ISO GTS Sub Platter and 12mm platter on its way

[admin_exported]

Hi All

Just to let you know CJ I orderd the platter and sub platter will get the ISo weight at a later date.

Will let you know my verdict when they arrive.

I also made a home made slip matt with a hifi news cartridge alignment disk cut to the size of the glass platter and put some rubber sticky bits on it.

The rubber bits are the parts that surround the rubber bits that you get with IKEA furniture on the malm chest of draws to stop the door from slaming. The rectangle bits that surrounding the circular draw stops. They are just under 1mm in size.

I have placed 8 on the outerside to support 12 inch vinyl, 4 on the inside to support 7 inch vinyl and also 12 inch vinyl and another 3 on the inside of the 4.

The result is that it sounds better than the felt matt and the record does not pick up any fluff like you do with a felt matt.

Anyway will give my opinion of the platters soon.

c ya

Gtncj.

 

[CJSF]

Hi All

Just to let you know CJ I orderd the platter and sub platter will get the ISo weight at a later date.

Will let you know my verdict when they arrive.

I also made a home made slip matt with a hifi news cartridge alignment disk cut to the size of the glass platter and put some rubber sticky bits on it.

The rubber bits are the parts that surround the rubber bits that you get with IKEA furniture on the malm chest of draws to stop the door from slaming. The rectangle bits that surrounding the circular draw stops. They are just under 1mm in size.

I have placed 8 on the outerside to support 12 inch vinyl, 4 on the inside to support 7 inch vinyl and also 12 inch vinyl and another 3 on the inside of the 4.

The result is that it sounds better than the felt matt and the record does not pick up any fluff like you do with a felt matt.

Anyway will give my opinion of the platters soon.

c ya

Gtncj.

Hi Gtncj, look forward to you views with interest. CJSF

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All

Wow nextday delivery.

Going to put it together now

KR

Gtncj

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All

So far so good. The ISO subplatter and 12mm platter with my Pro-ject slip matt sounds BLINKING GREAT(scraped the home made slip matt sounds better on the glass platter).

I used a Pro-ject cartridge alignment protractor to align my 2M red and pure musical bliss. Very happy so far.

I need to go to bed work at 7 in the morning. I will listern again when I get home from work and spend some time spinning some more vinyl to see if its my imagination or if its sounds as good as I think it does.

C ya

Gtncj.

 

[CJSF]

Hi All

So far so good. The ISO subplatter and 12mm platter with my Pro-ject slip matt sounds BLINKING GREAT(scraped the home made slip matt sounds better on the glass platter).

I used a Pro-ject cartridge alignment protractor to align my 2M red and pure musical bliss. Very happy so far.

I need to go to bed work at 7 in the morning. I will listern again when I get home from work and spend some time spinning some more vinyl to see if its my imagination or if its sounds as good as I think it does.

C ya

Gtncj.

Sounds like another satisfied customer who has pushed through the 'plug and play barrier'

:cheer: . . . ????

CJSF

 

[CJSF]

Hi All

So far so good. The ISO subplatter and 12mm platter with my Pro-ject slip matt sounds BLINKING GREAT(scraped the home made slip matt sounds better on the glass platter).

I used a Pro-ject cartridge alignment protractor to align my 2M red and pure musical bliss. Very happy so far.

I need to go to bed work at 7 in the morning. I will listern again when I get home from work and spend some time spinning some more vinyl to see if its my imagination or if its sounds as good as I think it does.

C ya

Gtncj.

GtncJ . . . . very quiet since last Saturday . . . everything OK???

CJSF

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

CSJF just finished a seven day with out a day off week at work on Friday.

Very happy with the iso sub platter, found that I prefer the sound with the glass platter best as you stated in one of your reviews the glass platter has a softer sound to the acrylic platter.

Just trying to find a good alignment for the 2m red cartridge as I find male voices very good but female voices seem to struggle(they dont seem as good as male voices). I am now thinking of changing cartridges. The choices if I can't find a good alignment with the baerwald or stevensons alignments are 2M Blue or a OM20.

Any suggestion not willing to spend more than £120 thats my limit as I am happy but want an improvement in female vocals.

I may consider changing the phono pre amp if that will give a better result. Apart from that I am very happy and enjoying my vinyl. Miles Davies kind of blue sound awesome on my system. Amy Winehouse sound good just slightly grainie.

Overall very impressed. Had to earth the phono pre amp and TTpsu together to sort out a slight buzzing sound form the TTpsu but that problem is now solved.

KR

Gtncj.

 

[chebby]

I am now thinking of changing cartridges. The choices if I can't find a good alignment with the baerwald or stevensons alignments are 2M Blue or a OM20.

I tried both Baerwald and Stevenson alignments with my 2M Blue and ended up back with Stevenson. It really does make all the difference on those inner tracks (so often the best tracks of an album).

The protractor provided by Rega is good but is not as precise as it should be. I used an arc protractor so I could check overhang all the way across.

Due to 'house rules' I cannot provide links, but I am sure you know where to find it.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

Firstly I agree the stevenson is better for inner grooves and its an arc protractor from I guess you know where.

Secondly after trying vinyl straight on the Acrylic platter its got slight scrathes from the vinyl an expensive mistake so cannot return it.

I will order an iso weight within the next month or so and will let you know how it sounds. CJSF you have been spot on with most of your comments that apply to me so I expect the iso weight might solve the voice issue.

KR

Gtncj.

 

[CJSF]

Hi

CSJF just finished a seven day with out a day off week at work on Friday.

Very happy with the iso sub platter, found that I prefer the sound with the glass platter best as you stated in one of your reviews the glass platter has a softer sound to the acrylic platter.

Just trying to find a good alignment for the 2m red cartridge as I find male voices very good but female voices seem to struggle(they dont seem as good as male voices). I am now thinking of changing cartridges. The choices if I can't find a good alignment with the baerwald or stevensons alignments are 2M Blue or a OM20.

Any suggestion not willing to spend more than £120 thats my limit as I am happy but want an improvement in female vocals.

I may consider changing the phono pre amp if that will give a better result. Apart from that I am very happy and enjoying my vinyl. Miles Davies kind of blue sound awesome on my system. Amy Winehouse sound good just slightly grainie.

Overall very impressed. Had to earth the phono pre amp and TTpsu together to sort out a slight buzzing sound form the TTpsu but that problem is now solved.

KR

Gtncj.

Seven days solid . . . tough . . . but its the money to pay for all this hifi stuff . . . :bounce: Interesting, we seem to have come to similar conclusions, the acrylic is very dry when used with the ISOsub platter. It work better for me with the original Rega sub and the SRM damping kit.

Again, similar problems with voice. Can I suggest you return the Acrylic platter to ISOteck, they told me they do have a returns facility and swap it for an ISOweight. As you have the 2M Red, its a cheap option to plug in a Blue replacement stylus, but first try the ISOweight, and the Red, it smooths things out, I managed to get the voice better with the ISOweight. At the price my Blue was OK, its a lot of cartridge for £150, less if you hunt and the stylus I think is within your budget.

You will find the ISOweight improves tracking, which can be backed off a lot! . . . and the Bias can be reduced as well, both can be set to personal taste by ear.

Thats how I went about things, best of luck, CJSF

 

[CJSF]

Hi

Firstly I agree the stevenson is better for inner grooves and its an arc protractor from I guess you know where.

Secondly after trying vinyl straight on the Acrylic platter its got slight scrathes from the vinyl an expensive mistake so cannot return it.

I will order an iso weight within the next month or so and will let you know how it sounds. CJSF you have been spot on with most of your comments that apply to me so I expect the iso weight might solve the voice issue.

KR

Gtncj.

Gtncj, Initially, for all the cartridges I used the Rega supplied protractor, which I believe is a Stevenson. The sound always improved as the cartridge got towards the centre, this alignment was also applied to the first listen of the Sumiko. The second installation, I used Ortofons two point protractor, I assume a Baerward derivative, it moved the cartridge forward in the arm about a centimeter . . . ? I have considered going back to the Rega option? Problem is, my arc version was a magazine freebie from the 80's and I'm not so confident in it these days?

However I have, checked the Sumiko alignment set as per the Ortofon protractor, the Rega protractor seems to agree . . . ? I wonder what Ortofon have don, or, is the agreed alignment normal???? The audible difference between outer and inner tracks is not so noticeable as set by 'Ortofon'. I will have to dig my arc protractor out, see how that shapes up, it was a magazine freebie in the 1980's, and was my protractor of choice in those days.

Gtncj, 'spot on'? . . . I only tell it as it is for me, I try not to over egg the pudding . . . if I get really excited, you can bet there is a good reason . . . ?

By the way, where in the country are you located?

CJSF

 

[Anonymous]

Hi CJSF

I am living in East London.

I will be doing some test with protactors tomorrow as i'm off for the day. Just printed another copy of the stevenson on photo paper will give that a try in the morning. My Rega protractor does not have the spindle hole centered properly so can't use that.

I have a Pro-ject protractor but will see if I can download one so I can put it on photo paper.

C ya

Gtncj.

 

[CJSF]

Hi CJSF

I am living in East London.

Gtncj.

Pity I did not know that before the weekend . . . I have the Blue and Black, the ISO weight and various protractors?

:wall: CJSF

 

[CJSF]

Gtncj, you can repair the Rega protractor with a couple of layers of clear Sellotape over the hole and carefully re cut the hole with a craft knife?

CJSF

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All

After double checking my stevenson alignment and adjusting the tracking weight to (just under 2 g) on hifi news test record and setting the anti skate to just over 1 g and even with no anti skate the voice issue has improved. The only album I seem to have this problem with is Adele 19 on 180 gram vinyl.

So I will put it down to the recording of the album. I do remember someone saying they are not happy with the quality of the album as it sounds compressed, On my Debut 3 it sounded ok but the Rega gives you more info and detail and imperfection are more noticeable.

I will still get the iso weight and see how much this will improve things.

Kr

Gtncj.

 

[CJSF]

Hi All

After double checking my stevenson alignment and adjusting the tracking weight to (just under 2 g) on hifi news test record and setting the anti skate to just over 1 g and even with no anti skate the voice issue has improved. The only album I seem to have this problem with is Adele 19 on 180 gram vinyl.

So I will put it down to the recording of the album. I do remember someone saying they are not happy with the quality of the album as it sounds compressed, On my Debut 3 it sounded ok but the Rega gives you more info and detail and imperfection are more noticeable.

I will still get the iso weight and see how much this will improve things.

Kr

Gtncj.

. . . :? Ortofon Red M2 . . . same dimensions as the Blue . . . gets me thinking on a Rega TT/arm . . . I had 3mm of shims under the arm.

Assuming the Rega arm is set to work ideally with a 'Rega cartridge' which is 15mm high, the Ortofon is 18mm, therefore, ideally requiring a 3mm shim . . . Enter Chebby to defend Rega settings geometry and that it is 'plug and play' . . . :wall:

I will accept 2mm of shim will be OK. Have you got the arm height shimmed Gtncj?

CJSF

 

[chebby]

I will have to dig my arc protractor out, see how that shapes up, it was a magazine freebie in the 1980's, and was my protractor of choice in those days.

An arc protractor needs to be specific to the exact mounting distance of your turntable/arm (222mm in the case of Rega).

 

[CJSF]

Gtncj . . . I use platter mats to check my VTA, I have the standard 2mm Rega mat and a 1mm felt mat that I cut myself, so no mat = +2mm shims etc. Its not perfect and you have to allow for the change in sound because of the different mats. Not scientific, but it saves a lot of time faffing about as shimming is a bit laborious. Another dodge I have used, an old record under the record to be played, standard records seem to be around 1.5mm thick according to my vernier gauge?

As I say nothing precise, just gives me a feel for 'how much shim'.

CJSF

 

[CJSF]

I will have to dig my arc protractor out, see how that shapes up, it was a magazine freebie in the 1980's, and was my protractor of choice in those days.

An arc protractor needs to be specific to the exact mounting distance of your turntable/arm (222mm in the case of Rega).

Thats a useful piece of information Chebby. Twenty odd years old, my free-be from Popular HiFi. :? I'm happy with the Ortofon offering, as I say, it seems to agree with the Rega protractor.

CJSF

 

[chebby]

Google the following string of words... arc protractor stevenson rega

Click on the first search result in the list.

Scroll down until you find...

"Rega Stevenson alignment protractor v.2"

(You will need to register on the site to open up the instructions.)

Follow the instructions for printing it (ensure it is sized to 100% when you print it off, and not resized to fit the page). Print it onto good quality paper.

Get a rule and check the dimensions of the (vertical and horizontal) guide markings on the print to ensure you printed at 100%.

They should be...

A|--------140mm----------|A'

B|--------200mm ---------|B'

Paste/Pritt Stick the print to thin card then very precisely go around the centre spindle hole making a series of tiny holes with a sewing needle or pin. Gently push out the hole.

Cut off the curved 'greyed' sections from the top and bottom of the protractor.

Good to go.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All

CJSF I use a Pro-jcet matt which is around 1mm thick not as thick as a Rega matt which seems at least twice as thick as a Rega matt. I do not want to play around with shimms.

I also use the same protractor you are talking about Chebby and have checked the 140 and 200 sizes. I do belive its down to poor recording quality on the Adele 19 180 gram recording as Amy Winehouse, Jill Scott, Mary J Blige and Erykah Badu all sound good and don't have this problem with Adeles 21 album.

Hi CJSF which weight of the iso weight do you suggest. Would the 144 g be ok.

Anyway back to liserning to vinyl

Gtncj.

 

[CJSF]

Hi All

I do belive its down to poor recording quality on the Adele 19 180 gram recording as Amy Winehouse, Jill Scott, Mary J Blige and Erykah Badu all sound good and don't have this problem with Adeles 21 album.

Hi CJSF which weight of the iso weight do you suggest. Would the 144 g be ok.

Anyway back to liserning to vinyl

Gtncj.

Not the first time I've heard of 180gr 'audiophile' pressing not sounding right???

ISOweight: . . . puzzled over this one myself, I have the 100grs, wish I had the 130grs, I would check it out with Isotek to be sure.

CJSF

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers CJSF

About to email them now.

C ya

Gtncj.

 

[stevieg330]

Hi GTncj,

I have both the Adele lps and I have just played both sides of 19. I have to say that although it's not the best recording I have ever heard I still think it's pretty good so perhaps you just have a bad pressing rather than it being an inherently bad recording.

Regarding protractors and alignment, I tried lots of the freebie ones and I just couldn't get it spot on and I would always hear a slight thickening of the sound when the arm got to the inner grooves.

I ended up buying the Avid Rega protractor and I was able to get the geometry set up properly and now I get no noticable difference between the beginning and end of an lp.

Fully prepared to accept it was me not using the other protractors correctly but since I've got the Avid one I have had no problems at all.

Just a FYI really

Regards

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Stevieg330

Thanks for the reply. After reading your post I have just ordered an Avid protractor for the rega arm and will let you all know the results when it arrives.

Kr

Gtncj.