Neat experiment! Before others just run out any buy some shrink wrap on your recommendation without giving it much thought, how much mass did this shrink wrap actually add to your arm and did it in any way alter the relationship of the mass of the arm and the compliance of your cartridge?
Project "Cheap Turntable"
Recently I purchased a Pioneer PL514 turntable as a fun project in order to see what I could do to on the cheap side of sound with modifications. This table was a fully automatic belt drive model that was built around 1978-79. It's Plinth is a 2 inch MDF and it has an S shaped tone arm with a detachable head shell.
Here are the mods that were done.
1) All mechanical parts that operated the fully auto return were removed. I did not want any unwanted vibrations getting to the arm.
2) A new on/off switch was installed so that the unit could be engaged on/off manually.
3) A Canare/Nuetrik cable was stalled to replace the cheapo cable that came attached.
4) The platter was sprayed with a damping material used in car sound automotive.
5) Motor was relubed.
6) Spindle bearing was replaced with a higher quality one and relubed.
7) Head shell was replaced by an Aluminum stamped one. Not the greatest but better than the Plastic one it came with.
8) Arm was wrapped with shrink tubing to eliminate any higher resonance and to better secured the detachable head shell.
9) Installed a AT 440 cartridge that I bought here for $45.00
10) Belt was replaced.
The outcome was really surprising. Comparing it to my Well Tempered Record Player/Benz Glider or Meridian 506.20/MSB GOLD LINK III the Pioneer did very well. No it didn't slay the WTRP but it did come very close to the MERIDIAN/MSB and for a fraction of the cost.
The mod that created the greatest improvement was the shrink tubing/tone arm wrap, which allowed the bass to be deeper, better defined and with more punch. (I would suggest this mod for other tables!!!!!!!! I might even try it on my WTRP)
Last night after, applying the last tweak, I listen to the table for over three hours and I have to admit I was extremely impressed that a 25 year old budget table could actually sound so good. Now that I have had my fun, the table has been sold to a friend who wants to give vinyl a spin.
In a nut shell, I was really surprised with the final results and with the total package costing around $125.00 it is a no brainer, easy project for someone who wants to get into vinyl on the cheap.
Here are the mods that were done.
1) All mechanical parts that operated the fully auto return were removed. I did not want any unwanted vibrations getting to the arm.
2) A new on/off switch was installed so that the unit could be engaged on/off manually.
3) A Canare/Nuetrik cable was stalled to replace the cheapo cable that came attached.
4) The platter was sprayed with a damping material used in car sound automotive.
5) Motor was relubed.
6) Spindle bearing was replaced with a higher quality one and relubed.
7) Head shell was replaced by an Aluminum stamped one. Not the greatest but better than the Plastic one it came with.
8) Arm was wrapped with shrink tubing to eliminate any higher resonance and to better secured the detachable head shell.
9) Installed a AT 440 cartridge that I bought here for $45.00
10) Belt was replaced.
The outcome was really surprising. Comparing it to my Well Tempered Record Player/Benz Glider or Meridian 506.20/MSB GOLD LINK III the Pioneer did very well. No it didn't slay the WTRP but it did come very close to the MERIDIAN/MSB and for a fraction of the cost.
The mod that created the greatest improvement was the shrink tubing/tone arm wrap, which allowed the bass to be deeper, better defined and with more punch. (I would suggest this mod for other tables!!!!!!!! I might even try it on my WTRP)
Last night after, applying the last tweak, I listen to the table for over three hours and I have to admit I was extremely impressed that a 25 year old budget table could actually sound so good. Now that I have had my fun, the table has been sold to a friend who wants to give vinyl a spin.
In a nut shell, I was really surprised with the final results and with the total package costing around $125.00 it is a no brainer, easy project for someone who wants to get into vinyl on the cheap.