Ron's Speaker, Turntable, Power and Room Treatment Upgrades

[SCAudiophile]

Can we leave the analog versus digital debate for the analog versus digital threads, please?

Agreed....let's try again;

Ron: CONGRATULATIONs on your choice of a speaker to meet your needs! The Pendragons are drop-dead gorgeous and are reputed to be one of the examples of no-holds barred SOTA speaker construction and design. The greater than 327 messages on this thread seemingly openly seeking advice as to the best directions to take your system has been and will continue to be an extremely interesting weekly read. Thank you for keeping it going, it's a great learning experience!

 

[bonzo75]

Can we leave the analog versus digital debate for the analog versus digital threads, please?

Ron, which debate do you want on this thread?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I am planning on purchasing from DDK his Thorens Reference, SME 3012R and a ZYX Universe Premium cartridge.

 

[Steve Williams]

You're going to be very happy Ron. Congratulations.

 

[DaveyF]

Ron, what happened to the Basis 'Work of Art' that you were buying??? That is one heck of a TT! Thorens reference vs. Basis 'Work of Art'....hmmm

 

[bonzo75]

I am purchasing from DDK his Thorens Reference, SME 3012R and a ZYX Universe Premium cartridge.

Wow that was fast!

 

[NorthStar]

Christmas 2016.

 

[Ron Resnick]

After much back and forth I decided to go with the NCF Furutech outlets, instead of the gold ones.

 

[LL21]

Ron, great to see your system steadily coming together! I check your signature from time to time...congrats! When do the speakers arrive?

 

[SCAudiophile]

After much back and forth I decided to go with the NCF Furutech outlets, instead of the gold ones.

Great choice,...that's what just arrived here to and will be going in the wall as well. I had the prior (non-NCF) Furutechs in a Bybee v3 power conditioner which I loved.
The model I picked up had 3 Rhodium and 1 Gold duplex. All were fantastic; I used the gold for my pre-amp and DAC only as I found it to give the right about of warmth
but did not like its effect on my amp or RoomEQ device/DSP at the time and the rest of my gear. Overall, I found the Rhodium a much better match for everything so that
is what is going in the wall to replace my long-standing Avatar Acoustics AFTERBURNER8 outlets which have given 5 years of great results but it is time for
something better. Enjoy them!!!

 

[LL21]

I believe Furutech offers only one kind of UK outlet (single or double configuration) which is what we've got. It was installed as part of our renovation so no A/B at all, but I can say it holds all the heavy-duty cables (Purist Audio Dominus and above) absolutely solidly which is a refreshing change:

•Material thickness: chassis and side plates 5.0mm
•Nonmagnetic Rhodium plated FP-1363-D(R) Schuko socket star-wired to a FI-10(R) IEC Inlet.
•Piezo ceramic and nano-carbon damping spikes.
•A layer of Formula GC-303 bonded to the bottom plate effectively shields against EMI
? (Electro Magnetic Interference)
•Star-wired Furutech ? (Alpha) -14, 2.0 sq. mm (14 AWG) conductors for low electrical resistance
?conductors insulated within resonance-absorbing tubing.
•Dimensions: 152.0mm (L) x 86.0mm (W) x 23.0mm (H)

 

[Ron Resnick]

I am working on two different table top possibilities to place across my current heavy turntable stand: a 1" thick slab of steel which is precision ground flat on the underside, or a 1/2" thick slab of lead, painted with some heat treated epoxy process so lead particles are not released, with a 3/8" top and bottom layer of steel, all laminated together into a sandwich.

Each table top weighs about 200 pounds. Steve and I together with both wives will not be able to lift either one.

I intend to use thick rubber discs, or a combination of a sorbothane center disc supported by thick rubber donuts around the sorbothane center disk, to space and lift the table top above the corners of the stand.

I am working with a technician at Sorbothane to determine the proper Durometer specification for the sorbothane center discs and sorbothane donuts (if I do not mix the sorbothane center disks with the thick rubber donuts) to handle a 400 pound load.

 

[Blue58]

I am working on two different table top possibilities to place across my current heavy turntable stand: a 1" thick slab of steel which is precision ground flat on the underside, or a 1/2" thick slab of lead, painted with some heat treated epoxy process so lead particles are not released, with a 3/8" top and bottom layer of steel, all laminated together into a sandwich.

Each table top weighs about 200 pounds. Steve and I together with both wives will not be able to lift either one.

I intend to use thick rubber discs, or a combination of a sorbothane center disc supported by thick rubber donuts around the sorbothane center disk, to space and lift the table top above the corners of the stand.

I am working with a technician at Sorbothane to determine the proper Durometer specification for the sorbothane center discs and sorbothane donuts (if I do not mix the sorbothane center disks with the thick rubber donuts) to handle a 400 pound load.

Hello Ron,
I'd check out Herbie's Audio Lab products which I've found to do the job when damping transformer vibrations.
The big fat dots handle over 200lbs each so 4 or 5 would be great.
He also sells this damping material in sheets to adhere to the bottom of shelves or top plates.
http://herbiesaudiolab.net/spkrfeet.htm#bigfat
Best wishes for the year ahead
Blue58

 

[Folsom]

So are you waiting for some of us to come over around July/August, when that show is, to put your table together for you? I can lift one side... maybe both... but I don't want to lift by myself!

Very heavy stuff like that lowers resonate frequency but it also transfers it somewhat well when it's high density. Some sort of pads on the bottom of it are good as you're planning, but I'd want my TT to have some sort of something that gives a little too, not coupled hard to the top.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Hello Ron,
I'd check out Herbie's Audio Lab products which I've found to do the job when damping transformer vibrations.
The big fat dots handle over 200lbs each so 4 or 5 would be great.
He also sells this damping material in sheets to adhere to the bottom of shelves or top plates.
http://herbiesaudiolab.net/spkrfeet.htm#bigfat
Best wishes for the year ahead
Blue58

Thank you, Blue58. I looked at Herbie's website and I wrote to him to ask him to explain how his Fat Dots differ from pure sorbothane, in terms of composition and load-bearing.

 

[Ron Resnick]

After much discussion on a technical thread about differential interconnections I think I've come to the conclusion that a 45 foot length of interconnect is best handled with a balanced cable.

 

[Bruce B]

After much discussion on a technical thread about differential interconnections I think I've come to the conclusion that a 45 foot length of interconnect is best handled with a balanced cable.

Good choice!

 

[SCAudiophile]

After much discussion on a technical thread about differential interconnections I think I've come to the conclusion that a 45 foot length of interconnect is best handled with a balanced cable.

Definitely the only choice in the game for good audio! They run balanced hundreds of feet at concerts, etc....it will definitely get the job done.

 

[microstrip]

After much discussion on a technical thread about differential interconnections I think I've come to the conclusion that a 45 foot length of interconnect is best handled with a balanced cable.

Are you aware that this sentence is an expulsion order to your MB750's?

 

[ddk]

After much discussion on a technical thread about differential interconnections I think I've come to the conclusion that a 45 foot length of interconnect is best handled with a balanced cable.

Why? It's only a 14m run no technical issues with SE topology for that length! What's important is the design of the actual cable so it doesn't change sonic character and quality, I've heard many ICs from well known brands that become problematic past 6-8m irrespective of termination and topology.

david