Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Dual EP800 vs SVS Ultra 16

Putting on a platter and playing my rock recording is like climbing into a time machine. Nothing else can take you back like playing your favorite vinyl.

Uhmmm...not even a 1979 GMC Vandura 2500 with a twin bed, furnace and shag?

I wonder if anyone's ever listened to a turntable through a pair of speakers with the intention of re designing the turntable until there was no difference between the audio file recorded and the audio file heard. 1-1 copy.

It was a 1500 and no need for furnace , made my own heat but the vinyl did skip on occasion

I've got a Fluance RT81 turntable my self enjoy the feel of Vinyl though don't go to any extremes for placement etc.

Personally think more lifelike things never go as planned crackle pop wise, though a good cleaning from time to time is good for avoiding as well.

Here is an interesting comparison:

I have a vintage Marantz 6300 with a vintage audio Technica AT15ss super shibata cartridge MM. Both were considered the top of the line back in the 1970's or at least close to it. In recent time I had been enjoying looking over the modern belt drive super high end turntables, total eye candy for a mechanical type of mindset, but I never thought it would really be much better than what my vintage gear could produce.

Fast forward to this past May. I found a deal on a 10 year old VPI Ares3 TT with the super-platter option. I was also able to find a mint SME Series IV tone arm. Total original cost of this set up was around $9K down here in the states, I picked it all up for around $3K. After two days of machining work in my shop to fit the SME to the tone arm board and doing the set up, I finally was able to do transfer of the AT15ss from the Marantz to the VPI. But not before I modified the SVS Iso-feet (medium durometer rubber isolation feet made for sub woofers) and replaced the stock pointed conical feet. The TT weighs 75 pound in total with the super-platter, so the weight was well matched to the isolation feet as designed for a sub.

This was going to be a really good test of the BS level of audio and spending more money than you have a right mind to so that you can hear more. I was using the same vintage AT cartridge with a NOS stylus from two years ago, and simply swapping it over to a new TT/tone arm and retaining the Clear Audio Smart V2 phono preamp as used before.

RESULT: Holy Moly, I can hear instruments I didn't even know existed in some tracks. The bass is unbelievable, and all other frequency ranges just pop. I can hear instruments playing in what sounds like they are inside my fireplace.

The other most amazing result, I have zero bass feedback resonating up through the TT causing the awful howl which causes me to run for the volume control to turn it down before it blows a driver. There is virtually no feedback with whatever SPL level I want to run. I suspect the isolation feet have a lot to do with this as I can feel the shelf the turntable sits on vibrating with the low frequency hits, but if I move my hand to the surface of the Ares3, I cannot feel anything.

Conclusion: this thing was worth every penny spent! I am not sure that I would spend a lot more at this stage for anything even more high end as I do have to question the level of diminishing return on investment. But if someone is willing to do some shopping for a while to find a really good deal on a used high end turntable, I'd do it. The next big change will be when I wear out the Audio Technica AT15ss MM and go to a modern MC cartridge (I was told by a good HiFi dealer not to rush to change, the difference would be very minor). I'll take his advice and enjoy what life I have in the NOS stylus.

I have owned many TT's from basic models (Revolver Rebel) to mid line (Oracle Alexandria) to high end (Linn LP), and while I love the sound when the system is of quality from end to end (source to speaker), I tend to agree with exlab...too much work for me any more

I can understand that. It's like driving a high performance sports car with a 6 speed/clutch or the automatic. The automatic allowing most of the feel, not all, but most; however you can drive with a coffee in hand and take in the scenery. For those who want all the car and road can offer, we skip the coffee and do the drive. It's just what you like or want.

Linn started doing this with turntables back in the 70's. One system that excelled was the Linn Turntable, Marantz 3600 preamp, Marantz 510 or 250 series amp, and a pair of Koss 1020's. The Koss actually played to 20 Hz through a 10 inch built in subwoofer.

I still have the Marantz combo plus the Koss speakers, and even with a good CD player, it's amazing, the sound quality.

I tend to somewhat disagree with the analogy. I'd say it's more like driving a vintage sports car. Lets say for argument sake a Porche 911 from the late 60ies or early seventies. Great fun to drive. Had it's neuances and problems. Took forever to tinker to get it working but when it does it sure does bring a smile to your face.

But technology has long since moved on and newer Porche 911 have since been released and far more refined. You can effectively go faster, with a much smoother ride and by far more reliable than the vintage model. But there are some who think that the classic holds more value and is more fun to drive because of the quirks and issues. They will swear blind that it's a better car and will also insist that they can beat a modern Porche any day. But for some reason, if anyone takes them up on it, they will either not show up or come up with some reason that the side by side comparison is not fair or a reason to still hold onto their beliefs. Like, it looks better, or the fact you have to wind down the window and open the door from the outside as the inside handle is busted makes it far better.