bliss53 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I recently acquired an 90's spu and an older ortofon arm. Oh my. Very impressed. Beats every thing I have tried to date (zu 103, dynavector 10x5, benz ace, and ortofon m2 black). This is the entry level classic. I can't imagine what the upper level models sound like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Top view. Many thanks to Fini for helping find the plug to make a tonearm cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Pete, You have two TD-124's? What are the arm/carts you are using? I am assuming one of them has the Ortofon arm with SPU? You say this sounds better than the Zu 103 you have tried?Can you say exactly what sounds better? More detail and open? What arm were you using with the Zu 103? Also, is it the 103 or 103R? I know Allan Songer swears by the SPU cartridges, but I have been a little leary of getting them used. I also know they have their own built-in step-ups, and was wondering how that would sound with the BBX and Cream. I guess I do have a phono input that doesn't have thestep-up transformer. Thanks, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 I have two td124 set up right now. I sold one to a friend. He brought it back to me for a cartridge alignment so it is sitting in place of my cd player for testing. His has an origin live modified rega 250 arm with an ortofon M2 black. I have tried multiple configurations with both tables including the following equipment. Rega 300 tonearm with techno weight SME 2009 SII improved tonearm Bluenote B5 tonearm Vintage Empire Tonearm Zu 103 Micro benz ace h Dynavector 10x5 Vintage signet MC Vintage ADC Ortofon M2 Black, Blue Shure m97xe Current set up is the vintage ortofon rmg 212 arm with the spu classic from the 1990s. The step up in an old in line version model sl15e (http://www.soundfountain.com/amb/ortofon_trafo_sl15e400.jpg). The spu is richer and more dynamic in all respects. This is especially noticeable in the mid and low ranges. I particularly notice a tighter bass response. I think this setup is just what goes with this table. I agree with the stereophile review on the Zu (http://www.stereophile.com/phonocartridges/1207zu/). It is a modified denon 103. I have an armboard with the rega 300 tonearm and the Zu 103 ready to change out if the the mood strikes me. It is my next best setup. I may move it to one of my thorens td150s. The rega/zu setup seems to sound its best on a suspension table. I am looking forward to my warranty replacement eastern electric minimax phone stage. It should show up any day. The old one had been problematic before I got the ortofon setup. It will be interesting to test the vintage step up against the low input on the minimax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Yes, indeed. Nothin' but SPU cartridges here for going on 20 years. All but one were purchased used. All needed to be rebuilt. I will never use anything else. Ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudret Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Allan, Nice to hear from you again. I am looking for SPUs without the transformer but they are very hard to find. The only other option is to buy the ones in need of repair and have them re-tipped. Do you have a favorite place for re-tipping? I tried Garrott bros but was not too happy. May be I didn't wait long enough for it to burn in - if there is such a thing. I had also contacted Wyndham Hodgson in the UK three years ago and I was quoted 250GBP for a standard re--tipping job. Kudret 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Is there a big difference between the older spu's and the ones that orofon currently sells? I imagine there must be or folks wouldnt be worrying about used ones since they sell, at least a few versions of them new. Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Hey Bliss I just received my Jelco 12 inch tonearm. There is a heavier counterweight that can be used with the SPU. There seems to be lots of upgrades for this Jelco. Have you spent much time with the Ortofon M2? I'm going to start with an M2 and the Ortofon 78. I am making my first test one layer plinth. This is just a rough version so my brother knows where to put all the cuts for the final product. It should be a 10 layer plinth. Plenty of mass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted October 14, 2009 Author Share Posted October 14, 2009 That table looks like a beauty. I know nothing about re-tips. I hear good things about soundsmith. Do they do spus? I am really enjoying the spu. The old step up is part of the magic. I used the step up with the Zu 103 and it really sounded alot better. The spu is still top of my heap. Found myself thinking about a longer arm. Anyone ever hear this one? http://www.thomas-schick.com/arm01.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Wow that site has some pretty cool turntables. He certainly has a point of view on the arm design. What he says seems to make sense to me. I couldnt find the price which might suggest they are really expensive.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted October 14, 2009 Author Share Posted October 14, 2009 It is $1,400. It now comes in silver and black. I would need to sell either my cornscalas or my la scalas because I have a moritorium on additional cash outlays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 If I ever put together a table for my second system (I have an old Rek-O-Kut sitting in mothballs that I have been meaning to do something with for 10 years or more), I would love to give this arm a go. Right now I have a 12" Ikeda and a 3012 on the TD-124 -- I use a current production SPU mono on the 3012 and run it though a pair of Jorgen Schou transformers into the C22 and an 1960's vintage SPU GT on the Ikeda and run it straight into the C22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Is there a big difference between the current versions and the vintage ones? JND28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago_Pete Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 SPU / 124 combo here as well. Allan hooked me up with Mr. Juki on the SPU and Fini twisted up a great set of cables for me. I have had a lot of combos here from Sota to Music Hall and I keep coming back to this rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted October 19, 2009 Author Share Posted October 19, 2009 My step up (ortofon stm 72) is on its last legs. The right channel rca jack is dislodged. I broke the wire and repaired it. It will eventually go again. What are other spu lovers using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Jorgen Schou transformers. They turn up on ebay on a regular basis. Gotten really expensive in the last 10 years--a rally nice pair will set you back at least $600--maybe more. A single one sold for over $500 a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudret Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Actually, much more than that. I pair I was watching sold for $1600. I have a single and I've been looking for a second one for a long time but couldn't find one at a decent price yet. Kudret 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Wow. $1600 these days for a pair? I think I paid $200 for mine back in the 90's. Then again, a real bargain when compared with these! http://cgi.ebay.com/Western-Electric-618A-Input-Phono-MC-Stepup-Transformer_W0QQitemZ260493494386QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item3ca69f4872 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Fixed the stm 72 and added a tonearm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Fixed the stm 72 and added a tonearm. Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.