James
Lord of the Erg\o/s
By most accounts, my LP12 - which I have owned from new since 1987 - is a good 'un. It grooves like a bastard, plays beautiful toons, and has kept me motivated to retain my modest collection of records (about 2,000 albums) that I have built up since the early 1980s. To recap, it's one of the last pre-Cirkus edition with braced plinth, glued sub-chassis, Naim 'Geddon and ARO, and supported by Mana Sound Shelf. I have never wanted another turntable.
If there is a weak point, it'd be the sub-chassis and bearing. Many years ago, I almost bought a Cirkus kit, by my then Naim dealer advised against it, saying that the last of the pre-Cirkuses were just fine. When the sub-chassis wars broke out, I wondered whether the glued steel sub-chassis could be improved upon. I chose to try Greenstreet Audio's keel klone, mainly because David Genther offers a full money back guarantee and it's closer to the real thang than other variants. I'd like to try them all, but my location would make that an expensive exercise.
Anyway, I fitted the Greenstreet this afternoon in about 2.5 hours. I'll post some pics later, but I'd like to share my initial impressions first.
The most immediate difference was clarity. The effect was not unlike replacing a worn and tired cart with a new and better one. Except, I'm using the same cart - a Lyra Clavis DC. There is improved incisiveness to the way notes are shaped and protrayed. I'm not talking about starting and stopping, but the manner in which they unfold and decay. It sounds altogether more organic.
On listening to a few very familiar and dear records, I could swear the bottom end is considerably firmer, and more muscular. I don't think it goes any deeper as such, but what it extracts from the microgroove is far more convincing and punchy. Now, listening at late-night volumes, it's a fair bit easier to discern basslines. My LP12 never had much of that rose-tinted midbass hump. Now, it's gloriously tuneful and entirely even-handed.
I think resolution has improved too. I'm now hearing more vibrato effects on some pieces whereas previously they sounded like straight notes or chords. Can you improve the timing on an LP12? You betcha! I found it hard to stop playing long enough to prepare dinner. Now, I'm setting myself up for a late LATE night of music to see and hear what else has changed on my LP12.
David Genther, you can keep my money. This sub-chassis is staying put.
James
If there is a weak point, it'd be the sub-chassis and bearing. Many years ago, I almost bought a Cirkus kit, by my then Naim dealer advised against it, saying that the last of the pre-Cirkuses were just fine. When the sub-chassis wars broke out, I wondered whether the glued steel sub-chassis could be improved upon. I chose to try Greenstreet Audio's keel klone, mainly because David Genther offers a full money back guarantee and it's closer to the real thang than other variants. I'd like to try them all, but my location would make that an expensive exercise.
Anyway, I fitted the Greenstreet this afternoon in about 2.5 hours. I'll post some pics later, but I'd like to share my initial impressions first.
The most immediate difference was clarity. The effect was not unlike replacing a worn and tired cart with a new and better one. Except, I'm using the same cart - a Lyra Clavis DC. There is improved incisiveness to the way notes are shaped and protrayed. I'm not talking about starting and stopping, but the manner in which they unfold and decay. It sounds altogether more organic.
On listening to a few very familiar and dear records, I could swear the bottom end is considerably firmer, and more muscular. I don't think it goes any deeper as such, but what it extracts from the microgroove is far more convincing and punchy. Now, listening at late-night volumes, it's a fair bit easier to discern basslines. My LP12 never had much of that rose-tinted midbass hump. Now, it's gloriously tuneful and entirely even-handed.
I think resolution has improved too. I'm now hearing more vibrato effects on some pieces whereas previously they sounded like straight notes or chords. Can you improve the timing on an LP12? You betcha! I found it hard to stop playing long enough to prepare dinner. Now, I'm setting myself up for a late LATE night of music to see and hear what else has changed on my LP12.
David Genther, you can keep my money. This sub-chassis is staying put.
James