2nd Lenco

true reubensm, but those who are looking at a 30-50K player may be better off getting a newer TT or a used technics 1200

Not sure if I agree with that 100%, it really depends on the condition of the vintage player. I picked up a Lenco L70 which was luckily in pretty good condition, even without a massive plinth or new tonearm. At first, I did not expect much from it as I had just purchased a brand new Rega P3-24 TT for about Rs 54k just a few months before. The Lenco which cost me less than half of that amount runs circles around the Rega. There is no comparison between the two. And I feel bad about it, because I think the Rega is a gorgeous table and was the best sounding TT I owned until I got the L70. I feel bad because the Rega has been delegated to back up TT duties and gets spun only once every few months whereas the L70 gets daily play. At the end of the day I am happy to have both, but in retrospect, I don't think I would have shelled out the 54k for the Rega if I had already owned the L70 beforehand.
 
Not sure if I agree with that 100%, it really depends on the condition of the vintage player. I picked up a Lenco L70 which was luckily in pretty good condition, even without a massive plinth or new tonearm. At first, I did not expect much from it as I had just purchased a brand new Rega P3-24 TT for about Rs 54k just a few months before. The Lenco which cost me less than half of that amount runs circles around the Rega. There is no comparison between the two. And I feel bad about it, because I think the Rega is a gorgeous table and was the best sounding TT I owned until I got the L70. I feel bad because the Rega has been delegated to back up TT duties and gets spun only once every few months whereas the L70 gets daily play. At the end of the day I am happy to have both, but in retrospect, I don't think I would have shelled out the 54k for the Rega if I had already owned the L70 beforehand.

A perspective put forth very well indeed.

Cheers...
 
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If we keep the cost aspect aside, the sheer music listening joy which Lenco brings, is invaluable.
 
Good point by Tek. As I always say, often the difference between poor and good is huge, fair and good is still huge, good and better is not that huge, better and excellent is marginal but the difference between excellent and outstanding is extremely minor if not negligible (to the ordinary music listener). A stock Garrard SP25 in a hollow box plinth of those times, with a stock Garrard tonearm and a Shure m75-6 cart could make Jim Reeves sound out of this world when compared more modern and expensive players. I am waiting patiently for the opportunity to get hold of a Lenco and when I do, it would be interesting to draw a comparison with my Technics SL3200.
 
Not sure if I agree with that 100%, it really depends on the condition of the vintage player. I picked up a Lenco L70 which was luckily in pretty good condition, even without a massive plinth or new tonearm. At first, I did not expect much from it as I had just purchased a brand new Rega P3-24 TT for about Rs 54k just a few months before. The Lenco which cost me less than half of that amount runs circles around the Rega. There is no comparison between the two. And I feel bad about it, because I think the Rega is a gorgeous table and was the best sounding TT I owned until I got the L70. I feel bad because the Rega has been delegated to back up TT duties and gets spun only once every few months whereas the L70 gets daily play. At the end of the day I am happy to have both, but in retrospect, I don't think I would have shelled out the 54k for the Rega if I had already owned the L70 beforehand.

tek, My guess is you are one of those really lucky ones who have got a good piece//most are not in a good shape. in fact the very reason of its "death" in the past was due to cheaper Belt TTs trouncing it.

Mine in stock form was not as good..the Scheu entry TT at around 50K was clearly superior. (even when i used a Linn Arm. dont remember the carts)
Unfortunately I have never heard a Rega..so cant comment on that..but the older P3s used to be in the USD 500-600 range..have they increased the price so much ?
 
IMO, there is nothing much to go wrong in a Lenco playerss except the idler wheel . I have had several L-75 and however bad the condition, when it is well serviced,they sound fantastic and many of the new generation players cannot match them.
 
Finally changed the crappy Lenco tonearm on L75 to a Jelco 250st, which is a drop in replacement from a pivot to spindle standpoint.

Plays well with a Stanton 500 Gold cartridge. No idler or motor noise. This has the new red idler from Norbert. Got very good grip.

Here is the picture with traditional Lenco plinth on loan from Santhosh till I get my new plinth made.

Cheers.
 

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Congratulations Anil - Where are you all getting these wonderful TT's form - Please share your contacts :)
 
Finally my multi-layer plinth made of MDF got ready and after making necessary filing of the top layer to get the correct setting of the Lenco pan sitting flush on the 2nd layer, I got the whole thing fixed and setup.

The tonearm is a Jelco 250st with a Stanton 500 Gold and a Stanton 5105aa stylus from Jico. Everything cleaned and lubed on the L75 and also has a brand new idler wheel.

Sounds quite wonderful and quite. No rumble or no other stray noise. Has a warm sound to it. Overall very likeable and non-fatigue sound.

Will tweak later with other cartridges and tonearms and see where this all ends up. Also need to get my plinth gloss painted after the putty work.

Here are the pictures.

Cheers.
 

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Finally my multi-layer plinth made of MDF got ready and after making necessary filing of the top layer to get the correct setting of the Lenco pan sitting flush on the 2nd layer, I got the whole thing fixed and setup.

The tonearm is a Jelco 250st with a Stanton 500 Gold and a Stanton 5105aa stylus from Jico. Everything cleaned and lubed on the L75 and also has a brand new idler wheel.

Sounds quite wonderful and quite. No rumble or no other stray noise. Has a warm sound to it. Overall very likeable and non-fatigue sound.

Will tweak later with other cartridges and tonearms and see where this all ends up. Also need to get my plinth gloss painted after the putty work.

Here are the pictures.

Cheers.

Congrats!! very nice work! Can you share the musical difference of the old & new plinth?
 
Congrats!! very nice work! Can you share the musical difference of the old & new plinth?

It is sounding more like a real high quality turntable compared to a normal turntable earlier. It sounds more solid and has more body to the music. Earlier it was not close to some of my own reference turntables. Now it is close and can equal them probably with better cartridge and tonearm combinations. My other turntables are very well setup with high quality MC cartridge and phono preamp combinations. Therefore it is not fair to straight away compare.

Cheers
 
Great Anil, thats what even my experince has been. its an average TT as stock at best but you understand what the hype is about with a new plinth/Tonearm and some tweaks
maybe you could try the following also now ?
1. wrap the idler arm in Plumbers tape to dampen the sound
2. screw the top plate into the plinth below ( via holes drilled around the bearing around 1 inch to 4-5 inches away )..retain the rubber gromits in the edges
3. Dampen the top plate from below with Bitumen sheets
4. use a rubber band instead of the spring to hold the idler. (Rajiv found this very impactful)

this should further reduce background nose. at least 1 and 2 for me worked well
 
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Great Anil, thats what even my experince has been. its an average TT as stock at best but you understand what the hype is about with a new plinth/Tonearm and some tweaks
maybe you could try the following also now ?
1. wrap the idler arm in Plumbers tape to dampen the sound
2. screw the top plate into the plinth below ( via holes drilled around the bearing around 1 inch to 4-5 inches away )..retain the rubber gromits in the edges
3. Dampen the top plate from below with Bitumen sheets
4. use a rubber band instead of the spring to hold the idler. (Rajiv found this very impactful)

this should further reduce background nose. at least 1 and 2 for me worked well
Thanks. Did items 2 and 4 already. Want to try the other 2 items. Right now, I will let my ear get used to the sound a little bit more and then attempt the tweaks. I have too many projects to complete.

Cheers.
 
I don't know if I had posted earlier, but got a nice multilayer MDF plinth made by my carpenter few years ago. Rumble cannot be measured by ear or stethoscope. Heavy plinth does it's magic. Have been using it for over a year. Just recently painted and mounted a nice 10" tonearm with a wood bodied DL103. Amazing reproduction quality in terms of dynamics and PRAT. L75 cannot ever be beaten on quality it can deliver at a value for money price. It's a tweakers delight. Here is the picture.
eb22ce5ca091f7064661db2e56664668.jpg


Cheers



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I don't know if I had posted earlier, but got a nice multilayer MDF plinth made by my carpenter few years ago. Rumble cannot be measured by ear or stethoscope. Heavy plinth does it's magic. Have been using it for over a year. Just recently painted and mounted a nice 10" tonearm with a wood bodied DL103. Amazing reproduction quality in terms of dynamics and PRAT. L75 cannot ever be beaten on quality it can deliver at a value for money price. It's a tweakers delight. Here is the picture.
eb22ce5ca091f7064661db2e56664668.jpg


Cheers



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here is Top plate design I am working on for HFM Ravi.
e00c80b163b98ad00e4006370d905c2e.jpg


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