Mana Reference Table

Posted by: David O'Higgins on 06 December 2000

Afer a three month wait my Mana reference table arrived last week and on Saturday I assembled it and moved my LP12/Cirkus/Lingo/Prefix/Lyra Clavis from it's 12 year old Sound Organisation table.

I sat back to enjoy the sound improvement which I have read about in many previous messages in this forum.

Well, the sound certainly changed radically, but not for the better to my ears. Mids are more emphasised, surface noise is more accentuated and the bass is less controlled. I am reminded of an 'Origen Live' table which I tried at one time with similar results.

Has anyone any suggestions ?

Posted on: 06 December 2000 by Allan Probin

You could try posting this in the Mana forum and see what you suggestions you get there. Not sure why you've used the Naim forum for this.

In fact in general, I don't understand why there's so much comment here about Mana when Mana have a forum of their own for this kind of stuff.

Allan

Posted on: 06 December 2000 by Tony L

quote:
Has anyone any suggestions ?

Yes, sounds like a set up issue - this is what Mana sounds like when the set up is off.

On the Mana forum (www.mana.co.uk/forum) there is a faq section where there is information by JW on how to get the best from your new stand. Follow the instructions to the letter and your stand will work as it is designed to.

Tony.

Posted on: 06 December 2000 by Top Cat

David, I have an LP12 and I can reassure you that the Reference Table *will* do everything you expected of it.

However, some points to note:

(1) LP12s take a bit of time to settle if they have been moved; my LP12 (a mongrel '91 plinth/Cirkus/Akito (soon to be Aro )/Asaka/Lingo with some minor modifications) takes a few days to settle down again to its best performance.

(2) When purchasing the Reference Table, I trust you ordered the circular level? If not, find an accurate spirit level and ensure that the platter is level. A cheap plastic level is not sensitive enough. You may find that, in order to level the platter, the glass may end of fractionally 'off-level' - this is OK (IMHO); the crucial thing is the platter:stylus versus gravity; we want the platter to be orthogonal to gravity.

(3) Mana tables themselves can take a day or two (or more, if you have a phase 2+ setup) to settle - after this time, check to see that the table has settled and that the ring is still there.

(4) How tightly did you do up the nuts on the spikes? They should be just a bit tighter than finger-tight; use the supplied Allen key, and (having tightened the nuts as much as you can with your fingers only) use the Allen key with your little finger (which is too weak to allow you to overtighten) - this, IME, ensures the correct tightness.

(5) Ensure that you haven't knocked the bias or counterweight whilst setting it up; perhaps your cartridge is just mistracking a little. You didn't move the LP12 with the counterweight in place? On some of the more sensitive arms, this can occasionally cause some damage (if what I am told is true).

Hope this helps; email JW at Mana if you still have difficulties.

John (from QS to Phase 5 Mana in 6 months. Ouch - the wallet didnae ken what hit et!)

Posted on: 07 December 2000 by David O'Higgins

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have retrieved the detailed setup instructions from the FAQ on the Mana forum, and I have ordered the Mana Spirit Level.

Rest assured that I will do everything to try to achieve the results which all of you have.

Why raise the issue on the Naim forum ? Simply because it is populated with the Web's best supply of knowledgeable music loving hi-fi enthusiasts whose collective experience results in useful suggestions in almost any situation.

Tahnks Again