system positioning + lp12 setup

Hi all!

Reading the topics in this forum I got the idea that the boxes shouldn't be placed beteen the speakers; furthermore as the armboard of my lp12 was not in line with the plinth I felt the urge of setting it up properly. So in the early hours of sunday morning I disassembled the lp12, added the subchassis earthing which I forgot during first set up process. Then, with a spirit level levelled the plinth on a diy jig (two boxes on the floor with postcards to level it properly, a flashlight used to illuminate the dark zones), after the plinth was levelled I began to fiddle with the springs in order to get the armboard down and the platter perfectly level. Then I noticed that with the platter levelled the armboard nearly touched the plinth in the front right edge. Hmmm. The manual said, loosen the three screws and fiddle around a bit. I did and what happened? All three screws dead. Could have turned/srewed them till eternity, armboard loose. 9 a.m. on sunday morning and the day already done...
Searched the flat for any help. Found "molto fill instant", stuff ment to fill drillholes while renovating - tried it with the armboard screholes and:it worked!!!
After finishing the armboard/platter setup, levelling the lp12 wallshelf again (it's a diy board on three spikes on top of a rega wallshelf) the cartridge needed realignment - took only a couple of ninutes but I spend hours on the VTA which rally improved the sound a lot (ended up with the arm being nearly parallel to the record, it's only slightly very slightly going downwards towards the cartridge); with the abse higher the bass went worse; negative VTA sounded worse in any respect. Then there was still energy leftso I unplugged everything (well the speakers and the lp12 and turned the system off the first time in months) and moved the system to the left corner of the room (limitation was the length of the lp12 armcable and the naca 5 to the right speaker), levelled the system, then levelled the speakers, with only 1,3m distance between them
and:
It sounds like a whole new system!!!

Better bass, more control, more seperation in the midrange, sweeter highs.
On sunday it might have been wishfull thinking but having spent whole monday night listening to all my latin/brazil jazzy tunes: it is!
Sounding better and better with every minute!!!
Wow.
Still thinking wether a more experienced hand could get even more out of the lp12...
Befor it bounced 3 to 4 times after pushing the platter, now it bounces longer like 2 -3 times longer than before and the resistance the platter gives the pushing hand is much softer, leaving me thinking: is this already right? How far from good how far from perfect am I?
When is the next sunday with time to fiddle coming.....
Happy listening to you all and:
Try this at home!!!!

Regards
Guido

[This message was edited by Guido on TUESDAY 11 December 2001 at 00:16.]