I said I would never buy another Turntable...Argh !!!

rockitman

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Sep 20, 2011
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I think cost is not significant in David approach - SME 3012R's are peanuts compared to the AS2000. :)

Rolling tubes could also be considered as a manifestation of being a free pigeon, but most of the time people just pick a best one, and consider all others just "inferior" - not my view of "playing for fun" .

Stock in 3012 R series 1 is rising. I think I need one more... :D
 

XV-1

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
3,591
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Many people don’t get this.

I have got this for quite a while. Good to see more people enjoying this approach.

And you can enoy this approach at almost any budget and performance level. It is amazing how good some of the cheaper and older carts sound once you have several tables/tonearms set up.
 

rockitman

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Sep 20, 2011
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DDK was up this weekend delivering my AS2000 production “Pabst” drive motor. The Phoenix Engineering tach is now built in the motor case. Negligible at most vibration coming through the case. Huge improvement.

I also succeeded in getting a 3012 R mounted on the AF1. On a more frustrating note, my Benz LPS MR while New was defective. Something wrong with the diamond that actually cuts into the vinyl. $3k down the drain. I also received my SME mount cart alignment device too. A remake of the EEI gauge from the 1970’s. Makes mounting new carts fast and easy. Thanks again David !!!
 

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ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
6,261
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Utah
DDK was up this weekend delivering my AS2000 production “Pabst” drive motor. The Phoenix Engineering tach is now built in the motor case. Negligible at most vibration coming through the case. Huge improvement.

I also succeeded in getting a 3012 R mounted on the AF1. On a more frustrating note, my Benz LPS MR while New was defective. Something wrong with the diamond that actually cuts into the vinyl. $3k down the drain. I also received my SME mount cart alignment device too. A remake of the EEI gauge from the 1970’s. Makes mounting new carts fast and easy. Thanks again David !!!

It was great spending a little time together this weekend! Only people I’ve setup tonearms for are familiar with that gauge, just to explain for others the gauge is to assist with accurately setting overhang. It works with bayonet type arms and you can set the overhang using the gauge instead of the cartridge greatly speeding up the speed and accuracy of the process and eliminating damage risks to the cartridge.

david
 

DaveyF

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Jul 31, 2010
6,129
181
458
La Jolla, Calif USA
Wow Christian, sorry to hear about the LPS MR. I was looking forward to your impressions. However, I'm sure not all is lost, Benz Micro is still in business and a trip back to them for a new cantilever/diamond should be doable. Garth Leerer is the importer here in the US; I would think he should (notice I don't use the word would) be able to assist with this. Even though you bought the Benz on the 'grey market', i would still hope that he would like to see a potential future customer made right. Might be worth reaching out to him, nothing to lose.
 

rockitman

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Sep 20, 2011
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Wow Christian, sorry to hear about the LPS MR. I was looking forward to your impressions. However, I'm sure not all is lost, Benz Micro is still in business and a trip back to them for a new cantilever/diamond should be doable. Garth Leerer is the importer here in the US; I would think he should (notice I don't use the word would) be able to assist with this. Even though you bought the Benz on the 'grey market', i would still hope that he would like to see a potential future customer made right. Might be worth reaching out to him, nothing to lose.

Thanks Davey. I will look into a Benz repair...
 

dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,409
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Thanks Davey. I will look into a Benz repair...

Chris, it is possible that Soundsmith does this repair too. I don't know if use the same parts as MB. But Soundsmith is located very close to you! Worth checking out.
 

gian60

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2016
2,503
1,943
343
In Italy there is mr Torlai very good and very expert to repair cart
All send cart to repair to him
He is producing own very good carts with Benz part so can repair your Benz in a perfect way
Www.torlai.it
Can send mail to ask info to
Roberto Torlai
He is very good and honest
 

Audiophile Bill

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2015
4,293
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Interesting about your Benz - the General just had a faulty new Benz LPS also. I think the issue was to do with cantilever.
 

rockitman

Member Sponsor
Sep 20, 2011
7,097
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Northern NY
Interesting about your Benz - the General just had a faulty new Benz LPS also. I think the issue was to do with cantilever.

I thought the micro ridge stylus was small....it’s like the diamond cracked in half. I heard a sweep sound on each revolution. Then I saw a dust bunny packed around the stylus...it was shaved vinyl. Wrecked the first 30 seconds of Bill Evans Live at Montreux.
 

DaveyF

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2010
6,129
181
458
La Jolla, Calif USA
I thought the micro ridge stylus was small....it’s like the diamond cracked in half. I heard a sweep sound on each revolution. Then I saw a dust bunny packed around the stylus...it was shaved vinyl. Wrecked the first 30 seconds of Bill Evans Live at Montreux.
Christian, that is a real bummer, and so weird too. Crazy that the diamond would disintegrate like that!
I have only heard of this kind of circumstance once before, it was caused by a very nasty record that was full of grit and this grit caused the diamond to destroy itself. I can’t imagine your record was in that shape..
 

rockitman

Member Sponsor
Sep 20, 2011
7,097
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Northern NY
Christian, that is a real bummer, and so weird too. Crazy that the diamond would disintegrate like that!
I have only heard of this kind of circumstance once before, it was caused by a very nasty record that was full of grit and this grit caused the diamond to destroy itself. I can’t imagine your record was in that shape..

No...it was a Classic Records reissue, 180 gram from Hobson’s archive. I replaced it recently on Ebay with the Verve original first issue. Hopefully that will be even better.
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,437
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London
Anamighty sound in Paris are known to be cartridge restore specialists. No idea how they compare to sound Smith. But their count is apparently almost 2k carts repaired, both modern and vintage included
 

dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,409
2,794
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That's like hitting 'record' instead of 'play' on a historic master tape! :(

Yikes. That's why I was always so anal about breaking out the tabs on cassettes!
 

spiritofmusic

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2013
14,601
5,411
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E. England
And not over abusing auto reverse, fast fwd and reverse.
The foibles of being a teen wannabe audiophile.
 

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