Charly Posted July 11, 2021 Posted July 11, 2021 Picked on these up today, 2 pole motor version in Bronze Hammer tone and a Ortofon Rs 212. Will be fun and no doubt frustrating to have a go at a refurb. Few things I noticed, the platter is fully coated in sound deadener, the motor frame is entirely supported by springs as is the motor itself making all the rubber bushes redundant. Not sure if this is standard or a mod as I haven't seen another to compare. The cartridge unfortunately will need re-tipping damaged at some point in the past and also no arm mounting out rigger on the chasis. 2
audiofeline Posted July 11, 2021 Posted July 11, 2021 Congratulations - they are a fine turntable when setup correctly. The bronze finish is especially rare in the Silex. If you download the manual from VinylEngine you will find an additional page where someone has detailed suspending it from springs. This is an unstandard mod, and I would think an unneeded mod as the tt's fine in a good plinth and does not need the suspension. I'm not sure if this is what you are referring to, I can't see from you photos. 1
cafe latte Posted July 12, 2021 Posted July 12, 2021 Great TT, I wont sell my two. What is issue with the cart, cantilever or diamond retip? Chris
Charly Posted July 12, 2021 Author Posted July 12, 2021 @cafe latte mate funny you should chime in I was looking to contact you regarding your opinion on a new cantilever. You can see below apparently it just stop working some time ago but its clearly broken off. @audiofeline i have had a look at the Linn spring mod but it this case its the motor sub frame (see below)rather then the platter chassis. When it is is the right way up the springs suspend the frame and its clear of the rubber bushes and screws. Not sure if its original or a mod as i haven't seen under the hood of another 2 pole motor version. cheers Mark
cafe latte Posted July 12, 2021 Posted July 12, 2021 It is hard to see is there a stub left or is it all gone? Chris
cafe latte Posted July 13, 2021 Posted July 13, 2021 2 hours ago, Charly said: @cafe latte very small stub left. Mark Something to work with then. Send me a PM Cheers Chris
awty Posted July 22, 2021 Posted July 22, 2021 Is that an original motor? Haven't seen that type. Is the spindle fixed to the platter? You'll need to couple the tonearm to the bearing.
audiofeline Posted July 22, 2021 Posted July 22, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, awty said: ...You'll need to couple the tonearm to the bearing. The "mushroom" attachment couple the tonearm to the bearing. It is the primary design improvement from the previous "Orpheus" turntable (with the square metal plinth) from the "Orpheus Silex" (with the curved metal plinth). Unfortunately, many mushrooms have been discarded (probably because some arms may not have fit the standard mushroom, so many Silex's have arms attached to the plinth, as in this example. Not as good, but I would expect could be very good depending on the plinth. I have to add that I love that gold hammertone finish. Most Silex's are in grey, some had a green hammertone. Some of the square Silexe's had a brown finish. Edited July 22, 2021 by audiofeline
awty Posted July 22, 2021 Posted July 22, 2021 Be awful on a suspended plater, you need to couple the tonearm to the bearing. Major design floor that was fixed later on. I made my own coupler, not hard.
Charly Posted July 23, 2021 Author Posted July 23, 2021 @awty yes original motor. Its the later and less expensive to produce 2 pole version. Spindle is attached to the platter. Regarding coupling the tonearm to the bearing I don't think its needed. I know in all the previous info on these machines it was always recommended and preferred to be that way but this version or at least the one I have it really does not need to be that way. It does however have the ability for the tonearm attachment to be fitted to the spider. The way the motor and speed control with its supporting frame is suspended with springs in tension eliminates any vibration from feeding into the plinth. I have now replaced all the worn out suspension foam and rubbers in the spider and it is dead quite. I have had a stethoscope all over the plinth and nothing, the little motor is amazingly quite. I simply oiled it up with some ATF and its noiseless to the point I didn't realise it was going and brushed my finger against it resulting a friction burn. @audiofeline yes the hammer tone bronze is very nice i have now polished it up and looks quite smart. The decision now to be made is what type of new plinth and which tone arm to fit stay with the Ortofon Rs212, SME 3009 or a Grace G540. Unfortunately after a trip to our resident stylus guru @cafe latte the S15M/T cartridge was pronounced dead on arrival. So it may end up with a Garrott K3 for the present whichever goes on it. 1
cafe latte Posted July 23, 2021 Posted July 23, 2021 1 hour ago, Charly said: @awty yes original motor. Its the later and less expensive to produce 2 pole version. Spindle is attached to the platter. Regarding coupling the tonearm to the bearing I don't think its needed. I know in all the previous info on these machines it was always recommended and preferred to be that way but this version or at least the one I have it really does not need to be that way. It does however have the ability for the tonearm attachment to be fitted to the spider. The way the motor and speed control with its supporting frame is suspended with springs in tension eliminates any vibration from feeding into the plinth. I have now replaced all the worn out suspension foam and rubbers in the spider and it is dead quite. I have had a stethoscope all over the plinth and nothing, the little motor is amazingly quite. I simply oiled it up with some ATF and its noiseless to the point I didn't realise it was going and brushed my finger against it resulting a friction burn. @audiofeline yes the hammer tone bronze is very nice i have now polished it up and looks quite smart. The decision now to be made is what type of new plinth and which tone arm to fit stay with the Ortofon Rs212, SME 3009 or a Grace G540. Unfortunately after a trip to our resident stylus guru @cafe latte the S15M/T cartridge was pronounced dead on arrival. So it may end up with a Garrott K3 for the present whichever goes on it. The Garrott are are basically a LP ear Vessel, actually the Vessel is better as lower inductance. The Vessel and the Garrot are Exell corp bodies with different stylus. I have fitted boron to a number of 99 dollar entry level Vessel and it is amazing. You can buy a range of Vessel levels off the shelf too. IMO the Vessel is one of the best MM available probably why Garrott brothers used it. Chris 1
Guest Mr Thorens Posted July 23, 2021 Posted July 23, 2021 I am reading on other forums the excel body is also used for the Sumiko Pearl and Shelter 201. Do you think this is correct?
cafe latte Posted July 23, 2021 Posted July 23, 2021 8 minutes ago, Mr Thorens said: I am reading on other forums the excel body is also used for the Sumiko Pearl and Shelter 201. Do you think this is correct? The Excel body was used for The Peal, AR Jico, Garrot and others, the best thing is the Vessel used the low inductance version which was the quad version at the time, the peal and others for some reason used the higher inductance higher output version. Both are amazing (I have both), but the Vessel low inductance is the best. Chris
awty Posted July 23, 2021 Posted July 23, 2021 Having the spindle fixed to the platter would make it easier to balanced.... .if you had the equipment. Its not hard to make something to couple the tonearm to the bearing. These decks are wonky enough as it is without having the spindle being able to move separate to the tonearm.
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