Suspended or not?

Posted by: Frenchnaim on 30 September 2015

I have finally sold my 37-year-old Thorens TD160B Mk2 / Mayware Formula 4, and I'm going to buy a new - "modern" - turntable. It will be sitting on the top shelf of an Atacama rack, the whole thing standing on the suspended wooden floor of an old Victorian-style house. There's no way I can put a wall-shelf. Should I get a suspended turntable, or a non-suspended one? I know little about recent turntables - Rega, Clearaudio and Michell being some of the models I'm going to be looking at, sorry, listening to.

What does the panel think...?

Posted on: 30 September 2015 by hafler3o
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:

... There's no way I can put a wall-shelf.

Why not?

Posted on: 30 September 2015 by Frenchnaim

Simply because it's a sloping wall, and it's made of what is known as cob, I believe. A heavy turntable would be on the floor within 5seconds...

Posted on: 30 September 2015 by Frenchnaim

So, whether the platter is suspended or not does not matter?

Also - these are a bit outside my price range. I was thinking more in terms of £2,000-£3,000 with the cartridge. I have a Supernait 2/Stageline.

Posted on: 30 September 2015 by k90tour2

If you are considering a Gyrodec or an SE version, be aware of the depth of the SE version.  It looks and sounds great but overhangs my Fraim glass. This will require a custom glass and a custom lid.  I don't know about Atacama. Just a tip in advance.  I have an LP12 downstairs and it is quite compact by comparison.  Both sound great.  Gyro sets up easily.

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by hungryhalibut

I'm not sure that I would put an expensive turntable on the top shelf of an Atacama rack, it would be happier on its own light rigid stand. 

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by Frenchnaim

There really isn't any way I can put it on a separate shelf. Are you suggesting that it might be more comfortable on another rack (Fraim, I suppose, or any of the others that are mentioned on the forum)?

Or that, as the money would be wasted, a cheaper turntable would do the job just as well (a Rega P6, for instance)?

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by Ravenswood10

If you've got a reasonably solid floor an LP12 should work fine on a quality rack - Naim Fraim is probably best if your serious about an LP12 although I used a Sound Organisation table for many years. Mine (and I've had 2 LP12s) is on a wall shelf as our cottage has a very wobbly old wooden floor - an foot fall 5 feet away used to cause the stylus to part company with the record groove!

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by hungryhalibut

The best turntable table I've ever used is the Audiotech. It's an Italian made table that was around in the early 90s. You may be able to pick one up on eBay. The trouble is, it's only about 40cm high, so no good if you have a bad back or rickety knees. I used it on a suspended floor with my then LP12 and it was fine, so long as you don't pogo right next to it. 

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by Red Rooster
Hi there,
 
Al three suggestions would be fine. My preference would be for a good basic LP12 on your rack and possibly with the addition of a Naim glass shelf and cups/balls for extra isolation - works really well.
 
I have had lots of turntable stands, shelves and supports over the years (Mana, Sound Org, Decent Audio, Quadraspire ) but recently I moved my full spec LP12 from A Half Decent Audio wall shelf (with Perspex shelf and Naim glass and balls) on to the top of my 6 Shelf Isoblue hi-fi rack (with the extra glass shelf on top).
 
And OMG what I though was previously a good sound went up several notches. Couldn't believe it at first as it goes against the grain of advice from all the gurus on this website but I dont give a bugger.
 
What can I say. More tuneful base, more space round vocals, better ambience, better separation and more importantly more music. So good I had to get my wife in the room to confirm - which she did.
 
My advice, go for the LP12 on your rack and if you want to try the naim glass shelf and balls.
 
Enjoy my friend.
 
Regards
 
RR
 
BTW recently tried the much vaunted Silent Mounts from Chord under my speakers and much to my surprise totally robbed the music - sounded like I'd downgraded my LP12. Needless to say the came out and Fraim chips went back.
 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:

There really isn't any way I can put it on a separate shelf. Are you suggesting that it might be more comfortable on another rack (Fraim, I suppose, or any of the others that are mentioned on the forum)?

Or that, as the money would be wasted, a cheaper turntable would do the job just as well (a Rega P6, for instance)?

 

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by Frenchnaim

Thanks for your contributions, all of you.

I don't really understand what's wrong  with the Atacama rack, it seems well-built to me - but I suppose some of you owned the Equinox, moved to another make and found that it was much better. That's the kind of equipment that you can't test in your own home and you have to rely on others' opinion.

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by The Strat (Fender)

£2-3k.  2nd hand Linn would be good with usual caveat for set up.  But what is wrong with the Thorens?

Posted on: 01 October 2015 by Frenchnaim

Oh dear... don't ask that kind of question, I was already beginning  to regret selling it.

There was nothing wrong with the Thorens, it was (still is) beautiful, with a Mayware arm in perfect condition. It's just that the sound wasn't as pleasant as with my old system (Naim 22/120, same vintage as the turntable) and I felt that the arm was definitely not as good as some modern arms, not good enough to take a modern cartridge. The Formula 4 is a very fussy arm - fortunately I found a buyer who's a real collector, and I'm sure it's in good hands.

I still regret selling a superb Transcriptors turntable which I had in the 60s, with an SME arm. Hence my attraction to Michell turntables.