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BOOSTER OIL KIT Can something as simple as the spindle lubrication make a difference to the sound? Yes it can. I must confess that I was slightly sceptical of whether this modification would work. That said, I wanted to give it the best chance to prove itself. Some of you may know of my recent turntable saga, which started with trashing my Roksan Shiraz cart and ultimately led to a Cardas tone arm rewire (a splendid job by Audio Origami on that and the cardas plug), converting to 3.5mtr balanced inputs from the tonearm to my World Audio Design Valve Phonostage so I could accommodate wall mounting my turntable on an adjacent wall. I've waited a few weeks to let everything settle and allow myself to get accustomed to the sound before getting round to doing the oil. Ideal opportunity tonight as Wife and baby are away for a couple of days. What can I say? Subtle it is not, at least not on my system. I reckon I've got a pretty good system buy most people's standards, gives me plenty of detail. and before tonight I thought I was getting lots of detail from my vinyl - lots more since I wall-mounted the Orbe'd Gyrodec. and that's taking into account running nearly 3 metres more tone arm cable than before. So what does the oil do? In a nutshell it lowers the noise floor to the point that there is so much more detail coming through. so what happens in effect is that the dynamic range increases. substantially. I'm listening louder than before - because I can. the background surface noise is so much less intrusive. so I'm finding that I'm compensating by turning it up a bit to hear the familiar vinyl surface noise, which is barely audible. Analogue recordings are obvious, even modern ones. I'm currently spinning Emilana Torrini's fisherman's Woman LP. it's a 45 RPM as well and the tape hiss is audible behind the music (just) even without headphones. The Gyrodec/Orbe's strengths lie in it's bass, IMO, and also its weakness - the bass 'bloom'. the way round it is well documented on the web - to decouple the arm board from the Mickey-mouse ears with sausage-shaped loops of blutac on the top and bottom of each armboard spacer or get the Gert Pedersen Arm board mod which does the same thing (it was renewing the blutac that caused the demise of my shiraz). The Audio Origami oil tightens up the bass even further, by orders of magnitude. more focus as well as bass detail, but never overpowering. Treble is sharper too. closer to the crystal clarity normally associated with CD but still unmistakably vinyl. One obvious side effect is that any scratches are accentuated a bit more, as are pressing defects. It's just as well that the belt drive and motor slow the platter down when the motor is powered off, otherwise I think I'd still be waiting for it to stop spinning next week. If you haven't already got some Audio Origami Oil in your turntable's spindle, you're not hearing the full potential of your turntable and vinyl. it's that simple. it takes a few minutes to do. but be warned, you'll be up all night with vinyl strewn everywhere... kennyK (booster oil) |
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Hi john Well it's a month or two since I last had the chance to hear my Garrard but been listening to it all day - it sounds fantastic with your arm mods. Really very VERY happy with it. It's really opened the sound out, sharpened it up, and firmed up the bass! It's a Garrard on steroids now - haha! I found the earthing lead was mandatory on my 301 - I attached one end to the underside of the chassis and the other to the earth terminal on my Creek phono stage. Thank you again for the transformation to my RB250 - it's still looking great as well of course! John Mays (Hi-Fi reviewer) RB-250 strip and polish and rewire with cardas |
 Dear Johnnie, The black beauty has arrived today. This is a stunning arm far and way better than my best expectation. Your pics didn't give it justice. This is the finest present I ever received from a friend. None friend of mine has never made as much as you for me. I'm proud to own a masterpiece of yours. "I OWE YOU NOW!!!" I want do my best to help you by CNC software if you need it again. I reserved to you all my free time now. Your behaviour confirms me you are a great just man, deserving full confidence. Excuse me if I was diffident but, living in Italy, I learned to be very cautious and suspicious. Unfortunately, cheats are everywhere in my country… and I'm not used to know fair men as you. Thank you very much again for your FANTASTIC WORK!!! |
 Hi John, Early indications on the sound: BRILLIANT...!!! I had no idea any arm could sound so good. In the past I have used an Incognito rewired RB300 which I thought was quite good: but this arm leaves it dead in the water. I haven't listened to it a great deal yet, but I have heard enough to realise just how good it is. Every aspect of the sound is improved dramatically, from the bass all the way though the mid-band to high treble. I have genuinely heard things on records I have NEVER heard before. What is really amazing is that the difference is noticeable as soon as the stylus hits the groove, even before the music starts. It is difficult to describe why this is the case, but it most definitely is. I think there is an inky blackness and a solidity of nothingness that was never there before. When it starts the music just comes from nothing. There is no vinyl roar or swooshing... just nothing...and then the music starts. I have been using my Benz Micro Ace cartridge and I had no idea it could be so good. Previously it was OK, but a bit on the 'warm' side with a 'full', and I think slightly bloated bass; it also seemed to lack some sparkle at the top end. In this arm, however, it is totally transformed. The bass is amazing (people who think a Sugden A21 doesn't do proper bass, should hear this), the mid-band is still warm, but now with tons of detail and the treble is really smooth, but also with levels of detail hitherto lost to me. Some records sound surprisingly different with all these levels of added detail. What have I been missing all these years? So far I have only tried the arm with the 'decoupled' weight. I will try it with the others to see what difference(s) they make. So these are my first impressions. I shall listen further and let you know how my listening experiences progress: and I'll then send you the photos of the arm mounted on the Spacedeck. 'bye for now, and thank you so much, Roger |
| (Booster oil kit) Yes, I got an Oil and everything else as you promised. I have to admit that your oil does wonders!! I just completed Lenco 75 modification project, building the plinth, changing the Tonearm, silver wiring... etc. Big part of it was to be able to clean the old oil and replace with quality one. Let me quickly update you on results of my small experiment. I done simple test measuring the time or how long it would take for platter to stop spinning, after I switch the tt off. Results are: On the 78 rpm, before oil change tt kept going for 34 sec. After I changed the oil, using the same settings, tt kept going for over two minutes. This is almost 5 times better. Use them as you wish, also feedback. Keep me posted. Regards, Mik (mayware tone arm repair) Hi john, Had a good listen to the arm and set up the thorens properly sounds good suited to jazz, acoustic best I think not very convincing with rock. Would that be right don’t think the ortofon is suited though as a mc would be better with mm as its a high compliance arm is that right. thinking about rewiring rega next what rewire options are their cardgas I know but how’s that with rock? have noticed vocals sound really good with mayware. Anyway anuff waffling see you soon. Cheers, Paul Bloody hell your good! You quoted a very small amount for repair - any chance I can get some cartridge nuts & bolts + an alignment protractor please? Many many many thanks for all your work on the arm, I shall let it be known that you are THE man for repairing / rewiring tonearms! Thanks again , I'm very grateful , James. (RB250 rewire) Hi j7, The arm arrived at 9.30 AM Tuesday and it looks superb. Didn't get time to fit on TT till last night, it is the first time I have fitted a cartridge and it went ok. One query I have is why must the cartridge be aligned with the bias set to 0 ? I am very pleased with the sound, the soundstage is much wider and the bass is cleaner. Have you decided which CNC machine to buy? Thank you for all your hard work it is much appreciated. Tony Johnny da man Double to the 0 Seven... Just saw the deck, superb arm and plinth. Damn, the sh1t's well hot. Give yaself a pat on the back boyeeee. Okay, pistols @ dawn. I just done these speaker, Tannoy 2528 driver now paper coned by Speaker Dave in Hornchurch, Essex. Original cabinet now has 3/4 inch of oak bonded and doweled so now the sucker is dead and heavy. Babies sound killer now. Tannoys with more speed & less boom. Just gotta tweak up those classic's me. Rgds Paul (Linn Akito bearing repair) John, Arm arrived safely today. I have set it up on the deck, done all the checks and adjustments and the arm is in fine working order with a lovely light smell of oil. Tested the arm out with a lovely 180g copy of 'closing time' by Tom Waits. My sincere thanks for helping me out - I look forward to many years of listening. I will sing your praises from the rooftops to anyone that will listen! From your email last night it is clear to see that you have a passion for this kind of work - lucky you! Few people get to do something they really enjoy. A nice insight into your training too. Anyway, perhaps I will require your services in future - I hope to get hold of an LP12 at some point and will no doubt have a long list of questions and associated problems. In the meantime take care and the best of luck with your new Tone arm design. Many thanks and best wishes, Gerry (SYRINX PU3 rewire) Finally fitted the arm (needed to make a new arm board - waiting for the paint to dry). Good to have it back in action - looking good and sounding good. Thanks again for the speedy turnaround. Dick (Linn Akito bearing repair) Jonnie, Many thanks for the speedy work and return.. really 1st class.. all seems better; synergy between channels (as id expect) -plus refinement, 'rightness' and you can just sitting soak up the music- it almost sounds like a fresh arm! Ill post a thread on Pfm tmrw for you, as that was a very professional job. Many thanks- RoryC. (Booster oil kit) Hi J7, Just to let you know ,I changed the oil (Changed it! there wasn’t any oil in it !!!) and I don’t know If Its just my Imagination, but it does sound sweeter, anyhow its got to have improved it giving it some lubrication. Thanks, Mike (Syrinx pu2 rewire) John The arm arrived safely thank you. I couldn’t resist taking it out of the box to have a look, it looks like a totally different arm. Won’t go near it again until the weekend though, as I don’t get home from work till late, and I’ll have to try it out once I’ve mounted on the turntable. Oh well, roll on Saturday. Thanks again Mark (sme 3009 rewire) Hi John. After spending quite some time tuning the suspension and adjusting the arm and cart I've decided that it's as close to "perfect" as it's gonna get for now. :-) These old suspended decks sure aren't the easiest of beasts to tame... I must say that I was quite impressed with the quick turnaround, one week from I delivered it at the post office until it was back with me. So how does it sound? A whole lot better than before that's for sure! The bass got rid of it's one-note effect. The treble is both more laid back and detailed at the same time. The soundstage has also gotten better with more depth. Overall everything is better but the most important thing is that everything flows more naturally and musically as a whole. So as you can see I'm quite satisfied. :-) Unfortunately my Ortofon VMS30MkII cart has just bottomed out on me prematurely. I guess that's the risk you take when buying a 20 year old New Old Stock cartridge. Fortunately I ordered a spare original stylus so I'm in the process of breaking it in and it already sounds very good :-) (listening to Suzanne Vega - "Solitude Standing" at the moment). Before I had the arm rewired I used to run the Ortofon at 0.75g (recommended is 1.3g!) because it made the sound more lively. With the recommended force it sounded dead and boring. With the Cardas that is no longer a problem. That's all from me now, might get back to you some time in the future regarding one of those brass rear weights. Enjoy the spring! Best Regards. Kim. (rega rb200 arm repair) Hi johnnie Well it arrived with 7 minutes to spare.(royal mail next day before 1pm) after a lot of faffing on getting the angle right it works and wonderfully. I don't think I told but I purchased a goldring 1042 cartridge from tony scott( the first new cartridge I have ever bought) I have some omni-directional sonab speakers ( with three inward facing tweeters!) in the sitting room and they sound brilliant. many thanks for all your help and assistance the cheque will be posted today Hope the cold is/gets better soon. Best wishes, Jeremy (Booster oil kit) Hi Johnnie, Received the oil kits, and changed the oil in my ariston rd 80 immediately. At the same time I renewed the drive belt...wow, the improvements are awesome, its now giving my linn a run for its money, yet cost a fraction of the price. Can't thank you enough, I'm beginning to think I need to do some downgrading and THEN do some tweaking, using your great service. Cheers Stu (rega rb200) WoW I just had to have a break from playing some of my 20 year old + vinyl (the last one was a Cat Stevens original) as the multiple orgasms were becoming just a bit too much to handle at my age. Normally once a year is pushing it. I have never heard the Arcam with the Rega but it sounds superb, the traditional Rega/Grado "hum" has gone and the whole system sounds brilliant so now I'm of for another orgasm. If you want a recommendation you've got it, you have done exactly what it says on the packet and I'm delighted. Many, many thanks. Roger (rega rb250) John, What can I say...WOW!!!! I'm not one to normally overreact, but I'll make an exception here. Absolutely stunning. You said that my cartridge had very little wear. I don't think that'll be the case by the end of next week. You can tell I'm getting carried away. Oh yes it arrived this morning 08:40 . In and running by 09:45 still playing 13:00. I 'm hearing things I never knew were there. JJ Cale's Cocaine is unbelievably clear, tight musical etc (blows Clapton out the water) I could go on & on. Suffice to say I'm a happy chappy Brilliant work. Thank you for all your hard work and excellent service. All the very best from a very satisfied customer John Higgins (hr100) hi john, Sorry I have been very busy, have looked at the arm and from what I can see its perfect, the sad bit is I wont be able to put it all together until winter when I get more time but thank you very much, your good man to know. Kind Regards Paul (luxman arm) Hello Johnnie, I'm just back after a long trip away to the East Coast of the USA. I opened the box for the Luxman arm and everything looked great. I will report back on the sound in a few days. In the meantime I would like to send you Pics later of a Black Widow Tonearm that I acquired. It’s going to be a unique project. The Arm wand has been broken in half, Let me know what you think after I send the Pics. Thanks again for the nice work on the Luxman' Frank (sme 3009 with a hum problem) Hi Johnnie, I got the arm, and the silicon thanks! Arm is quiet, thanks so much for that, it sounds great now. How do I put the silicon in, where do I put it, and how much do I use? I haven't compared the cables yet, but as soon as I have I will send one back. Best wishes, Alex (pu7 tone arm build) Since my SP-10 base still is in the making, I could not resist the temptation...and made a new arm board for the SP-15. As you can see, I used some "hi-tech" measuring-equipment, but I think I got it close to the 265,4mm you specified to me earlier. A few adjustments & checks later, the Denon DL-304 was mounted. Checking the setup again, I tried the HI-FI News Test LP, and with just a minor increase in antiskating and needle pressure, it tracked the "torture-test" without distortion! 'perfik'! And resonating at 9Hz, it kept the needle in the groove. After a few "first-tests", I can say the arm help suppressing clicks & pops just fine. I will need some run-in time before I will judge the Sonics, (so far it sounds great!). Regards Arne |
