Alignment gauge, scale and miscellaneous set-up tools came with the TT
There are some helpful you tube videos if you search VPI set-up
Also Fremers TT set-up video on you tube as well
My dealer sets up new carts for me so I’m somewhat fortunate on that front as they are very close by and are friends and come to my place to do the set-ups (in exchange for a few cocktails)
As far as VTA I’m a set it and forget it, not changing vta based on various vinyl thickness, again, if something doesn’t sound “right” to me, one of the guys from the dealer will stop by to tweak. On the fly vta is a convenience for sure but one I easily live without
Check out some set-up vids and let us know how it goes
I gotta be honest, I LOVE the classic 80’s looks of those Technics turntables. I’m assuming finding an older classic one is not the same quality as the newer ones?
I think the biggest difference is the iso feet gave the sound more weight. The cheap, “plasticy”feet supplied with the table gave the overall sound a thin tone
Zero motor noise or vibration, much quieter overall presentation
Bass “tightness” improved and they eliminated any footfall issues. The rig is on the second floor and the floor is a little springy if you will; a herd of buffalo could run through the room and I think the stylus would remain locked in the groove…
I also like the way they look!
The feet are GAIA by the way, the 1/4-20 studs thread directly into the plinth. My dealer had a customer return them after going in a different speaker direction. They were in like new condition and I got a nice discount. I had been looking for different feet for the VPI and he suggested I give them a no risk trial, glad I did
Hope this makes sense (4:30 am and waiting on coffee maker🙂)
Thanks, JP. Very informative. I have GAIA II under my Focal Sopra 2 speakers, and various Orea/Pucks under components, yet to try them under the Classic 1. Recently I realized that I need better isolation for TT after I tried Synergistic Research’s Record Weight (I knew there are some people on these forums very biased against SR, hopefully you are not one of them ). I like the record weight a LOT (I will post my impression of it on the forum later), but I could hear the “rattle” of the bearings while I walked around the TT. I will try GAIA III. Thanks again for the information.
Nice! No hum from the cartridge by the power transformer below? Even if not, you might have better ambiance by putting it further away. But many seem to put it in their racks, some even on top…I guess Od hide it behind the rack if possible.
I believe you there’s no hum, it just might be the radiation influences capability of ambiance reproduction or holographic imaging anyway (in case the setup is very revealing).
You must consider that partly considerable effort is taken (with success) to fight radiation at less sensitive places and I guess a transformer anywhere near a cartridge is the worst combination.
Also consider that for that reason (among others) phonostages and motor drive units for record players have separate power supplies to place at the floor…and you guys place a power amp directly under the record player
But it may well be that it doesn’t have a sound influence anyway in your case, so then, nothing to change.
Getting back to VTA, there is good and bad VTA. My Jelco 850 arm has poor VTA, in that you have to hold the arm pillar in position and tighten a grub screw, that can change the height just by tightening it. My Origin Live arm has VTA on the fly, you rotate a wheel and it raises or lowers the arm by 1mm per half revolution, and then you can fix it in place with a grub screw. I’ve done this with the record playing.
The Rega fibre mat is very thin and should be used. Origin Live make a very popular one that is much thicker and requires VTA adjustment.
I also use an Origin Live damper between the cartridge and headshell, which also affects VTA.
Well as said: I will rethink the deck’s position this weekend (and/or at least do a nearby listening check). The SolidSteel rack I use was first a real stack with 4 platforms. To make it more ‘blend’ in the room, I decided to take it apart and put the 2half racks next to each other. Additionally I turned the platforms upside down, as the rubberized coating on each top of the platforms deteriorated. The bottom part of the shelfs is just coated black. It seems SolidSteel doesn’t use this rubber coating anymore. Now dust on the shelfs is building up sooner at least visibly…
I don’t own a turntable and I don’t have an opinion on the Mobile Fidelity turntables sound quality but the coolness factor on this new Fender design turntable is thru the roof!!!
I’d like to have a turn table in my system this Fender makes really want one!
Yeah, it’s a bit overpriced IMO, but definitely could attract some folks to vinyl. I’m sure it’s a solid deck - you sure you don’t wanna step into the vinyl machine?
). I like the record weight a LOT (I will post my impression of it on the forum later), but I could hear the “rattle” of the bearings while I walked around the TT. I will try GAIA III. Thanks again for the information.
