Technics SP-10R with OMA cast-iron plinth : both Modern & Nostalgic!

[CKKeung]

Technics has launched their new model of direct-drive turntable SP-10R for a few years.
There isn't any dealer for it in Hong Kong so it's until last week that I had the chance to listen to it at a friend's home.

My friend David pairs it with the Oswalda Mill Audio cast-iron plinth.
MF wrote a rather detailed review on Stereophile in 2019 so I won't repeat the tech details but only to share some photos with you.

Analog Corner #282: OMA Plinth for Technics SP10, SAT CF1-12 tonearm, Doshi V3.0 phono stage

Last May I got a text message from my vinyl-loving electrician: "Hey Michael, I'm listening to WFMU and a young 12 year old analog genius is guest DJ-ing, Malachi Lui. He mentioned you, and talks about mastering and pressingshe's incredible. I imagine he's been in touch with you. Hope all is...

www.stereophile.com

Both the drive mechanism and plinth are heavy.
Must employ a logistic company or one will be risking his own back.



The OMA plinth without the drive mechanism.
It's a two-tonearm model.



Another friend who is an expert in setting up turntable helped David to set up and fine-tune the SP-10R.


The tonearm was Axiom and the cartridge was Etsuro Gold.
The rack is a SRA Craz3.

For the 4 corners of the OMA plinth, Audio Replas special treated stainless steel spikes were installed


We also tried putting diff materials between the turntable and the rack, such as granite plate & slate plate.


Even a Minus-K CT2 anti-vibration platform :


Interestingly we found that putting the turntable directly on the SRA gave the most natural performance.

 

[KeithR]

Looks gorgeous!

 

[CKKeung]

Looks gorgeous!

Agree!
It has a nostalgic industrial look.
Low-keyish yet very attractive.
The sonic performance is likewise gorgeous!

 

[XV-1]

Beautiful table - one of my dream tables. I would luv to hear that.

He needs to buy a Micro Seiki cu-180 platter mat thou.

@howiebrou - you need to buy a 4th table mate so we can compare to the mk3

 

[leyenda]

I see the micro 8000 in background. How do they compare

 

[Mike Lavigne]

looks lovely.

love to know how he choose the Etsuro Gold?

 

[CKKeung]

Beautiful table - one of my dream tables. I would luv to hear that.

He needs to buy a Micro Seiki cu-180 platter mat thou.

@howiebrou - you need to buy a 4th table mate so we can compare to the mk3

The OMA graphite LP mat perfoms very well with the SP-10R.
The Micro Seiki cu-180 is even better?

BTW Howie told me that he mostly listened to his Artisan Fidelity Garrard lately.

 

[bonzo75]

Fremer's review about this has been stellar.

"The power supply of my Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable is starting to fail, and its oil pump has a very slow leak. Should that $150,000 system (the price includes Continuum’s Cobra tonearm, no longer in use) give up the ghost after 13 years of dependable, trouble-free use and abuse from me, I could definitely live happily with the ca-$20,000 combo of Technics SP-10R and OMA SP10 plinth with OMA graphite mat (though I’d sorely miss the Caliburn’s vacuum holddown)—and, of course, that replacement system would have to include a SAT CF1 arm. I don’t think I’ve written that about any other turntable that’s been here since the summer of 2005."

Also Peter's favorite passage, why this is now his dream TT

"Beyond that, all else was different and far superior to the sound of the SL-1000R, especially the certainty and clarity of instrumental attacks and image three-dimensionality and stability, behind which were velvet-“black” backgrounds that I can describe only as serene—they rivaled, if not equaled, those of the Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, which the SL-1000R had been incapable of producing."

https://www.oswaldsmillaudio.com/img/press/STRP_190200_ANALOG.pdf

 

[CKKeung]

looks lovely.

love to know how he choose the Etsuro Gold?

He is currently using 4 cartridges.
The other three are Kondo IoM, the Infinity mono and VDH Colibra Stradivarius.

The Technics is his new mistress so he gives her the best one.

 

[CKKeung]

I see the micro 8000 in background. How do they compare

A complete picture is here :



I personally think that the Technics excels in vocals, jazz & pop music.

For classical music, particularly chamber music & strings, I like the Micro Seiki 8000mk1 and La Platine more.

 

[bonzo75]

Is this trying with the same cart?

 

[CKKeung]

Is this trying with the same cart?

Sorry, no.
There was only one Etsuro Gold and trying it on the 3 turntables would be too tedious & time-consuming.

Our most important home-visiting purpose was to determine whether the Technics should be placed directly on tthe SRA rack or to put rock plates/Minus-K in between.

#10 is my personal guess/ impression only.
Pls read it with some grains of salt.

 

[XV-1]

The OMA graphite LP mat perfoms very well with the SP-10R.
The Micro Seiki cu-180 is even better?

BTW Howie told me that he mostly listened to his Artisan Fidelity Garrard lately.

I have not heard the OMA graphite mat, but the cu-180 is sensational. It has a little more detail than the Artisan Fidelity copper platter mat which I bought then on sold to a friend.

 

[cmchan]

Beautiful table - one of my dream tables. I would luv to hear that.

He needs to buy a Micro Seiki cu-180 platter mat thou.

@howiebrou - you need to buy a 4th table mate so we can compare to the mk3

I have a Micro Sekei CU-180 mat and it does sound good on the OMA SP-10R. Spoilt for choice, and having experimented with a few other mats, I currently prefer the OMA Graphite mat With this turntable. For me, music is more fluid and notes more punctuated if that makes sense.

David

 

[cmchan]

looks lovely.

love to know how he choose the Etsuro Gold?

Hi Mike, we have an Etsuro dealer in Hong Kong. After reading yours and other WBF comments on the Etsuro Gold, I went to the dealer to have a listen. He had the Etsuro Bordeaux mounted on a Groove Master II Banana tonearm playing on a JC Verdier TT. That sounded very good already. The dealer had two Gold in stock and I decided to buy one in faith that it would be better than the Bordeaux. I was not disappointed - and have tried the Gold on JC Verdier with Graham Phantom 2 Supreme tonearm, and also on the Micro Sekei SX8000 Mk1 with the same tonearm, and then with an Axiom Tonearm on the SX8000. I must say the Gold is my overall favourite cartridge regardless of TT and arm. I now have it mounted on Axiom on the OMA.

 

[bonzo75]

Hi Mike, we have an Etsuro dealer in Hong Kong. After reading yours and other WBF comments on the Etsuro Gold, I went to the dealer to have a listen. He had the Etsuro Bordeaux mounted on a Groove Master II Banana tonearm playing on a JC Verdier TT. That sounded very good already. The dealer had two Gold in stock and I decided to buy one in faith that it would be better than the Bordeaux. I was not disappointed - and have tried the Gold on JC Verdier with Graham Phantom 2 Supreme tonearm, and also on the Micro Sekei SX8000 Mk1 with the same tonearm, and then with an Axiom Tonearm on the SX8000. I must say the Gold is my overall favourite cartridge regardless of TT and arm. I now have it mounted on Axiom on the OMA.

Thanks, what are your impressions of your tables? Do you share CK's assessment?

 

[cmchan]

Thanks, what are your impressions of your tables? Do you share CK's assessment?

Haha - I'm quite a tweaker and like to experiment with different platforms (air/Minus-K/other), isolation feet ... Each TT has its strengths and can be optimised through tweaks - at least for my ears. JC Verdier is very musical; SX8000 is solid and majestic - great for small and large scale classical, and minusK platform is a great match for SX8000. We experimented with different feet and platforms for the OMA. The Minus-K was a marginal improvement in bigger soundstage but agree with CK that it sounded more natural directly on the SRA rack. The OMA seems very sensitive to the feet and the platform it sits on. Jazz and vocals sound great on anything, whilst classical is more sensitive to the feet and platform. I'm still experimenting with different feet and currently trying Track Audio feet - which I think are the best so far.

 

[Maril555]

Is that Dereneville motor on the Verdier?

 

[CKKeung]

Is that Dereneville motor on the Verdier?

Yes!
A great match!

 

[CKKeung]

I'm still experimenting with different feet and currently trying Track Audio feet - which I think are the best so far.

Hi David,
Here is the info on the Audio Replas RSI-M10 (M10 screw) RSI-M8 (M8 screw) RSI-M6 (M6 screw) hardened stainless steel spikes :

insulator of Audio Replasオフィシャルサイト

オーデイオリプラス　世界のハイエンドオーディオアクセサリーメーカー。

www.audio-replas.com

They are good and not expensive.
However, please use only the spikes but not together with their optional spike plates. Otherwise the sound will become rather cold/hifi-ish.