that pick-up cartridges work, they effectively convert vibration into electricity. The base board of the deck is a rather effective sounding board which will vibrate along with the ambient sound in its environment, which will likely be significant given the noise coming from the speakers! This will then be transmitted into deck, and the platter and the record and the cartridge. The effect should (in theory) be lessened by the LP12's suspension, but it won't be completely removed.

By removing the base board you have essentially removed a source of uncontrolled low frequency feedback from the system.

It's a mod I really must get around to doing - probably when I get a Geddon, not really keen on doing it with the Valhalla still under there!

Chris