I renamed the system. From Twin Platters rim drive it is now a Classics tournament: I will compare fairly 4 classic TT : Thorens TD 124 MKII, Garrard 301 and 401, Lenco L75 PTP3 on same slate plinth with same(TD124) slate armboard and same Phantom tonearm in same system. The TD124 is finished, now the Lenco is following...
Classic original bough cheap to upgrade with 26 Kg slate plinth/ PTP 3 topplate/ 15 Kg platter (VPI Superplatter) on top of Lenco L70 platter) Still not finished, a slate top plinth / tonearmboard has to be done, with motor controller to eliminate all the switches.Stainless steel platform between the two slate layers.
Thorens TD-124 mk II / Slate
Heritage from my father. Slate plinth designed by me and made by Oscar Daffe in Belgium. Major upgrade . Slate tonearmboard. Various Schopper upgrade kits . Symposium couplers.
VPI Industries TNT III modified turntable
I used the old platter as a RIM direct driving the new superplatter via rubber belt around it .The whole TT plinth is sitting on 3 Symposium Rollerblocks Jr. on Ultra platform. You can see on pics that the plinth feets are just for visual matter. Rubber belt replaced by Loricraft thread line between motor and rim drive platter. The rollerblocks tungsten balls are a smooth horizontal pressure to rim platter acting as a controlled buffer for vibrations and increasing speed accuracy, and on vertical plane acting as direct coupling TT plinth to the Ultra platform draining energy to it. The accuracy of this TT is much improved.
Symposium Ultra Platform
Specialy made for VPI TNT with RollerblocksII direct coupled to TT platform bypassing the footers. The whole TT is resting only on 3 tungsten balls.
Symposium Rollerblocks II tungsten
Direct coupling TNT III plinth to Ultra platform on vertical plane and applying a controled pressure between the 2 platters on horizontal plane.
VPI Industries SDS speed controler
Synchroneus drive to 300 RPM SAMA reverse wired
Allaerts MC-2 Finish Gold cartridge
Stereo cartridge
Allaerts MC-1 mkII
O.6 mV MC very musical.
Graham Engineering Phantom B 44 tonearm
With two armwands
Lyra Helikon Mono cartridge
Mono cartridge
Purist Audio Venustas Tonearm cable
Tonarm cable DIN to RCA
TRON Tron Seven tube phonopreamp
Optimised by Graham Tricker for Allaerts Finish cartridge. Very high gain (>75dB)
SME 3009 mk II tonearm
on Thorens TD 124 mk 2
Nagaoka MP 50 MM cartridge
MM High resolution cartridge. As good as the Allaerts ! OK with GSP Revelation phonopre.
Garrard 301 Hammergray grease
Very early 1954 very good condition
SME 3012 MKII tonearm
With Garrard 301 Hammergray
Garrard 301 oil bearing
strobe platter
Garrard 401 turntable
early model, very good,very quiet and stable
Perpetuum Ebner P 33 Studio turntable
This is my favourite jewel, 1963 idler/belt like the TD 124 but mutch smaller. I will keep it as it is, with the absolutely gorgeous tonearm.
Graham Slee Elevator + Revelation
Phonopreamp direct connected to MC 275 via Purist Proteus Provectus IC using MC 275 volume controls (bypass a preamp). Has 15 different recording curves and mono switch for vintage albums.
Purist Audio Proteus Provectus RCA interconnect
SE interconnect phonopre to MC 275 amp
McIntosh MC-275 reissue modified
With NOS Telefunken/ Mullard military small tubes NOS ECG Philips 6550 tubes
Quad ESL-57
Pair of mythic Quads refurbished by One Thing Audio in U.K. / Sound is gorgeous, clean and accurate, paired with ARC VT 100 amp.
Martin Logan Ascent i
Hibrid electrostatic
Mordaunt Short Subwoofer
MS 309 Sub very fast and matches well ML Electrostatic panels
Loricraft PCR 4 Modified
Record cleaning Machine. I put damping tissues inside to lower succion motor noise.
I don't know how your system sounds but the equipment you have assembled is fantastic. I am sure you are having a lot of fun. You clearly don't mind departing form conventional wisdom.
