Turntable shelf - Any ideas?

[Adam_B]

Hi
I’m after a few suggestions for my audio rack. Specifically the top shelf that my turntable is on.
I have a Sound Creations rack that has tubular (sand filled) legs and square shelf frames. The shelves are glass and sit on top of four of those little rubber dimple things. The whole rack is spiked through the carpet onto a wooden floor. Hopefully that sets the scene.

With the turntable on the top glass shelf there is a brassiness/harshness to the top end, trumpets etc.
I grabbed a piece of MDF from the garage and replaced the glass with it – huge improvement, but still a touch of brassiness.
I am about to duck out to the garage and put some spikes on the MDF to sit on the frame to see if that helps, and then I will try a larger piece of MDF that sits directly atop the four legs. After that I am out of ideas.

Any other suggestions out there?

Unfortunately due to aesthetic constraints the turntable has to sit on top of the rack and not be on a wall mounted shelf.

Thanks
Adam.

[Owen Y]

Hi Adam,

Rega Cart?

Everything else standard Rega...arm, platter mat?

Have you had this "glariness" for some time, or have you nade some change recently.

(Trying to get a feel for where you are coming from, preferences & background-wise.)

Cheers, Owen

[KevinO]

What model Sound Creation stand do you have?The one the guys made for me has a top shelf of thick granite.This sits on 6 steel discs ( top surface felt).These discs then slot into holes cut on the top of the rack itself. Looks neat and tidy, works very well.It may be worth checking whether they could do something similar for you.I agree that getting rid of the glass is a very good idea, though.Good luck.
Cheers,
Kevin

[LHH]

This may help, it works well, it's cheap and if you do it properly it can look very cool.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/sandblaster_e.html


If you like the look of glass but don't want the ringing, a thicker 10-15mm sheet will not ring much [I have this on my sound creations rack]. And if you want something completely dead, thick 'lamanated' glass is actually very good... [as used by townsend etc]

[michael w]

Tried the DIY sandbox, only mine ended up being built from recycled Matai, weighing about 30kg and it leaked.

:(

Adam;

Try a nice solid plank of native hardwood, supported by cones or spikes.

[Adam_B]

Owen Y
All standard Rega, Rega 3 with Elys2 cart. Just got it last week:)

KevinO
The Sonata model, but slightly wider at the front to fit the Perreax.

LHH
Mmmm the sand box might be a little project to play with. I have the sand!

Michael W
Native wood will fit in with the lounge nicely

Currently I have the MDF with spikes, and has made another big difference. Not only with the glariness, but it has sharpened up the whole midrange as well.
Haven't tried the direct mounting on the legs yet as I got waylayed at Real Groovy. Love these cheap LP's.

Think I'll keep going down the cones or spikes options and try a few of your suggestions for the shelf material, starting with native wood.

Thanks guys.

Adam.

[Owen Y]

Adam,
See how you get on with wood & spikes.

If problem persists...I would suggest that the Rega's main issue problem is the glass platter...& its close proximity to the cartridge...ie reflections.

The Felt Mat probably does a fair job, but I would try another mat.

A v effective mat material which you can DIY is that perforated rubbery sheet they sell to stop things sliding around, eg under rugs on hard floors, cellph's on dashboards, etc. I use one myself & it is the best mat I have come across with my current setup. Highly recommended.

However, it may be a touch thicker (may need to adjust VTA with armbase shims on the Rega).
It is also stickier...to the platter & to the record..a good thing.

I attach a wee pic...

Cheers, Owen

[Colin^]

The top glass shelf may need dampening further, try a granite block, or a cheaper variety chopping type block there of on the glass top shelf. :)

I personally would support the block on some sizable blobs of blutac between the glass and block.

[analogism]

Owen Y, you know what your talking bout. I have a GR1 (essentially a rega p2.) To solve the brassiness, go to a plastic box or supermarket and on the big rolls they have shelf liner, or you can buy it in 30cm precut rolls (perfect). It is only 2mm thick. Cut out a platter mat, whack a felt mat on top, bingo. It improved my table no end. I couldn't believe how much unwanted resonance just got soaked up. I have a similar set up: top of rack, thick MDF, glass plate, then my homemade wonder mat!!

[Owen Y]

Owen Y, you know what your talking bout.Hey! Another set of Steak Knives please, for this man!!

Owen ;)

[analogism]

Ginsu!!

[Adam_B]

A v effective mat material which you can DIY is that perforated rubbery sheet they sell to stop things sliding around, eg under rugs on hard floors, cellph's on dashboards, etc. I use one myself & it is the best mat I have come across with my current setup. Highly recommended.
Cheers, Owen

Got some of this from Plastic Box yesterday.

Brilliant !!!

More definition to the instruments, better imaging and soundstaging.
One of the best / cheapest / easiest improvements you can do.

Thanks
Adam.

[Owen Y]

Another happy customer... Next!!?

PS.
Did you get the lumpy/holey/sticky material, about 4mm thk?
There is also a thinner type?
Or, the type used by analogism?
Or, another variation?

(You see, I've never actually bought the stuff, as mine was made by D Whittaker.)

Cheers, Owen

[Adam_B]

Did you get the lumpy/holey/sticky material, about 4mm thk?

(You see, I've never actually bought the stuff, as mine was made by D Whittaker.)

Cheers, Owen
Yep the lumpy/holey/sticky 4mm stuff like in your photo. Same colour even.
They had it in 4mm or 2mm but the 2mm looked a bit light weight to do a man's job.

The only other one that sort of fitted analogism's description was a vinyl table liner with a felt like underside. The gray was a nicer colour so I went with that:)
So I now have 1.5m of the stuff.:confused:

Ahhh. Thought that arm looked like a Dave Whittaker creation.

Adam.

[Owen Y]

How does the new mat compare in thickness with the old felt mat? ie. VTA?

Indeed the arm was inspired, nay, copied, from Dave's arm! I glued the Balsa, Dave turned up the brass bits, we both cannabilised the weights, armlift etc from old arms.

Owen

[Adam_B]

The record now sits approx 1mm higher now. The Rega spacers come in 2mm, 4mm and 10mm. So using the 2mm shim would put it out 1mm the other way.
I assume from that Rega accepts a +/- 1mm VTA as acceptable. 1mm gives about 1/2 degree difference in the arm angle, so not much.
I have rebalanced the arm for the difference in height though.

On a totaly different note, I see from your quote in a different thread that we also share a passion for Italia.
[QUOTE=Owen Y] I love Italian design, my car is Italian, my beloved bike/s have always been Italian.... you get the picture.
QUOTE]

I too have Italian cars and bikes, and this time last year I was on holiday in Italy. Bit odd really as I have a Scottish heritage.

Adam.

[Owen Y]

Hi Adam,
I wouldn't be over-fret about VTA, but...

- The Rega cart has "elliptical" stylus? VTA should be close but not hyper-critical like some "Super Line Contact" profiles.

- Just check the "parallelness" of the headshell u/side with platter when cart is on a record/under load...this can be CAREFULLY checked with a suitable non-magnetic ruler, or, as I have done, make a small cardboard "thingie" with ruled parallel lines on it.

- The slight "tail-down" change that you have now, compared with previously, tends to result in a less "sharp"/bright/forward tone, which may be helpful in your situation.

-On balance, the headshell-level approach is usually a good starting point & I have seldom found myself varying much from this. (This one reason why I dislike super line contact stylii... another reason is the tendency to highlight surface noise.)

- Mathematically, the 1mm change, over the Rega Arm Length (~240mm) is only 0.24deg change in Stylus Rake Angle. Not huge, but you may have Golden Ears :eek: !

Cheers, Owen

PS. I still like to get out on my Pinarello once or twice a wk :D