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New TT, SL1200GR

Ingenieur

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Apr 23, 2021
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Based on comments in another forum these could not be found. Some went as far as buying up to a $4k SL1200G! Angst over production moving to Malaysia, etc.

I found 2 places with a few. Very smooth transaction with Rock and Soul DJ, a 45+ year old company, perhaps largest DJ supplier in the US (world)?). I have 0 affiliation. Folks were warned to stay away from them. Lol

My experience:
I emailed last Wed afternoon, stock inquiry.
Response came within an hour: affirmative.
Me: thanks, want to sleep on it,
Response, just let us know if you need anything.

The next morning I called and asked what was the easiest way to do it, they said PayPal invoice, 15 minutes later I received and paid it (after CC company called to verify). 1 hour later, paid invoice emailed with tracking info. No tax, free shipping.
Arrived last Monday double boxed.

It is quality. While waiting I decided to get a table for it rather than use my wall platform. Not concerned about strength (moment & reaction are well below limits) but rather vibration from a cantilever under tension. Found an end table, made in 1962, mid-century modern. $20! Heavy as heck with a 1" thick removable marble (?) top, very handy. My vibration app shows zilch.

Drilled 4 x 2" holes in the back at the bottom:
Power, digital, phono, speakers, 5" on center.
Put my cased MA6300 in it. Measured the temp with my Fluke TC, 110 deg F, drilled 8 x 2" in the back at the top, dropped it 10-15 deg. Cut an opening sized per Mac spec (same as case) dropped it to 80-85 max. The amp runs at 100 in open air so I know it's cooling now.

Next cartridge: had a budget so needed one <$200. Found the cheapest highest rated in Stereophile's recommended list: Goldring E3. Read some reviews, very positive.

It needs 100-200 pF loading: amp ~65, tonearm~25, so I got a 3' LC-1 ~ 40, total ~ 130. When plugged into a response calculator +0, -1 to 20 kHz. I may not have needed it. When it arrived it measured 35-40, the 2 m oem Technics measured only 75-80! Oh well

After all hooked up got a small hum from 1 channel at 75% volume. Isolated it to the Loki. Scratched my head them looked at my amps service manual. I thought the xfmr was in the rear, nope, in the front, right under the Loki. Moved it around, raised it on some spacers, now it's dead silent at 100%.

I'll add listening impressions later, have only 10 hours on it and I'm a finger pecking typer.
Lol
 

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OP
Ingenieur

Ingenieur

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Forgot to add:
Using TT wall mount for my notebook/foobar/SSHD/FLAC set-up.

My remote did not work (obviously) so got a cheap repeater off Amazon, mounted it inside the door in from of the amps receiver. The repeater receiver is on the TT bracket.

All is well, wife is happy with the hidden gear.
Sounds great. Nearing the end, might do a HOMC cartridge down the road.

Furman PST8 under the table. Amp and sub direct to wall, PST into my TV UPS in the cabinet.

I do not subscribe to the power conditioner, cable clique. I did it for organizational reasons.
I have a whole house Siemens surge protector and extra ground rods, very low R.
For safety, protection, not SQ
 

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OP
Ingenieur

Ingenieur

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Some early listening impressions. Take it with a grain of salt. I have good hearing, tested annually and I protect it. I can discern well on bit rate tests, etc. I do not consider myself a golden ear, lol., more like tin. I need a noticeable change to discern it.

This TT has changed my LIFE!!!!
The sounds of angels singing. Ear orgasm!!!!



OK, not really, but it is an improvement, lol
Old: Project T1, Ortofon Super OM10, good set-up (Cart-Align, experienced with it for 40 years), some dampening and motor isolation mods. Sounded good imo

The new TT: Can't tell if changes are from the TT or cartridge. My impressions: more localized/focused sound sources, less 'fuzz' around them. The high end less bright and extended a bit. The bass goes deeper and has better tone. Is it a cost ratio improvement 4:1?
No, never is. But IS it an audible improvement? Definitely. No regrets. My system deserved it. It's my end TT.

1st world nits:
I wish the strobe could be turned off
I wish the stylus lamp recessed flush
Petty, I would not be human w/o a whine, lol
 
OP
Ingenieur

Ingenieur

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
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Location
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Temperature check. The probe is in the same location as when I measured it in free space for a debate on another forum. A 'warm up' fiasco. People were claiming it needed hours to warm up. And they could hear it. My position, after DC bias stabilizes, play music. Basically a minute or two, perhaps 5 minutes for tubes. But really moot. Can't be heard regardless.

So I timed with and without music. It would need to idle for hours to get to the temp music achieved in 15 minutes, even IF it mattered. Time for DC bias to stabilize is on there also.

I've had it on for 5 hours so far today, the last 2+ playing music. 94 F.
Open air tests are ~ the same.
 

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Gorgonzola

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 27, 2021
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Based on comments in another forum these could not be found. Some went as far as buying up to a $4k SL1200G! Angst over production moving to Malaysia, etc.

I found 2 places with a few. Very smooth transaction with Rock and Soul DJ, a 45+ year old company, perhaps largest DJ supplier in the US (world)?). I have 0 affiliation. Folks were warned to stay away from them. Lol

My experience:
I emailed last Wed afternoon, stock inquiry.
Response came within an hour: affirmative.
Me: thanks, want to sleep on it,
Response, just let us know if you need anything.

The next morning I called and asked what was the easiest way to do it, they said PayPal invoice, 15 minutes later I received and paid it (after CC company called to verify). 1 hour later, paid invoice emailed with tracking info. No tax, free shipping.
Arrived last Monday double boxed.

It is quality. While waiting I decided to get a table for it rather than use my wall platform. Not concerned about strength (moment & reaction are well below limits) but rather vibration from a cantilever under tension. Found an end table, made in 1962, mid-century modern. $20! Heavy as heck with a 1" thick removable marble (?) top, very handy. My vibration app shows zilch.

Drilled 4 x 2" holes in the back at the bottom:
Power, digital, phono, speakers, 5" on center.
Put my cased MA6300 in it. Measured the temp with my Fluke TC, 110 deg F, drilled 8 x 2" in the back at the top, dropped it 10-15 deg. Cut an opening sized per Mac spec (same as case) dropped it to 80-85 max. The amp runs at 100 in open air so I know it's cooling now.

Next cartridge: had a budget so needed one <$200. Found the cheapest highest rated in Stereophile's recommended list: Goldring E3. Read some reviews, very positive.

It needs 100-200 pF loading: amp ~65, tonearm~25, so I got a 3' LC-1 ~ 40, total ~ 130. When plugged into a response calculator +0, -1 to 20 kHz. I may not have needed it. When it arrived it measured 35-40, the 2 m oem Technics measured only 75-80! Oh well

After all hooked up got a small hum from 1 channel at 75% volume. Isolated it to the Loki. Scratched my head them looked at my amps service manual. I thought the xfmr was in the rear, nope, in the front, right under the Loki. Moved it around, raised it on some spacers, now it's dead silent at 100%.

I'll add listening impressions later, have only 10 hours on it and I'm a finger pecking typer.
Lol
Congrats, swell TT.

I permanently moved my TT to basement storage about 6 years ago. I never took much joy in the ergonomics of vinyl disc handling -- got it, yes, some people do. It helps too that I'm mainly a Classical listener; the selection of Classical on new vinyl is very small, so unless you have a large, existing LP collection -- which I did not -- a TT is extremely optional.
 
OP
Ingenieur

Ingenieur

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Apr 23, 2021
Messages
938
Likes
747
Location
PA
Congrats, swell TT.

I permanently moved my TT to basement storage about 6 years ago. I never took much joy in the ergonomics of vinyl disc handling -- got it, yes, some people do. It helps too that I'm mainly a Classical listener; the selection of Classical on new vinyl is very small, so unless you have a large, existing LP collection -- which I did not -- a TT is extremely optional.
It's not for everyone, it does take a bit more effort. It's a hobby.
 
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