I stole this!!!

hearingimpared
hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
edited April 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
I've been obsessing over upgrading my VPI MK II turntable of late. I've been thinking of getting a SAMA and an upgrade of the platter that VPI is offering as well as suspension upgrades and anything else I can salivate over. If the upgrades were not available or too expensive I was going to go with a new VPI table like a used Super Scoutmaster or something along those lines.

This awesome thing is what the Big Man Upstairs dropped in my lap:

A VPI MK IV upgraded with the 3/8" steel sub-plinth 1/2" acrylic deck, SAMA, TNT platter/bearing/well assembly, three TNT high performance belts, TNT upgraded tuned damped suspension (2.5 hz resonance), 1" acrylic super armboard mounted with an AudioQuest PT-6 tonearm (with the special 1.2M cable) with a Benz Micro Silver cartridge installed, the special grease VPI supplies with the platter bearing, a Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge and VPI's two piece delrin clamping system (for sale hehehe). The only thing that this baby needs are the coned feet.

What I need to do is to see if the SME V tonearm mounted on my MK II on 1/2" acrylic armboard will raise high enough to simply replace the 1" armboard with the AQ tonearm. If I can plug and play this configuration, I'm planning on listening to all three cartridges I now have and see which one(s) I like best.

And the $$$ damage is. . . wouldn't ya like to know!!! I can tell you that I feel like a thief. BTW this fellow also threw in a dozen power cable tweaks. I think I covered it all.

Anyhoo, some pics.
Post edited by hearingimpared on
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Comments

  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited March 2007
    You thief you!!!:D Great snag. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. The big man sure does like you!!:eek: Can't wait to give everything a listen. Hurry up & get everything set up.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited March 2007
    Looks great Joe. Cant wait to hear it.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited March 2007
    Sing with me " OOhhh..I'm a gonna go to hell when I die, oh I'm a gonna go to hell when I die.":D

    Congrats you lucky guy , you.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited March 2007
    If I thought vinyl was worth a shite, that would be really cool ;)
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2007
    dorokusai wrote:
    If I thought vinyl was worth a shite, that would be really cool ;)

    You crack me up Bro.:D
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,500
    edited March 2007
    WOWSA! Nice score Joe. You confessed so that puts you on the path to forgiveness. I like that all your clamp are belong to us pic.:D
    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 *
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited March 2007
    Congrats on the new toy! That's one nice setup.

    Enjoy
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited March 2007
    Great find!

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,769
    edited March 2007
    Cool, I knew that you snagged this deal, but the Sumiko cartridge and the other stuff was an added bonus eh? Yah know, I might be interested in that Delrin clamp for mine.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • izafar
    izafar Posts: 819
    edited March 2007
    Nice find!
    -izafar

    Goldenear Technology Triton 1 - Benchmark AHB2 - Benchmark LA4 - Auralic Vega - Auralic Aries Mini - Marantz TT-15S1 - Clearaudio Nano
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2007
    Nice grab. My wife has been asking me if we will ever get to hear all those LP's that we have stored away. Maybe someday.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2007
    janmike wrote:
    Nice grab. My wife has been asking me if we will ever get to hear all those LP's that we have stored away. Maybe someday.
    Well if not then just send them to my home they will get plenty of play time!!! LOL :D:D:D:p:p
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited March 2007
    Man, I'm STILL green with envy....and waiting to hear your observations.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited March 2007
    Nice score! So you are saying you want to put the SME arm on it? Didn't really understand what you meant. So how is this table compared to what you had?
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,500
    edited March 2007
    Say, Joe, if that SME V arm won't work out on the new table, I'll take it off your hands. I just happen to have a spare pod and arm board for one.:D
    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 *
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited March 2007
    Congrats Joe! Nice table! You thief!:D
    Carl

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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2007
    The SME V WILL STILL BE HELD IN MY DEAD HANDS WITH A VICE GRIP ON IT IN MY 1.2 TL COFFINS!!!

    On my MK II the SME V is mounted on a 1/2" acrylic armboard. I can remove the 1" armboard (with the AQ tonearm on it) on the modified MK IV and install the 1/2" armboard with the SME V. At this point the issue is can I raise the SME V tonearm up high enough on its pillar to allow for the extra thickness of the new platter. If not then I have to buy a 1" thick armboard drilled for the SME V from VPI which isn't cheap. That is the only thing right now keeping me from switching over today. I want to listen to music tonight and if I make the change now, and it works, I'll be doing adjustments the rest of tonight so I've got all day Sunday slotted to do the switcherooo.

    I can't wait.

    I'll make a list of differences between the old and new a little later.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited March 2007
    Just remember there is something going on there with mass too. For example, I have a couple of arm boards for my michell. Not only are they a little different layout for different arms, they are different weights.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited March 2007
    Congrats!! Here's proof that good things come to those that do good things.:)
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited March 2007
    DarqueKnight wrote:
    Congrats!! Here's proof that good things come to those that do good things.:)

    Amen!
    Carl

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  • 55LS70
    55LS70 Posts: 184
    edited March 2007
    Uber score!!! I've been thinking about getting back into vinyl lately and if I came across like that it just might make me pull the trigger.
    Decware CSP3 Preamp, RCA 6DJ8, 2 X Rocket 6N1P-EV's, Cary SLA70B Signature V2 Amplifier: 2 X Mullard GZ32's, 2 X RCA/GE 5691's, 4 X Tung-Sol 6550's

    Cambridge Audio 640C V2 CD Player & Dacmagic DAC

    Rega Planar 3: Deep Groove Subplatter, P3 Motor
    upgrade, Dynavector 10x5, JA Michell counterwieght, Cardas tonearm wiring and Mapleshade stand

    Parks Audio Budgie Hybrid Phonostage with BEL 6922 tubes, Polk Audio LS70's

    H.H. Scott 330D AM/FM Tuner with H.H. Scott 335 Multiplex adaptor.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2007
    DarqueKnight wrote:
    Congrats!! Here's proof that good things come to those that do good things.:)

    schwarcw wrote:
    Amen!

    Wow guys I'm really touched, thanks for the kinds words.:)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2007
    madmax wrote:
    Just remember there is something going on there with mass too. For example, I have a couple of arm boards for my michell. Not only are they a little different layout for different arms, they are different weights.
    madmax

    Everything about this new acquisition is about increased mass. . . bigtime increased mass!!!

    The sub-plinth is 3/8th inch thick stainless steel, the platter is 26 lbs and the two materials that make up the platter are connected together with a 3 point system, the armboard is 1" thick acrylic, the stand-alone motor is in the 26 lb neighborhood, heck even the bearing and assembly is over 5 lbs. There is lots of damping and isolation going on in this design. I'm planning on starting the migration process tomorrow, hopefully, I'll be able to use the 1/2" acrylic armboard my SME V is currently mounted on. Down the road I'll buy the 1" superarmboard for the SME V . . . that friggin thing costs $120 drilled. . . that's a lot of scratch for a piece of shiny plastic.

    I just purchased the Black Diamond Cones MK IV to use as the feet, I gotta replace those terrible rubber feet that are currently on there. I get to use them for 30 days to see if they are worth the high cost.

    My older son was over today and got to hear my current analog set-up and was blown away. The poor kid hasn't heard a good analog system since he was 6 or 8 years old so for all intents and purposes it is really the first time for him. He admitted that the analog version of what I played (of course I A/B'd each piece of music with its digital counterpart CD & SACD) sounded more open, detailed, natural, and was more holographic. That made me very happy.
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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited April 2007
    Congrats on the grand theft turntable lol. REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited April 2007
    Grand Theft Audio!!! That is very funny.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2007
    hearingimpared wrote:
    Everything about this new acquisition is about increased mass. . . bigtime increased mass!!!

    I'm talking beyond my knowledge here so take this for what its worth. There is something about wanting a specific mass (not necessarily more or less) for an arm mounting plate to go with a given arm. I believe it has something to do with resonant frequency but truely do not know what I'm talking about. There is something about wanting your arm assembly to resonate at some very low frequency but too low?? I don't know, just wanted to throw it out there in case you want to look into it. Read some stuff on the asylum about it but was just not getting it at the time. :)
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • capecodder
    capecodder Posts: 613
    edited April 2007
    Hey hearing: I just had my new (to me) Linn LP12 set up this weekend and the Sumiko Blue Point was one of the cartridges that was recommended as a good match for possible replacement to the Linn K9 currently installed (in the price range that I would at least consider that is). I've read very good reviews of the Blue Points so let me know what you think. Further,..... if you don't need yours.....since you seem to have way too many cartridges...... and are looking to unload it.....I might know someone (who ME?) who might be interested....
    Great looking table btw.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited April 2007
    madmax wrote:
    I'm talking beyond my knowledge here so take this for what its worth. There is something about wanting a specific mass (not necessarily more or less) for an arm mounting plate to go with a given arm. I believe it has something to do with resonant frequency but truely do not know what I'm talking about. There is something about wanting your arm assembly to resonate at some very low frequency but too low?? I don't know, just wanted to throw it out there in case you want to look into it. Read some stuff on the asylum about it but was just not getting it at the time. :)
    madmax

    Your cartridge/tonearm will resonate at a certain frequency. If you have a good matchup it will resonate at a very low inaudible frequency, that very low frequency will cause harmonic resonance frequency(s). My tonearm/cart combo start to resonate at around 3 to 5 hz which causes the tonearm to start moving up and down (lively resonance) at around 13 hz hardly within our hearing range.

    Don't ask me to explain this stuff it is all information I got from my turntable setup record. I did what I was instructed to do and and found the resonant frequency of the combo as well and the harmonic resonant frequency. I don't understand how they came up with all of that.

    As far as the mass goes, my SAMA is around 26 lbs as is my platter. This mass dampens vibrations and airborn noise/vibration. The heavy armboard further dampens any vibrations that might make its way up the tonearm pillar.

    I can tell you that when you have all this mass with a properly tuned (for low frequency resounce) suspension, you get that blackness and bass and drum slam.

    I'm doing an evaluation of my new setup and will post my impressions and findings very soon.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited April 2007
    capecodder wrote:
    Hey hearing: I just had my new (to me) Linn LP12 set up this weekend and the Sumiko Blue Point was one of the cartridges that was recommended as a good match for possible replacement to the Linn K9 currently installed (in the price range that I would at least consider that is). I've read very good reviews of the Blue Points so let me know what you think. Further,..... if you don't need yours.....since you seem to have way too many cartridges...... and are looking to unload it.....I might know someone (who ME?) who might be interested....
    Great looking table btw.


    I'll keep you in mind Brother. BTW thank you!:)
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  • capecodder
    capecodder Posts: 613
    edited April 2007
    No prob. Take care.

    PS: Have you had a burger at the Deer Park yet?? I still salivate over them (assuming they still serve them as they "used" to; big, fat, dripping cheese and mushrooms down the elbows... ).
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