I've been gently nudging the P5 further and further up the SQ ladder. First an SRM acrylic platter, then a Rega white drive belt, followed by the ISOweight, and finally the SRM Sub Platter damping kit. That was it . . . ? I tweaked the damping kit a little, it was OTT in its standard form coupled with the acrylic platter.
That was it, I thought, one was now into minute adjustment on the stylus down force, giving a totally audible and different voice to the system. I got to a point where everything was to my liking. But, its that big 'but' again, I could hear a slight boxy sound, in female voice, nothing serious, but it was there, some would call it warm. I put it doen to the 'plastic Rega sub platter'. It could be eliminated with a little adjustment to the damping but that resulted in a brighter top end, of the two I opted for a 'slight boxy warmth'.
Thinking, as I do, what about the 'GT 2 ISOsub platter'? . . . might be worth a try, offered on sale or return, nothing to loose.
ISOtinetik's ordering web site is not the most user friendly in the world, they were very helpful and we sorted it, The GT ISOsub arrived, with oil, ruby bearing, a magnet on a stick and an alcohol wipe. Destructions were clear enough. They suggested running in for 24 hours . . . ?
Me, wait 24 hours . . . first reaction after installation was, incredible detail at the top and in the middle, but where has the base gone??? So I ran the TT for about 4 hours, had another go, better but still topy. Think a little, its very susceptible to tiny down force changes . . . tiny bit extra, better, and again, better again. By this time Hazel was in the room with the Horlicks. We listened and fiddled, not perfect but much better, I left it running in until this evening after work.
I've been thinking about it all day . . . the signs were encouraging.
24 hours have passed, Hazel made a cup's, we sat down to listen . . . gone through all our normal test tracks . . . settled nicely, Hazel could her the improvements in the kitchen, compared to last night, she said.
So what are they? . . . very hard to say, we are not talking chalk and cheese here, 'subtle' at this level . . . however, the word 'reality' comes to mind, and that hint of 'boxynes' has gone, 'smooth' is another word that describes my thoughts.
So its not a mind blowing must have, although as suggested earlier, we are pushing the levels to which I believe the P5 is capable, with out totally re building the deck, then it wont be a P5!
If I had to go back to my 'CJSF modified damping, standard plastic sub platter' . . . or money was an issue, then I would be happy. If one was comparing a standard, undamped, plastic platter, to an ISOplat, then the move is obvious.
I have actually, 'lightly damped the ISOsub' with some blocks that I have cut to fit in the machined holes, with out these, it would have been back to the original damped platter.
The clarity is amazing but its to bright 'for me' with out the extra damping I put in . . . Other set ups and tastes . . . each to his own? That extra damping was the clincher for me, took the top edge off, tightened up the base, I will see how things go over Christmas.
CJSF
That was it, I thought, one was now into minute adjustment on the stylus down force, giving a totally audible and different voice to the system. I got to a point where everything was to my liking. But, its that big 'but' again, I could hear a slight boxy sound, in female voice, nothing serious, but it was there, some would call it warm. I put it doen to the 'plastic Rega sub platter'. It could be eliminated with a little adjustment to the damping but that resulted in a brighter top end, of the two I opted for a 'slight boxy warmth'.
Thinking, as I do, what about the 'GT 2 ISOsub platter'? . . . might be worth a try, offered on sale or return, nothing to loose.
ISOtinetik's ordering web site is not the most user friendly in the world, they were very helpful and we sorted it, The GT ISOsub arrived, with oil, ruby bearing, a magnet on a stick and an alcohol wipe. Destructions were clear enough. They suggested running in for 24 hours . . . ?
Me, wait 24 hours . . . first reaction after installation was, incredible detail at the top and in the middle, but where has the base gone??? So I ran the TT for about 4 hours, had another go, better but still topy. Think a little, its very susceptible to tiny down force changes . . . tiny bit extra, better, and again, better again. By this time Hazel was in the room with the Horlicks. We listened and fiddled, not perfect but much better, I left it running in until this evening after work.
I've been thinking about it all day . . . the signs were encouraging.
24 hours have passed, Hazel made a cup's, we sat down to listen . . . gone through all our normal test tracks . . . settled nicely, Hazel could her the improvements in the kitchen, compared to last night, she said.
So what are they? . . . very hard to say, we are not talking chalk and cheese here, 'subtle' at this level . . . however, the word 'reality' comes to mind, and that hint of 'boxynes' has gone, 'smooth' is another word that describes my thoughts.
So its not a mind blowing must have, although as suggested earlier, we are pushing the levels to which I believe the P5 is capable, with out totally re building the deck, then it wont be a P5!
If I had to go back to my 'CJSF modified damping, standard plastic sub platter' . . . or money was an issue, then I would be happy. If one was comparing a standard, undamped, plastic platter, to an ISOplat, then the move is obvious.
I have actually, 'lightly damped the ISOsub' with some blocks that I have cut to fit in the machined holes, with out these, it would have been back to the original damped platter.
The clarity is amazing but its to bright 'for me' with out the extra damping I put in . . . Other set ups and tastes . . . each to his own? That extra damping was the clincher for me, took the top edge off, tightened up the base, I will see how things go over Christmas.
CJSF
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