I checked into the Kokomo Ceramic bearing, and reports were not so good. Too much wear on the spindle bearing surface. So yes, I do use the brass bearing.

As soon as I get caught up around here, I'll do my bearing inspection, and report back my findings.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan November 06, 2013 19:13

Thanks for the update Dan. The extra weight has to have some effect on the bearing. Are you using the ceramic ball or another make? I read somewhere that the best are brass and you replace them as they wear.

noromance November 06, 2013 00:52

Hello Noromannce,

Like you, I don't spend money just to spend money. I looked at getting some of the best 300B's currently available, but I just couldn't justify the expense.

As a comprimise, I ordered a pair of Chinese mesh-plates from Upscale Audio, which turned out to be a big step up from EH 300B's.

The question of greater bearing wear, due to the copper mat and heavy center weight, is something I'm trying to keep tabs on. A few months ago, I tore the table down, and inspected the bottom of the spindle, and bearing.

I am using an after-market bearing, which uses a smaller, but perhaps softer, round bearing. There was a shiny spot on the bottom of the spindle, which is to be expected. Not bad enough to be a concern, but I need to do another inspection to be certain.

I did turn the bearing over to a fresh side, it may be ready for a new one now, as I said, depends on what I find on my next inspection. I'll let you know.

I've looked at alternatives for spindle/bearing, such as Stefano Bertoncello's, but I found the cost prohibitive.

Regards, and enjoy,
Dan

islandmandan November 01, 2013 18:22

Lespier, those AC3Xs look amazing. They ain't cheap! I did run the Decca on an Ittok years back but it was never really happy. I'd love to try it on a Decca International Arm but they're hard to come by. I just can't justify big expense with gear so I tend to look for the biggest bang for the least cost.

Hi Dan, thanks for taking the time to drop by! Congrats on all the work you've done on your rig. It's begging for some Sophie Electrics or TJ Mesh Plates.
One question: Do you notice or know of any issue with the extra weight of the copper and clamp on the 401 main bearing?

noromance November 01, 2013 02:47

Hello Noromance,

Since my last post, I sent my SET 300B for factory upgrades, and I put NOS tubes in (w/the exception of some nice Chinese Mesh Plates), it has proven to have great synergy with my Tannoys.

My Zu Denon 103R returned from ESCCO, where it had a saphire cantilever and Paratrace stylus mod. This has made a great leap in performance, as you noted in your Decca.

You are now exacting great performance from your 401, and the rest of your system, and that is something to celebrate.

Here's to continued enjoyment,

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan October 30, 2013 19:47

Really nice system. Had Quad 57s a few years ago & in a lot of ways the best sound I ever had. Putting them on rigid stands was a revelation for me as well. I still have a pair in the garage that need rebuilding but unfortunately we're in a smaller place now & the living room won't really accommodate them ( well not where they'd sound their best anyway). I've always fancied a Decca but never owned one …. had a friend with a Garrott tweaked one which sounded marvellous … enjoy your. Have you used any arms other than the Jelco with the Decca?

lespier October 30, 2013 01:03

OK, after some delays in the mail the refurbished Decca Super Gold came back with a new Paratrace stylus (and tie cord).
Under the magnifying glass, the diamond looks very fine and thin after the rock that was there before. JW says it was 75% worn but honestly, despite using a magic eraser, it was playing pretty badly. Maybe the cord had stretched with wear - it was after all 25+ years old.
Anyhow, JW didn't return the mounting screws which was a bit of a pain as all the ones I had were a little too long. I had to add a brass nut between the bolt and the top of the headshell so the screw didn't punch the top of the can. The extra weight meant moving the balance weight a little further back on the arm.
There is one particular track that I use as a test for detail. Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen has some tinkling bells that are barely audible (they brought them forward in the mix for the remaster) at the start of the track. With the old Decca, they were barely audible. With the re-tip, they are crystal clear and hang in space. This is a good start! Julie Andrews "Before I Gaze At You Again" from Camelot on RCA 1960 is three dimensional with wonderful richness, a palpable presence in the room. This is a very dynamic recording but there was no evidence of sibilance or tracking error despite what Julie could throw at it. Interestingly, I really didn't pay much attention to set up. VTF 1.8gr, VTA -dunno tonearm is parallel to the record. SRA, no idea. Azimuth, looks fine by eye.
Next up, Loudon Wainwright "Hard Day on the Planet" from More Love Songs. This is a great recording with acoustic bass, finger clicking and piano, sax, xylophone adding a dynamic snap to the driving vocal. I'd call it post-jazz-blues! Great air and space around the instruments. I'm definitely noticing much better out of the speaker sound stage. Increased depth and layering and ... big and, despite an increase in surface noise, a way lower noise floor. The music is released from the groove like I've never heard before. Now, on the increased surface noise, it's not like before, it's a higher frequency and "faster" noise. Before the refurb, it was a broad spectrum "slower" noise -much more intrusive.
Talk Talk "Happiness is Easy" from The Colour of Spring is a great analogue recording from the 80s. You've heard people say "I'm listening to my records all over again"? I'm hearing stuff I've never heard before. This is not a review about how much more detailed the retipped cartridge is. It is about how the music, the interplay of musicians, the timbre of a bass, the aching pain in Janis Ian "At Seventeen" and Loudon Wainwright "Hosptial Lady" has been released from the recording. There is no coloration that I have yet to pick up on. Yes, it is a tiny bit bright and a little congested on dense material like the emsemble pieces on the 1966 RCA Victor recording of Show Boat. But it's only out of the box. Nevertheless, William Warfield's Ol' Man River is ear poppingly good. What a recording! The bass vocal is in the room and the acoustic goes well beyond the speakers. This cartridge is a significant upgrade. What of the Ortofon? Not in the same league.

noromance October 28, 2013 23:45

I came by a 1957 vintage (burnt in) GE tube and swapped out the Telefunken ECC83. Initial results indicated slightly better channel separation and initially more relaxed presentation with improved clarity on Miles Davis Kind of Blue on 180 gram. However after a few hours, it seemed the sound was creamier and less detailed. Worse, dynamics were flattened. Swapping back in the Tele brought the system back to life. Yes, the slightly "grey" Tele signature came back but so too did all the detail, air, fine treble and clean bass. Ripple by the Grateful Dead regained the warm emotion and all the voices at the end were identifiable. With the GE 5751, they were merged into one wall of sound.
My final recommendation for this amp is GE JG-5751 BPTM in phono and ECC83/12AX7 in the line.

noromance July 20, 2013 05:13

Raytheon was a no go. Constricted and thin. A good tube just not a great one. The GE JG=5751 BPTM is simply outstanding. It's weird how tubes can make or break a rig. There's the possibility the NOS Sylvanias were never played and therefore never burnt in...

noromance May 23, 2013 02:19

Swapped out the (phone tubes) GE 5751 BPTM for NOS Sylvania 5751 Gold GPTM.
Firmer and tighter bass, a little dryer than the GE which are very liquid. Definitely a bigger presentation with the music swelling more appreciably. The sound is a like the Telefunken sound. I always feel that grey plates have a slightly grey coloration whereas black plates seem to have a slightly darker presentation... like there are are blacker silences. There is a pretty stark difference between these tubes.

Sylvanias:
speakers disappear, I can't even imagine the sound is coming from the speaker.
fuller, more beguiling bass, upper bass and lower mids.
spittier dryer treble.
more pluck and snap on strings.
piano sounds more expansive.
treble not as sparkly as GE, less air, seems busy.
color, timbre not as delicate as on the GE tubes.

Switching back to GE:
everything seems a little smaller, quieter and way blacker. More musical,less hi-fi.
definitely more detail and air. I can hear the acoustic here much better.
Crystal Gayle on Waits - Is There Any Way Out of This Dream is simply more musical like a 300B SET. Wispy, breathy trumpet. Recording hiss is more audible.
Looks like the GEs are staying. They make me smile, the Golds would impress the those who like a bigger, rockier sound.

I'm going to try the Sylvania and Raytheon 12AX7 BPLP in the output of the preamp instead of the Telefunken ECC83. Stay tuned.

noromance May 23, 2013 00:38

Changed description to include some historical info.

noromance May 09, 2013 00:59

System edited: Added some fresh photos.

noromance April 15, 2013 03:47

Iso, that's top class kit you have there. I was going to go the big speaker/SET route with Min's http://www.tubeaudiolab.com/
It seems like that is the final destination!

noromance April 10, 2013 04:26

System edited: Added photo of the new old Quads on home made stands.

noromance April 07, 2013 21:57

Noromance,
I use Wavelength 300B and 45 amps with Beauhorn Virtuoso cabs with Lowther DX4.
I have a pair of JBL 4550 system in storage for when I move from tiny apartment.
The Quad ESLs were to me, THE ones to have in that type of speaker. Enjoy!!!

isochronism April 07, 2013 15:24

Isochronism, I have just added Quad ESLs. Photos and report coming soon!

noromance April 07, 2013 05:02

I was reading another post by Dan Yesterday where he was interested in hearing 300B amplification in his system. I'm glad he will now be able to.
Noromance, I only heard Quad ESLs once. It was at the NYC Waldorf show. One of the two best sounding rooms to me. The amplification was on the level as your Eicos.
Full range speakers may be just the ticket!!
I am also a fan!! Good luck

isochronism April 06, 2013 13:12

Brian,

The HF 35's got too high for me, so I didn't get them. I did, however, get a 300B SET amp, almost by default, as I only put one bid on it. It'll be here Thursday, I've been wanting to listen to my Tannoys with 300B SET powering them, so Im going to get my chance soon.

Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan March 19, 2013 17:52

Hi Dan,
How are you doing with the HF35s?
I love mine. They remind me of Leak Stereo 20s with better bass and better transparency. They are exceptional.
Brian

noromance March 17, 2013 16:33

Hi noromance, I have two pairs of PK rebuilt quads. I would be willing to sell you a pair. Call me 305 772 7960.

mikeyaya February 17, 2013 17:14

Yes, always something to do, keeps things interesting. After seeing your system, I've bid on some HF 35's on Ebay. They need quite a bit of work, but they would keep me busy for quite some time.

What part of the world are you in? (I'm in NW Washington State, USA).

Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan February 16, 2013 21:17

Thanks Dan. Lovely 401 you have there. You're right -I'm also thinking full range speakers like Altec 604s or Tannoys would be nice. I might try Jensens or something like them in open baffles. Another day's work!

noromance February 16, 2013 05:43

Great system! In my case, a DIY 401 restoration beat the pants off a VPI Scout Signature.

You might consider Tannoy, in my large 16' X 34' room (cathedral ceilings), custom built HPD 315 (12" Dual Concentric, ca 1975) do an excellent job there. 15" might even work better for you, but 12"s work quite well in my situation.

I think they might be a better match for your Eicos, too.

Regards, and enjoy,
Dan

islandmandan February 11, 2013 19:47