Dealings with slate

[Greg]

Hi Andrew,

You have the best spikes but setting up might be a challenge. If you are using your slate as a single plinth, your new spikes will need to be mounted on top of some pillars. Slatedeck originally provided slate pillars which I have, but in my case I introduced a second below platform made of hardwood because I could not afford another slate layer. I cut out some space for the motor to sink within. Doing this makes it all fit and be properly supported. I can go into more detail if you need. Let me know.

Regards,

Greg

[Dave the bass]

Hi Andrew,

You have the best spikes ...

Oi! You can't just go around saying things like that, I need to see a 25 page 'Spike review' in leading HiFi mags to believe such a statement

C'mon, where's the proof!

I want graph's and customer testimonials (etc..)

DTB

[andrew Ivimey]

Flippin'eck... I haven't got round to the spikes yet (I'm so busy) So the cranky old Mayware is set up as it should be and the deck is horizontal just laying in all its weight on a 9mm mdf box about 18 by 20inches.

It sounds heavy yes, but oh so fast too. No one could want any more bass than this. The mids and tops are all there too; I just don't think I have ever heard anything like this ever before and I can't believe it is right and proper. Record decks don't sound like this. Maybe a tweak of a micron here and there on the vta and it will sound right.

I've lost the plot! Worried but not too worried I think I still need someone to tell me that it isn't right. On the whole it has been too easy getting this far.

One answer is to get an enormous slab of slate.

[Mike H]

Oh alright then, "that can't be right, must be something wrong somewhere"

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[andrew Ivimey]

Thank you Michael.

[Mike H]

Any time ...




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[andrew Ivimey]

So, I tried the spikes... The deck is now resonant - just a dull thunk but deffo. resonant. And the bass has gone. Mid and top is the same, I think.

So 18kg of slate prefers to be on an mdf 15mm and about 19inches square i.e. a hollow box.

well well well.

I hav a few other ideas with the spikes and another slab of slate but the plinth is preferred right now.

[cressy]

i found the same thing with the spikes and legs on the slate lenco, it was very sensitive to where the legs were placed and took a long time to get them in the right place. was alot better with the legs placed further 'inboard' than seemed sensible. perseverance was key with that one

[Mike H]

Verrry interestink

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[andrew Ivimey]

I wonder why! Of course I was messing around on the edge. I'll give that a go then.

[Mike H]

Slate is actually springy and can ring like a gong? Well not that much, but a bit, apparently. As might various other types of stone I suspect

What about putting the MDF part on the spikes?

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[Dave the bass]

MDF might be damping the Slate? Possblee?

DTB

[andrew Ivimey]

And that isn't a bad thing; dull, but .... I think it sounds better.

I will try 18kgslab bolted to old mahogany slab to spikes to a bottom layer of slate - should weigh in at above 40kg !!!!!

but the MDf plinth is easier!

I played with tracking (standard 103) getting lighter, getting heavier and still agree (with whom I might agree) that 2.1gm is about the right tracking weight for this trusty needle.

[Neal]

these 'uns is it?

I thought that, but seem to do the biz

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Those are the SlateDeck ones

...and they do sound different (better) than most...

[Mike H]

Gerraway?

Got mine from here, as do most people probably

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Also where photo came from

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