New TT on the way

bikerboy

I got the bug to replace my Denon DP-72 and found a Nottingham Spacedeck with the Space arm on the gon. I think it will be a good table for a long time. I will use my Soundsmith modded Denon DL-103r with the ruby canti line contact for a cartridge. I was going to get the Empire here for sale but someone else was ahead of me. I have lusted after a NA deck for years so this will be fun. Will have to think about replacing the Van Alstine as a preamp but that will be down the road. The Hagerman Piccolo will be used unless I get a phono amp that can work well with the low output of the Denon. Should sound very nice! Maybe as good as the TPA Buffalo! I'll have to compare DSOTM vinyl vs cd and see what sounds better!

cstmar01

I think that is the same TT that Rich on the forum here had before he did his custom Lenco.

Very cool TT from what he explained to me about them! Congrats and nice choice! I just love how the thing looks, just sooooo pretty.

gdb

Is that "British Made" thing an actual badge affixed permanently to the TT? If so, I'd have to figure out some way to "lose" that. The ego on those limey bastages !

nspindel

I'm surprised they used that blue marble design. Would have thought they'd have used the Union Jack!

Beautiful TT, enjoy it. I've just gotten back into vinyl myself, after selling off my turntable in 1988. Enjoy!

steveinaz

Unique!

SCompRacer

Congrats on the Spacedeck! I had one many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it! The pic shows an early design with the early Space arm. Later Spacedecks employed a thicker, heavier platter with an improved Ace Space arm. Nottingham uses a mechanically damped unipivot design.

Tom Fletcher (RIP) founder of Nottingham Analogue, had a different approach in turntable design. He believed in a minimal plinth and metal platter with rubber dampening rings. He used a low torque AC motor to prevent a cogging effect. You have to push start the platter to get it going and the motor just sustains the speed. (In my experience, high torque motors usually always benefitted from a speed controller while a low torque did not). This also allows your friends do the 'start the lawnmower' motion while you get it going. :cheesygrin:

He used a durable silicone belt that just required hand washing from time to time. (After a while you learn to keep your fingers away from it stopping the platter, use the dampening ring). If you don't have a manual download one and place the motor at the specified distance, not 6" away and overstretch the belt. The articulated armboard makes for easy setup or when experimenting with different arms. You can even mount two arms on a Spacedeck if you like. I had a Micro Seiki MA-505 MK II along with the Space arm.

The supplied foam mat works very well but I preferred the Boston Audio Mat 1 (carbon graphite). Nottingham also sells a heavy platter upgrade which consisted of a near 1" thick piece of graphite and spacer to raise the tonearm. Talk about a dead surface.

Chris, close. I had a Nottingham Spacedeck then upgraded to the Space 294 with OEM arm. Then I stuck a Moerch DP6 dual pivot tonearm on it. While my Spacedeck was dead on for speed with the needle in the groove, the Space 294 was at the high side RIAA limit of fast so I ended up with the Nottingham Wave Mechanic speed controller to slow it down.

It took some investment to best my ModWright Sony 9100ES at the time. I recall my best friend Norm (RIP) saying "now I hear what all the fuss in vinyl is about."

Njoy man!

OK, found pic of my old Spacedeck! Cart at that time was a Sumiko Blackbird.

bikerboy

Hi Rich,
Thanks for the info. I think I will be happy for a long time with this tt. I'm not a big vinyl player but this table may change that.
Gdb: Rich can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the base is painted mdf and is optional to use. The seller said the tt weighs 42lb so it cant be marble. I will try it with and without. The stand I am using is a 4x4 wood frame with about 120lb of concrete for a top. So I think the tt will be fine directly on the concrete top. I think I will be gettting the carbon mat soon. But I cant wait to hear this new vinyl setup!

SCompRacer

bikerboy wrote: »

Hi Rich,
Thanks for the info. I think I will be happy for a long time with this tt. I'm not a big vinyl player but this table may change that.
Gdb: Rich can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the base is painted mdf and is optional to use. The seller said the tt weighs 42lb so it cant be marble. I will try it with and without. The stand I am using is a 4x4 wood frame with about 120lb of concrete for a top. So I think the tt will be fine directly on the concrete top. I think I will be gettting the carbon mat soon. But I cant wait to hear this new vinyl setup!

You are most welcome! That is affirmative on the base. It was provided in the event the surface you placed the table/motor pod on was not level. It also gave you some added isolation. The base was shipped with stick on dot type feet. The turntable has three feet, with two that are adjustable to level it. The nice thing about the base is you can get an acrylic cover made to fit around it. If you bump the cover, it won't slam into the tonearm. Matter of fact having the cartridge hang in the air with nothing under it freaks some folks out.

I think you will like the table. Turntables can be like cars, nimble and sporty capable of extracting every nuance and detail with high clarity and dynamics. Or luxurious and smooth, gooey-warm sounding. IMO the Nottinghams are in between. It has a dead quiet background, capable of dynamics with warmth and very musical. The Space replaced a Linn LP12 and was a very exciting upgrade for me.

Are you getting bearing oil with it? Nottingham sure charged for the stuff they sold!

bikerboy

Thanks for the pic of your tt. It answers the question "will The Clamp work on the spacedeck?" Since you were using one, it will work just fine. "It has a dead quiet background, capable of dynamics with warmth and very musical. " Thats what I want from my vinyl setup, so I like hearing it from someone who owned one. Thanks again.

SCompRacer

bikerboy wrote: »

Thanks for the pic of your tt. It answers the question "will The Clamp work on the spacedeck?" Since you were using one, it will work just fine.

The platter is attached to a flat flange on the bearing shaft (no taper) so it will handle The Clamp. The bearing was designed for the heavy platter kit (~9 pounds IIRC) so The Clamp won't create excess bearing load. The Clamp created so much down pressure, it actually forced my carbon graphite Boston Audio Mat 1 into the record label cutout in the platter which distorted it, causing the outer edges of the mat to lift off the platter. I finally ended up shimming the label cutout (a real pain) which solved that issue.

That is why I eventually went with an outer periphery ring clamping system with record weight. But it was really all about the glitter of the shiny, faceted record weight as it spins...it gives me brief flashbacks of leisure suits and the disco days.:cheesygrin: