Well Tempered Record Player

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
edited April 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
Hello,
I just finished overhauling a classic Well Tempered turntable for my basement work area and it sounds excellent. I bought this used from my favorite audio shop, Soundscape in Baltimore (Polk's very first dealer!) and couldn't be happier. They were terrific to deal with, it's a treat having such a helpful group of audio enthusiasts in our town.
I polished the plinth and got rid of some small scratches and spruced up the "piano-like" finish. I completely dissembled the tone arm and cleaned it up and re-strung the arm. I replaced the damping fluid and installed a Sumiko Pearl as a "learner" cartridge until I feel comfortable with setting up the overhang, tracking force etc. It came with a Grado Sonata in beautiful shape and that will be the eventual cartridge. But it sounds amazing so far!
Cheers, Ken
Post edited by [Deleted User] on

Comments

  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2012
    Very nice, Congrats !
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited April 2012
    Beautiful table. I have been eyeing one of those myself. Congrats!
  • doctor r
    doctor r Posts: 837
    edited April 2012
    Beautiful table Ken. Did it come with any type of alignment protractor? If not vinyl engine has some you can download online to play with. Ultimately as you get more addicted a Mint LP protractor may be in your future. With the care you have shown with the tape decks your will have sweet sounds dialed in quickly. VTF, Overhang, and offset are quantitative, VTA (SRA) and bias (antiskate) are qualitative and set by ear (at least in my world). Enjoy.
    integrated w/DAC module Gryphon Diablo 300
    server Wolf Alpha 3SX
    phono pre Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono II
    turntable/tonearms Origin Live Sovereign Mk3 dual arm, Origin Live Enterprise Mk4, Origin Live Illustrious Mk3c
    cartridges Miyajima Madake, Ortofon Windfeld Ti, Ortofon
    speakers Rockport Mira II
    cables Synergistic Research Cables, Gryphon VPI XLR, Sablon 2020 USB
    rack Adona Eris 6dw
    ultrasonic cleaner Degritter
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited April 2012
    Hi Dr. R,
    Yes, it came with everything, including the protractor and original acrylic platter (the original owner upgraded to the "black damped platter" and bearing. There's even a dust cover that I'll polish next week. I also have my trusty Dennesen "Soundtractor" that I used for many years. I still need to understand about the positioning of the arm "until stylus tip extends past the spindle and the stylus lines up with the circle". Does that mean just being within the circle? Then, I don't believe I'm able to get the cartridge parallel to the two null points on the protractor. Does that mean I need to readjust the arm assembly?
    I'll cogitate on things for a spell and sit on the back porch and watch the squirrels chase each other.
    Cheers, Ken
  • doctor r
    doctor r Posts: 837
    edited April 2012
    Hi Ken
    Just looked at manual over at vinyl engine and it appears on their illustration that it is actually the tip of the arm itself that should touch the distal part of the circle. Then the cartridge is mounted and you go for the null points. It seems the original circle is for positioning the arm befor the cartridge is even mounted. I do not know if this helps.
    Rick
    http://www.vinylengine.com/ve_downloads/index.php?well_tempered/welltempered_arm.pdf
    integrated w/DAC module Gryphon Diablo 300
    server Wolf Alpha 3SX
    phono pre Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono II
    turntable/tonearms Origin Live Sovereign Mk3 dual arm, Origin Live Enterprise Mk4, Origin Live Illustrious Mk3c
    cartridges Miyajima Madake, Ortofon Windfeld Ti, Ortofon
    speakers Rockport Mira II
    cables Synergistic Research Cables, Gryphon VPI XLR, Sablon 2020 USB
    rack Adona Eris 6dw
    ultrasonic cleaner Degritter
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited April 2012
    Nice job and table Ken! Usually once you set the overhang (stylus tip to center of spindle), you should be fine with your null points and just square the cartridge body up, provided the cantilever is parallel with the cartridge body. Is the arm pivot fixed or movable? If movable and you don't have it set to the right amount to center of spindle, the null points won't align even with the proper overhang. Like doctor r mentioned. That's what I have had happen on tables with articulated armboards that didn't have the proper pivot to spindle C to C.



    When I was trying different tables through the years and even building my Lenco, the Feickert's Alignment Tool came in handy. A snap to set or mark arm pivot c to c.

    feickert.jpg
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited April 2012
    Very Nice. Does this mean you getting rid of something ? :cool:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited April 2012
    Hello,
    I used my Dennesen alignment protractor and I believe things are aligned correctly, when I compared it to what Well Tempered provided it agreed with that lineup. I'll connect my Ortofon turntable analyzer and check for frequency response, resonant frequency and channel separation later on in the week. I thought I'd post a few more photos, showing the unique bearing-less design and the damping mechanism.
    This table replaced a great sounding AR XA that held the fort until the WT was ready. Upstairs the Maplenoll has been finished and is in service and is working like a champ after a new bearing, pump etc.
    Time for some more Jimi.
    Cheers, Ken
  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited April 2012
    I have not seen a mechanism like that before. What a simple but brilliant design.

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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited April 2012
    Syndil wrote: »
    I have not seen a mechanism like that before. What a simple but brilliant design.

    IIRC Well Tempered was the first to suspend a tonearm with monofilament line. Another most successful adaptation of that suspension is with Frank Schroeder's tonearms. Instead of a damped bath, he uses magnetic damping under the tonearm using small but powerful neodymium magnets.

    schroeder_ref_03.jpg
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited April 2012
    That's a beautiful looking tone arm, SComp. The Well Tempered has quite a few design innovations that appealed to me. The platter uses a bearing system that is really different, instead of the traditional sleeve type bearing the platter shaft is supported at the bottom and top with pieces of Delrin and the tension of the drive belt pulls the plater towards the motor, keeping it vertical. This arrangement gives ideal support to the platter and has very little friction, but the platter will "flop" over if you remove the belt. The current version of the table has the tonearm shaft going through a golf ball which is suspended by the threads in a bath of silicone damping material. The reviews have been very favorable for this, the Amadeus, I believe.
    Cheers, Ken