Tír Na HiFi

Now that was really nerdy.
FWIW, I started off with a bog standard Rega £150 with a rb300 arm, upgraded the platter to an Achromat from Funk Firm about £100, had the arm rewired and modded a bit £150, changed the rubber feet for brass cones and picked up a second hand Koetsu black for about €500, in the end I had a TT that was a really great all rounder and brought a real verve to certain music . My phonostage was competent enough but could have been improved on and the power supply was next in line for an upgrade. For a relatively small outlay at first you get a good turntable which can incrementely be improved upon, each upgrade gives something more, be it a bit more punch or clarity or bottom end, till you reach the end of the line as regards upgrades and you give it to a friend and buy a new one :)

DaveF wrote: What exact model do you have Ivor? I see a few different models on the net: .10, .20, .20plus etc etc.

Well I had a look but I still don't know! It just says "Xerxes - The Record Player". I'm guessing, for no particular reason, that it's early '90s or thereabouts. The only thing to look out for on those id the cut-out on the plinth. There's a cut on the top plate which is deigned to take any resonance out from between the platter and tonearm. Over the years that centre bit, where the platter sits, can sag and cause problems. In extreme cases the platter can be left rubbing the wooden plinth. So... first thing to look for in a second hand Xerxes is a sagging plinth.

If that's ok then quality is down to choice of arm and cart. From what I can see the Xerxes works well with a wide variety or arms/carts so personal choice is quite easily accommodated. Anyway, if you want to take a walk on the Southside feel free to drop over and hear the old girl yourself.

Ivor wrote:

DaveF wrote: What exact model do you have Ivor? I see a few different models on the net: .10, .20, .20plus etc etc.

Well I had a look but I still don't know! It just says "Xerxes - The Record Player". I'm guessing, for no particular reason, that it's early '90s or thereabouts. The only thing to look out for on those id the cut-out on the plinth. There's a cut on the top plate which is deigned to take any resonance out from between the platter and tonearm. Over the years that centre bit, where the platter sits, can sag and cause problems. In extreme cases the platter can be left rubbing the wooden plinth. So... first thing to look for in a second hand Xerxes is a sagging plinth.

If that's ok then quality is down to choice of arm and cart. From what I can see the Xerxes works well with a wide variety or arms/carts so personal choice is quite easily accommodated. Anyway, if you want to take a walk on the Southside feel free to drop over and hear the old girl yourself.

I think the one in Cloney's is the similar to the one you have. It belonged to a guy who used to work there for quite a while. The table is in very good condition and looks as if its just been taken out of its box or so I'm told. I might try to get a look at it next week. I might also be able to get a trade in with my unused Krell 400xi for a good phonostage or cart.

DaveF wrote: I think the one in Cloney's is the similar to the one you have.

Yes it is, visually anyway. Except for the colour! The one in Cloneys is a light colour wood(teak?) and looks pretty good imho. My one is a tribute to '80s black ash.

Anyone got experience or opinions on the Clearaudio Concept or Performance tables? The second hand Roksan that I was considering didnt really work out for various reasons, one being that it is pretty tricky to setup and is prone to loosing tracking and so requires someone with the knowhow and experience of such setups. I need a more 'fit and forget' type solution.

Hi Chaps,

I was chatting to a fellow (Keith) who is passing through the office at the moment. We got talking about Hi Fi. Anyway he mentioned he bought a turntable back in 1980, and he still has it to this day, turning out some great sounds.

Believe it or not, but he was then able to find the company on the www and show me the model he has. I believe they are custom made and so on. I was very impressed with the site so I thought I would share it with the rest of you. There are of course other fantastic TT out there, but these seem very nice, not too big but still looking special enough!! A real piece of furniture, not just a black box.

Keith has the Reference Electronic model using a Green Connemara plinth, photo on left 7th down the page. But he is using a turntable which is pictured in the photo above, 6th pic down on left. It has the 6 circular supports in a hex fashion. I believe the three smaller supports are for the 45 records etc.

He explained the table rotates on a hydraulic fluid medium as a bearing, and he explained lots of other special features like gold plating supports and so on, but I have forgotten the rest of the info he mentioned.

But nearly 30 years on, he still enjoys and gets great value from his investment!!





http://www.michell-engineering.co.uk/tu ... llery.html

Adrian wrote:

That is a lovely looking piece of kit Adrian....I like the Connemara marble touch....very unusual!

Turntables can make for incredible art can't they? And I'm sure they sound at least as good as they look.

In the UK on holiday recently and bought a modded Thorens TD160B mk2 with SME 3009 imp arm and Shure m75ed2 cart.Now i know its not the McLaren of the turntable world but it cost me 200sterling,but i did get 1000 for my linn last year and it being a year without vinyl you know it sounds gooood,and if the grandchildren gets their mits on it :well what the heck.Way back in the 70s Thorens were the bees knees

Adrian: that looks very like the transcriptors TT - they were made in carlow for a while. I think later on JA Micthell broke away and founded his own company.

The guy who set up transriptors died a few years back, but his son carries it on now. The big claim to fame was that it is the TT featured in Stanley Kubricks Clockwork Orange.

Fran