Now I've got it!...

Sax

With new drivers installed in my recently acquired RTA11's (up from Monitor 5b's I was using as computer speakers). An Adcom GFA-545II, a Teac PD-D700 5 disc changer, and a 70's Rega Planar 2 with Grace G-707 tonearm to round out the mix (so far). I present my first real hi-fi set up (JUST finished re-arranging the room and furniture to accomodate).

Best freakin sounds I've ever heard, yet conceptually I KNOW it'll only get better from here. I've still yet to hear Tubes. I have a $45 Audio Technica cartridge. There are many other areas for improvement. But I present my Hi-Fi room version 1.0. ( I say 1.0 because its the first set up of enough good components to call the entire thing a hi-fi system ) (but then again it may just be the programmer in me).

I spent a lot of time on set up to get the best out of what I do have. The turntable is level, new belt installed, just cleaned and re-lubed my platter bearing. (I used 80w/90 Hypoid Gear Oil, aka EP80. I read that it was essentially the same as offical bearing lube). VTA still needs to be fine tuned but I need to get a spacer to really do that...otherwise the cartridge has been meticulously adjusted. I took great care to not have any power cables parallel to any signal paths, etc.

So anyhow, without further adue, I present the photographic evidence




now, keep in mind, I got this coming sometime later this week or hopefully early next week at the latest (its already ordered)

Sax

heck with upgrades, I just realized... I still need to break IN my new drivers! lol. These are gonna sound nice, I just know it...but I can somehow hear that they do indeed still need to break in... (the new drivers).

What amazed me though is what the adcom did to my Monitor 5b's... they sound like a whole new speaker.


edit: sorry for double post, I had though I had used the edit button when it was really just the quick reply.

BlueMDPicker

Lookin' good! Enjoy the music.

steveinaz

Cool vintage flavor setup. I like it.

RuSsMaN

Neato!

billbillw

Sax,
I'm not sure what Rega recommends, but you may want to re-think the use of gearlube for your turntable bearing. Everything I've read points towards using thin oil that will not break down over time. In other words, thin (5w) synthetic motor oil or sewing machine oil. You don't want thick stuff gumming up your bearing. Gear lube is usally meant for high temp/high stress environments like car transmissions or industrial gearboxes. Otherwise, nice start to your system.

danger boy

very nice looking. those RTA 11's are taller than i thought they were. enjoy

Sax

I love them!.

billbillw, I have researched it thoroughly and in several sources found it recommended from rega directly specifically Comma Hypoid EP80, Castrol EPX80w/90 or Shell Spirax EP90 to be used as replacement bearing lubes. The thicker oil also acts as acoustical damping to the bearing and shaft and these are closest to the official bearing oil provided by rega, as I have found. Don't get me wrong I'm not disputing you, this is actually still a matter of debate as I don't have any *official* sources, and if you have further information I'd research further and appreciate your input.


ALSO....

my last two drivers came today. I now have two RTA-11t's that are better than new. All-new drivers with RD0 tweeters. oh yeah.

and then also, the audio gods were smiling upon me, as it was only last night that I re-arranged my room in the above pics, when my audio rack came today. I ordered it sunday.... apparently it shipped out of LA and I live in SD. What luck!

edit: I also got some really good RCA's today then, since I now have all my drivers and the cherry stand, I got it all set-up really good while I was at it.

So now, updated pics!

SCompRacer

Sax wrote:

I love them!.

billbillw, I have researched it thoroughly and in several sources found it recommended from rega directly specifically Comma Hypoid EP80, Castrol EPX80w/90 or Shell Spirax EP90 to be used as replacement bearing lubes.

I'll second that. Two 'dollops' IIRC, which means really big drops.

Nice setup. Njoy!

GuitarheadCA

Sax,
How is the new VTI stand? I'm about to order the 404, which is only slightly different than yours (which you probably know) and it'd be nice to have an opinion about the quality. Also where did you get it from - racksandstands? Standsandmounts? It looks like you got the Cherry/Black/Gold - How's it look?

Thanks,
Peter

Sax

oh, its cherry/black/silver. the lighting may be giving a gold effect but look closer its the silver finish.

Build quality... I'm floored. Its solid... I stacked the shelves up and sat on the top. I used to walk into the room and my needle would skip (we have bad floors) and it elimited that. I give this an A+ in my book. I've looked at other stands and nothing in this price range even touches it I feel. To get this quality you normally have to pay a lot more it seems.... so in summary I'm a huge VTI fan now. Definitely.

I got it from racksandstands.com, to answer your other question.

How's it look? Dead sexy!

billbillw

Well, like I said, I wasn't sure what Rega recommended. Maybe their bearing is a little different design from some of the others I've had. I wouldn't worry about it.

Sax wrote:

billbillw, I have researched it thoroughly and in several sources found it recommended from rega directly specifically Comma Hypoid EP80, Castrol EPX80w/90 or Shell Spirax EP90 to be used as replacement bearing lubes. The thicker oil also acts as acoustical damping to the bearing and shaft and these are closest to the official bearing oil provided by rega, as I have found. Don't get me wrong I'm not disputing you, this is actually still a matter of debate as I don't have any *official* sources, and if you have further information I'd research further and appreciate your input.

SCompRacer wrote:

I'll second that. Two 'dollops' IIRC, which means really big drops.

Nice setup. Njoy!