House of Marley Stir it Up Turntable

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halo
halo Posts: 5,616
in 2 Channel Audio
I recently acquired a new "Stir it Up" turntable made by House of Marley.

This is the first TT I've owned since the mid to late 90's. Prior to that, I had a Garrard Model 72B that was passed down to me in the late 80's as vinyl was going out and CD's were coming in. I kept & used the Garrard for a while but, since vinyl was "out", it didn't get much use once the media disappeared from the record stores.

With the help of some of the superb people here on the forum (@SCompRacer, @mhardy6647, & @dromunds) along with a whole bunch of videos on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-aIDwfrhc & https://youtube.com/watch?v=jizk-3JGzag) we got the Stir it Up assembled and calibrated. Thanks to the extreme generosity of some the fine folks here on the forum, we are spinning records that made their way to us from some people's private collections. Thank you, gentlemen, for all of your advice and for the generous donations!

Unfortunately, I would have a very difficult time trying to explain to you what I'm hearing through this turntable as my audio memory couldn't possibly offer a fair comparison to what I've heard in the past and what I'm hearing now. I have heard some amazing vinyl setups at Rich's house through the InnerSound Eros speakers (I think he had a Nottingham Spacedeck?). I also heard some stellar setups at AXPONA but those are all very meticulously put together and this is my first foray.

I'm currently using the built in preamp to run the signal to my Marantz NR1403 AVR. The stock cartridge is an Audio-Technica ATN3600. The platter is made out of recycled aluminum, as is the speed selector switch and the tonearm. House of Marley prides itself on the use of sustainable materials as the top of the turntable is made of bamboo, & the sides and bottom are covered in black cloth comprised of a combination of hemp, recycled plastic, & organic cotton. The slip mat and the feet are made of the same material which consists of recycled plastic and rubbers.

I am looking to purchase a separate phono preamp and I've already got an upgraded AT100E cartridge on the way. Hopefully, I can extract all the goodness this turntable has to offer with a few tweaks and some additional hardware.

32262978402_4c4b86a513_h.jpg


Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • xsmi
    xsmi Posts: 1,786
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    Looks good! Congrats!
    2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
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    Key? Doormat or top of the doorjam?
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,981
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    Glad you're enjoying the vinyl jams again. Clean aesthetic there. Looking darn good!
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    Just verified what's inscribed on the side of the tonearm:

    "One good thing about Music, when it hits you, you feel no pain"
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,892
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    ^^unless it is Disco.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    Used a protractor today to align the head and, surprisingly, it is set perfectly from the factory.

    Obviously, this will change when I install the AT100E. I'm thinking about picking up an AT shell to keep the alignment on the OEM cartridge set and make swapping easier.

    I also picked up a Parasound zPhono pre but I will only replace one piece at a time to note the difference each one has on the sound quality.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,981
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    Outstanding! Great bang for buck with the zphono. I also agree with extra headshell so swapping is easier.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2017
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    dromunds wrote: »
    Outstanding! Great bang for buck with the zphono. I also agree with extra headshell so swapping is easier.

    Thanks Don!

    Does it matter what headshell I purchase? Are they universal?

    Any recommendations?
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
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    I saw these on display at bestbuy, they look like really nice tables. Congrats on your purchase!
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    I saw these on display at bestbuy
    I guess these are a "mainstream" tt now? The fact that they are at BB is concerning to me. lol.

    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
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    halo wrote: »
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    I saw these on display at bestbuy
    I guess these are a "mainstream" tt now? The fact that they are at BB is concerning to me. lol.

    I wouldn't! They carry Polk and that isn't concerning to me! Haha
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,132
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    I have a couple Marley products. The original bag-of-riddum has been a favorite piece when I travel. I tested a lot of portable boxes and this sounded the best by far.

    Everyone compliments the sound

    Looks good
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    New cartridge arrived today. zPhono pre will be here tomorrow. I will keep you all posted after one of the two is installed and we take a listen.

    audio-technica_at100e_vm_4550322036-3.jpg
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,029
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    practice good scientific method -- change only one variable at a time!

    ;)
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2017
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    practice good scientific method -- change only one variable at a time!

    ;)
    Of course! :smile:

    Now,
    Is this the independent variable or the dependent variable? lol

    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,029
    edited January 2017
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    I had faith in you (two)! :)

    PS -- you've got me interested in that cartridge; A-T (even nowadays) has so many different ones, it's almost unbelievable. That isn't a model I have any familiarity with at all.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    Had? Past tense?
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,029
    edited January 2017
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    heh-heh-heh; sorry!
    I meant that I had faith when I posted my original, jocular admonition!

    :)

    I still do have faith. or, as the web-savvy youth of today might put it -- Teh faiths. I has them.

    Changing both preamp & cartridge at once would be like the Ghostbusters guys (v 1.0, that is) crossing the streams, you know?

    GhostbustersdefeatingGozer.jpg
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2017
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    PS -- you've got me interested in that cartridge; A-T (even nowadays) has so many different ones, it's almost unbelievable. That isn't a model I have any familiarity with at all.
    I chose that cartridge as it is 1/2 the price as the next model up. I figured a modest investment on a modest tt made more sense at this point, plus I had to figure in the cost of the zPhono and the two combined are where I wanted to be, all in, on this my first foray back into vinyl :)

    This cartridge was also recommended by the reviewer of the tt at digital trends. The Needle Doctor recommended the next model up (as I mentioned before, at 2x the price of the one I purchased).
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Changing both preamp & cartridge at once would be like the Ghostbusters guys (v 1.0, that is) crossing the streams, you know?

    lol. I don't think it would be that bad but it would be difficult to determine what made the biggest improvement.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,029
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    halo wrote: »
    I chose that cartridge as it is 1/2 the price as the next model up. I figured a modest investment on a modest tt made more sense at this point, plus I had to figure in the cost of the zPhono and the two combined are where I wanted to be, all in, on this my first foray back into vinyl :)
    :) I like your thinking! Are you a yankee? ;)
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Changing both preamp & cartridge at once would be like the Ghostbusters guys (v 1.0, that is) crossing the streams, you know?

    lol. I don't think it would be that bad but it would be difficult to determine what made the biggest improvement.

    Exactly. Maybe I exaggerated a wee bit, but I am kind of sensitive to uninterpretable experiments ;)

    Keep us posted!


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  • lordcloud
    lordcloud Posts: 29
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    That looks like a very nice table
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    Got the zPhono in the mix now. Sound is fuller. Cartridge swap will be the next upgrade.

    32645714816_2765c0e3d7_k.jpg
    31843617594_baf33654e4_k.jpg
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,029
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    nice.
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
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    Congrats! That is one sharp table!
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    @mhardy6647 & @Dawgfish - Thanks guys!!!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,981
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    Looking darn good
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    dromunds wrote: »
    Looking darn good
    Thanks Don!

    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    I spent most of the day yesterday cleaning records with the Spin-Clean. A majority of the records that I cleaned were for my parents. They recently purchased a Denon 300F turntable and we located a box & a folder full of 45s. While most of the 45s belong to my parents some of them belonged to my siblings (they have no interest in vinyl so I picked up about 10 little records).

    A lot of these records look like they're pretty scratched up but I didn't have any problems playing the ones I pulled from the stack.

    Next weekend we might change the cartridge.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
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    Well, we finally got around to "upgrading" the cartridge on the Stir it Up from the included Audio Technica ATN3600L to an Audio Technica AT100E.

    I didn't spend a metric ton of cash on this upgrade because I wanted to see what I could get out of a modest investment. I'm happy to report that, overall, the sound has improved. There's more emphasis on the bottom end and the mids opened up a bit and the top end is nicely detailed without being harsh. Altogether, I'm happy with it.

    Installation & setup were a little challenging because the headshell is not removable. We ended up reusing the mounting screws and nuts that came with the ATN3600L as none of the hardware supplied with the AT100E would allow me to mount the AT100E to the Stir it Up's headshell. Also, the AT100E cartridge is a lot lighter than the ATN3600L so I had to significantly increase the tracking force beyond what is recommended in the supplied literature. I was briefly reminded of people who taped a quarter to the headshell of their record players when I was a kid.

    It sounds very good and I really like the attached stylus guard.

    33121298805_4f4d77cd28_b.jpg
    32738820500_ded0898361_b.jpg
    32738822690_6a8541abd7_b.jpg
    33121302265_c53762ef82_b.jpg
    32738824220_6844ce6e0f_b.jpg
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,029
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    halo wrote: »
    Well, we finally got around to "upgrading" the cartridge on the Stir it Up from the included Audio Technica ATN3600L to an Audio Technica AT100E.

    ...Also, the AT100E cartridge is a lot lighter than the ATN3600L so I had to significantly increase the tracking force beyond what is recommended in the supplied literature. I was briefly reminded of people who taped a quarter to the headshell of their record players when I was a kid.

    It sounds very good and I really like the attached stylus guard.

    I'm guessing that you didn't increase the tracking force per se, but rather had to crank the counterweight further "in" (towards the pivot) to balance the new cart's lower weight & thence dial in the tracking force(?)

    Not quite trivial, since the AT100E should, I think, be tracked considerably lighter than the AT3600L. A-T sez:

    AT3600L 0.6 mil conical; 2.5 to 3.5 g VTF
    AT100E 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical; 1.0 to 1.8 g VTF

    In 1950s broadcast studios, my father said the DJs would put a "Zippo lighter" on the head of the Gray arms they used so that the stylus would plow through any 'stuck groove' :) Srsly.

    29007.jpg

    That's a Para-Flux arm -- a Zippo'd slip right off the head; the Grays had flat heads ;)
    http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=12543.0

    Here's a Gray -- from "Lenco Heaven":

    35j9x0g.jpg


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