Yesterday Fedex guy called and there’s the huge package showed up at the door within an hour, really excited to get this set up!!!
Christmas gift is at the door, new turntable to be set up!
- Thread starter nickif
- Start date
Oh man, I would love if Santa has one in his sleigh for me. What a great turntable. Looking forward to your further pictures and report.
It took me about 4 hours to unbox and set up everything. I didn’t ask any of my friends to help intentionally because I wanted to have the complete experience, from unboxing to setting up the turntable, step by step, so that I could get a better sense of the feel/build of products intimately.
First of all, the packaging work was meticulous. There was no wood case involved in the whole chain however it feels as solid as it can be. Everything was packed in a cardboard box with lots of foams and then all the small boxes were wrapped up into a huge/thick outer box also with lots of foams. There was not even a dent in the corner of any of the small box inside. So far so good.
Every part of the turntable is about solidity. 21kg platform, 40kg base, 27kg platter, 8kg motor and 2.4kg record weight… I’m not even 40 yet and I go to the gym often, but after weight lifting all these onto the top shelf of the audio rack, I started questioning myself for not calling friends for help…well, if Mike Lavigne (who’s over 50) can do this alone, you must can, I said to myself
The most challenging part must be placing the 27kg platter onto the spindle, my wife is certainly not capable of anything remotely related to lifting, and what makes it even more challenging is that my SRA rack is custom made with above average height to accommodate my power amps. Fortunately, with the help of my wife for locating the position of the spindle when I was holding the platter for 1 min, it was done smoothly. Now I understand the difference between holding a 27kg barbell and holding a 27kg platter while trying to locate a 1cm spindle…
After that, everything else was as smooth as it could be, even though I had zero experience with tangential arms, the set up was surprisingly easy. What I like most about CSport is the precision, you can tell every part is made by very high standard with very low tolerance. Once setup, it feels solid, understated, there’s absolutely no wiggling no dangling no joking. Another thing impressed me is that every little thing that is put in the package is there for a purpose, for instance when (I thought) I was done, I found a tiny pin was left unused and I didn’t have a clue where to place it. Until later when I was doing the alignment I found it should be put under the base of the arm for adjusting leveling…
The same philosophy applies to the C3EQM2 phono stage, its build may not be as luxurious as say Zanden or Robert Koda, however it is solid and very fine. Just like the TAT1 turntable, it may not be as shiny as the Da Vinci EQ, but when you take a closer look, every detail has been looked after, taken care of. “Zen feel”, said Mike, which I totally agree.
Ok, enough for the setup, what about the sound? An EMT Novel gold cartridge with 0.85mv output was mounted on the AFU1-2 arm connecting to the MC input of C3EQM2 phono , I didn’t fine-tune the alignment with analog-magic yet and bear in mind only a few hours of listening time has been put on the CSport front end, therefore I don’t think it is remotely conclusive when it comes to the sound. Nevertheless, what I hear now is very very promising, the CSport combo throws a huge soundstage, the sound is fast, open, airy with solid foundation and great flow, and finally I understand special “airiness” from a linear tracking arm. Sitting next to the Davinci EQ turntable + JMF phono which I have been finetuning for a while, the CSport combo is definitely not afraid of anything!
First of all, the packaging work was meticulous. There was no wood case involved in the whole chain however it feels as solid as it can be. Everything was packed in a cardboard box with lots of foams and then all the small boxes were wrapped up into a huge/thick outer box also with lots of foams. There was not even a dent in the corner of any of the small box inside. So far so good.
Every part of the turntable is about solidity. 21kg platform, 40kg base, 27kg platter, 8kg motor and 2.4kg record weight… I’m not even 40 yet and I go to the gym often, but after weight lifting all these onto the top shelf of the audio rack, I started questioning myself for not calling friends for help…well, if Mike Lavigne (who’s over 50) can do this alone, you must can, I said to myself
The most challenging part must be placing the 27kg platter onto the spindle, my wife is certainly not capable of anything remotely related to lifting, and what makes it even more challenging is that my SRA rack is custom made with above average height to accommodate my power amps. Fortunately, with the help of my wife for locating the position of the spindle when I was holding the platter for 1 min, it was done smoothly. Now I understand the difference between holding a 27kg barbell and holding a 27kg platter while trying to locate a 1cm spindle…
After that, everything else was as smooth as it could be, even though I had zero experience with tangential arms, the set up was surprisingly easy. What I like most about CSport is the precision, you can tell every part is made by very high standard with very low tolerance. Once setup, it feels solid, understated, there’s absolutely no wiggling no dangling no joking. Another thing impressed me is that every little thing that is put in the package is there for a purpose, for instance when (I thought) I was done, I found a tiny pin was left unused and I didn’t have a clue where to place it. Until later when I was doing the alignment I found it should be put under the base of the arm for adjusting leveling…
The same philosophy applies to the C3EQM2 phono stage, its build may not be as luxurious as say Zanden or Robert Koda, however it is solid and very fine. Just like the TAT1 turntable, it may not be as shiny as the Da Vinci EQ, but when you take a closer look, every detail has been looked after, taken care of. “Zen feel”, said Mike, which I totally agree.
Ok, enough for the setup, what about the sound? An EMT Novel gold cartridge with 0.85mv output was mounted on the AFU1-2 arm connecting to the MC input of C3EQM2 phono , I didn’t fine-tune the alignment with analog-magic yet and bear in mind only a few hours of listening time has been put on the CSport front end, therefore I don’t think it is remotely conclusive when it comes to the sound. Nevertheless, what I hear now is very very promising, the CSport combo throws a huge soundstage, the sound is fast, open, airy with solid foundation and great flow, and finally I understand special “airiness” from a linear tracking arm. Sitting next to the Davinci EQ turntable + JMF phono which I have been finetuning for a while, the CSport combo is definitely not afraid of anything!
It took me about 4 hours to unbox and set up everything. I didn’t ask any of my friends to help intentionally because I wanted to have the complete experience, from unboxing to setting up the turntable, step by step, so that I could get a better sense of the feel/build of products intimately.
First of all, the packaging work was meticulous. There was no wood case involved in the whole chain however it feels as solid as it can be. Everything was packed in a cardboard box with lots of foams and then all the small boxes were wrapped up into a huge/thick outer box also with lots of foams. There was not even a dent in the corner of any of the small box inside. So far so good.
Every part of the turntable is about solidity. 21kg platform, 40kg base, 27kg platter, 8kg motor and 2.4kg record weight… I’m not even 40 yet and I go to the gym often, but after weight lifting all these onto the top shelf of the audio rack, I started questioning myself for not calling friends for help…well, if Mike Lavigne (who’s over 50) can do this alone, you must can, I said to myself
The most challenging part must be placing the 27kg platter onto the spindle, my wife is certainly not capable of anything remotely related to lifting, and what makes it even more challenging is that my SRA rack is custom made with above average height to accommodate my power amps. Fortunately, with the help of my wife for locating the position of the spindle when I was holding the platter for 1 min, it was done smoothly. Now I understand the difference between holding a 27kg barbell and holding a 27kg platter while trying to locate a 1cm spindle…
After that, everything else was as smooth as it could be, even though I had zero experience with tangential arms, the set up was surprisingly easy. What I like most about CSport is the precision, you can tell every part is made by very high standard with very low tolerance. Once setup, it feels solid, understated, there’s absolutely no wiggling no dangling no joking. Another thing impressed me is that every little thing that is put in the package is there for a purpose, for instance when (I thought) I was done, I found a tiny pin was left unused and I didn’t have a clue where to place it. Until later when I was doing the alignment I found it should be put under the base of the arm for adjusting leveling…
The same philosophy applies to the C3EQM2 phono stage, its build may not be as luxurious as say Zanden or Robert Koda, however it is solid and very fine. Just like the TAT1 turntable, it may not be as shiny as the Da Vinci EQ, but when you take a closer look, every detail has been looked after, taken care of. “Zen feel”, said Mike, which I totally agree.
Ok, enough for the setup, what about the sound? An EMT Novel gold cartridge with 0.85mv output was mounted on the AFU1-2 arm connecting to the MC input of C3EQM2 phono , I didn’t fine-tune the alignment with analog-magic yet and bear in mind only a few hours of listening time has been put on the CSport front end, therefore I don’t think it is remotely conclusive when it comes to the sound. Nevertheless, what I hear now is very very promising, the CSport combo throws a huge soundstage, the sound is fast, open, airy with solid foundation and great flow, and finally I understand special “airiness” from a linear tracking arm. Sitting next to the Davinci EQ turntable + JMF phono which I have been finetuning for a while, the CSport combo is definitely not afraid of anything!
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I suppose this is the new nickel plated brass platter?
Indeed you are correct. With the big Bayz CounterPoint speakers enroute, and Emile et.al. working on getting my Extreme server built, those shipments won't have to fit into Santa's bag, leaving lots of room for CS Port turntable.
Please Santa? Pretty Please!
I promise I've been good!
Hi nickif
Congratulations! Absolutely gorgeous, and oh, by the way, it also plays lp’s, even better. Are there any dealers in the USA? I know Mike L loves his table and arm and I’m sure you will get many years of enjoyment out of yours as well. The entire system is stunning. Use it in good health. Take care.
Best regards
Scot
Congratulations! Absolutely gorgeous, and oh, by the way, it also plays lp’s, even better. Are there any dealers in the USA? I know Mike L loves his table and arm and I’m sure you will get many years of enjoyment out of yours as well. The entire system is stunning. Use it in good health. Take care.
Best regards
Scot
This is the steel platter, I was told by Machino San the update of the brass platter is to accommodate air-core coil cartridge rather than sonic upgrade.
Thanks Scot!
I‘m located in Hong Kong and yes I think the CSport and Da Vinci are among the most beautiful turntables on the planet
Best Regards,
Michael
congrats Michael,
the pictures are awesome. very happy for you. love your comment about the 'ariness'. as you go along the nuance and special delicacy of the low flow, low pressure air bearing platter and arm combo becomes addictive. i know i cannot get enough of it.
enjoy the discovery process.
the pictures are awesome. very happy for you. love your comment about the 'ariness'. as you go along the nuance and special delicacy of the low flow, low pressure air bearing platter and arm combo becomes addictive. i know i cannot get enough of it.
enjoy the discovery process.
congrats Michael,
the pictures are awesome. very happy for you. love your comment about the 'ariness'. as you go along the nuance and special delicacy of the low flow, low pressure air bearing platter and arm combo becomes addictive. i know i cannot get enough of it.
enjoy the discovery process.
Thanks a lot Mike! For the nice word and your invaluable live assistance during the set-up
I’ve read your CSport thread post by post for at least three times, that’s why I told my wife you are the one who should be responsible for all the mess
my pleasure, both to assist, and to be blamed. what are friends for?Thanks a lot Mike! For the nice word and your invaluable live assistance during the set-up
I’ve read your CSport thread post by post for at least three times, that’s why I told my wife you are the one who should be responsible for all the mess
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