SuperLine Loading Thread.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

As you know, the set up is the key and that's harder to source.

IIRC, wolf's dealer is not too keen on an LP12 ( he's a Michel dealer ), so he'll get no help from his dealer as far as setting up a Sondek goes.

Indeed Kuma So maybe the best thing is to go for a Michell if this is the case as dealer help is pretty important for wolf I'd suggest.

KR

Peter

Of course there are Linn dealers in LA.....

That does not guarantee you get a competent set up. ( sad but true )

Julian's assesment of what is good enough for an SL is a bit 'harsh' IME. Certainly a basic Gyro / RB 250 is not enough but one with an SME M2 arm (about 500 squid in the UK I think) will carry a quality cartridge well enough to warrant an SL. Note the cost of the cartridge is a 'wash' since you need that whatever deck is chosen.

Just as a basic LP12 can be improved there are upgrade options for the Michell all the way to a full Orbe, in stages, as money permits

regards
Geoff

Geoff

quote:

Julian's assesment of what is good enough for an SL is a bit 'harsh' IME.

I don't think we are in disagreement.


And just to drag this thread back on topic. ...., Wolf2, have you ordered a Dyna loading plug too or are you going to see how you get on with the 500?

J

That's what I'm AFRAID of. More subtlety and a lot more expense. I might have to go outside my dealer. He is an hour and half drive from me. But trying to get a home demonstration in LA ain't so easy, even for 14 million in this basin. One high end store is pretty snooty and the earth shattering prices of their top end....

I also listen to the tuner a lot more than my records. Those are generally for special moments or nights. It is amazing when I hear something great, but how much is too far? I know source first. But 3 sources is damn expensive. I'm pretty much on my own here. Quite a luxury for being single, but then I don't have to compromise with a mate either, If I want classical I get classical, R&R I get what I want, aggressive or not. This I'm thankful for.

The 300 is dear to my heart, it was such clarity and power over my 150, then I bought the Harbeths. Wow, Paul Simon, Beatles, U2, Steely Dan never sounded so good.

I've sort of bought most of my kit 2nd hand so saved there. The Dynavector cart was a classic case of buying it and 3 months later the 17D3 came out.

anyway I have to set up the 52, redo the Fraim etc and adjust to it. Listen to vinyl and figure out if it's worth more bucks.

Thanks for your comments, I feel like this is a therapy session. I'm going to go pull out some vinyl and enjoy my evening, it's 3 PM good time to listen, I can't stand the news with our elections going on. Very Ugly!

quote:

Originally posted by Julian H:
have you ordered a Dyna loading plug too or are you going to see how you get on with the 500?

What is a recommended value for a 17D2?

I thought it should be lower than a 500R.

quote:

I thought it should be lower than a 500R.

Hi Kuma

Going on other Dynas reported here previously I guess thats right.

Regarding the Linn dealers, there appears to be two "turntable specialists" listed that are within a short distance from LA. I would like to think that accreditaion is not given away lightly?

J

Julian,

Two of a local Linn dealers around me are also listed as "turntable specialists". They out source it. People who own the shop do not know much about the turntables at all. Not to mention I have heard the worst sounding Keeled Sondek there. :x

Both shops are more focused on in-room installation/home cinema type of things and offer analogue as an added service catered to very different type of people from us who hang out at audio forum. ( meaning more into a 2 channel hobbyist types, you know what I mean )

Maybe the LA Linn retailers might have good people working for them, but I am skeptical of those ratings.

Very difficult to find someone who knows both Linn and Naim arms equally well.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

Two of a local Linn dealers around me are also listed as "turntable specialists". They out source it. People who own the shop do not know much about the turntables at all. Not to mention I have heard the worst sounding Keeled Sondek there. :x

Oh

Anyway, I haven't had much chance recently to sit down and listen to loadings with a 17D, but I did get very good results during a couple of demonstrations last month using a 453R. I think it would also be worth trying to borrow a 470R too.

Just ensure you let the Superline settle down/burn in for a few weeks before you start serious listening tests as they do improve quite a bit over time!

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Peter

quote:

Two of a local Linn dealers around me are also listed as "turntable specialists". They out source it. People who own the shop do not know much about the turntables at all. Not to mention I have heard the worst sounding Keeled Sondek there. :x

Hmm, does not sound good if Linn are giving that acreditation in those circumstances!

Since Dyna carts have come up,
the sheet for the SL says 500 R and 5.6 nF = Naim S load. I thought this would be about correct.

tho I'm sure fine tuning these plugs in the future will come about.

My dealer was telling me just to use it with no plugs, I probably will for the first couple months to get used to it as it settles down. that will be just around Christmas.

I re-set a customer's system this evening comprising 282/SC2/200 while re-delivering his LP12 and a new Superline. The Superline was being powered from the 282. His cartridge is the Dynavector 20XL.

Once I had everything working to my satisfaction with the stock 500R, I then replaced it with a 470R - There was an immediate improvement. More punch, detail and the timing was better. The whole presentation was much more listenable, more musical.

I then played him the 453R and to his surprise we could hear further big improvements over the 470R. Now this was with a cheaper 20XL cartridge and not a 17D!

Kind regards,

Peter

Great information, Thanks Peter. I'll let it warm up a week or two and try the plugs. I was sort of figuring that there would eventually be sets for different families of plugs. I like the 17D2 and must read more on others.

I'll certainly consider a Linn and Michell TT's in a shoot out. AT my place.

Or there must be a dozen opinions for replacement carts!

quote:

Or there must be a dozen opinions for replacement carts!

You do not want to do that unless its worn out! Saving for a better deck and arm is the way to go.

quote:

My dealer was telling me just to use it with no plugs, I probably will for the first couple months to get used to it as it settles down. that will be just around Christmas.

Ouch, BAD advice IME!

well, I'll just have to play with it. I don't get my new boxes and Sniac till Tuesday so I'm just staring at the Sline. I've now figured I'll just place it sideways on top of the coffee table so I can access the back easily.

I've certainly been reading about all of the options and opinions ya'll have been going thru. But I have no friends here that are into stereo kit. One friend comes around for a drink and we listen to vinyl, which he thinks is really quite wonderful.

Last night I put on Colin Davis, LSO, Berlioz Requiem. Pretty stunning as it is, No idea what it's going to be like with the new kit and warming up.

I just spent about 8 hours Sunday online mostly searching and reading about different decks, tone arms and finding prices. Pretty interesting stuff. Now I know more about the history of RB and SME, then TTs, more info on the Michells and the recent upgrades. If I go visit my friends in Santa Barbara I'll stop by my dealer if he has a Michell to hear.

That upgrade is going to have to wait till next year tho.

It was nice to read Art dudley again, I miss the Absolute Sound, I only got it the last 2 years of its life.

quote:

Originally posted by Wolf2:

It was nice to read Art dudley again, I miss the Absolute Sound, I only got it the last 2 years of its life.

Uh, I think you mean Listener, the rag that AD founded and edited. It's true that briefly he was the TAS editor, but in any case that publication is still going strong (in its own way). You can still read Art in Stereophile, every month.

He ditched an LP12 is what I understand.

No more soup for Arty!

Is the venerable Harry Pearson still around?

Indeed he is. Most issues of TAS feature "HP's Workshop," his take on the latest, unbelievably expensive gear. A current fave is the $150K USD Clearaudio TT.

sorry it was Listener, I had to ditch mine when I cleaned out the bookshelves a couple years ago.

I remember once seeing it on the stairs of the apartment as I was leaving to do some errands as it didn't fit in the mailbox. I thumbed thru it and ended up walking back up stairs and reading it cover to cover and did my errands the next day.

Apologize for keeping this off thread but Wolf I take your point completely. The two best audio magazines ever were the early Gordon Holt Stereophile and Listener. Nothing else comes close. Early Stereophile did not accept advertising. The replication of the actual musical experience was the goal. There were recommended components and, believe or not, un-recommended components. It was an eye opener at the time. Listener was a magazine that brought back a feeling of discovery and joy along with a healthy dose of irreverence and humor. Listener introduced me to Naim and reminded me to just enjoy the music and remember that you didn't need to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy our hobby

yeah I remember a few early Stereophile, but I didn't have any money back then.

first time I saw the simple plain box was someone's NAD in '80 or so. I thought it was so cool in a small garden apartment in California. When I did get money and needed a new system in 2000 I lucked onto Naim after being confused and not liking the standard sales guys at big box stores. Ugh! I knew there was better out there.

Listener did have that fun factor.

Does anyone have experience with loading on a Lyra Skala (and LP12/ARO)? I'm working with the stock plugs, and am using 500R and moving between 1nF and 5.6nF - both seem to have their benefits.