New Townshend Rock 7 owner

nsp,

I will comment on the differences at a later date. Thanks for your comments.

alonski,

I'm using a MANA bubble level. I don't see the bubble change enough when I place it on any surface for it's weight to be a factor. I'm having to make some shims out of paper to get the arm pillar level when the platter is level. What I've learned when leveling the table is to get your tt support platform level so I don't have to adjust the stock (feet/springs). Using the counterbalance weight solely for the leveling is optimal as the tt remains more stable. Almost there. I couldn't wait any longer and did a rough cartridge/alignment and quick listen. Without the cart being perfect and no trough fluid, I could hear a basis for very good things to come. The motor speed is a little fast. I believe I need a new belt. I set the motor further out that recommended to get the speed close to correct with my Timeline.

Thanks.

I thought I should go ahead and make some initial observations after some 10 hours or so of listening. This isn't a formal comparison to my VPI Classic 3 SE Sig but a small bit of insight to what I'm experiencing. This is in part due to my excitement and to document what I'm hearing initially. My phono stage isn't balanced so I cannot use the same cable to compare my two tt's.

When I switched out my VPI for the Townshend, I had been listening to my Acutex 420 STR w/ shibata stylus re-tip and then switched to the Brinkman Pi. I used my Anticables 6.2 cryo'd phono cable w/ that set-up.On the Townshend, I put on my Dynavector Karat D3 that has many hours on it. I'm using the Discovery Plus 4 here.

On my "go to" lp for system evaluation, (Shawn Colvin "Steady On"), the center image is the most focused/stable as I've ever heard. The two female vocals, when singing together are better articulated and very easy to separate individually and are more in "their own space". (this aspect continues on through every lp going forward). LP surface noise is lowered. This all brings increased transparency and a clearer overall sound. Live recordings sound more, well, (live) and a greater sense of "you are there".

On recordings with piano, the key strikes are present very clear and accurate. I'm getting a grater sense of no electronics is the signal chain.

Queen's "News Of The World"/We Will Rock You...the foot stomps and hand claps sound much more realistic and have a greater spread.

Low bass, 30hz + below is more meaningful and I get the sense that these frequencies are more "filled in".

Cheers!

bdp24,

I thought you may be interested in this...

Last night, PBS had a special "The Last Waltz" concert. After watching a while, I put on my MFSL "The Band".

I had previously thought it was kind of murky or muddy in the lower frequencies. Not now! Also, the whole lp is more like "you are there". The rest of the frequency range is more transparent and revealing. This may be why some have described their experience with this tt, upon listening to a studio recording, "like listening to a master tape".

I've never heard a master tape but I think I now understand more this sort of description.

Cheers!

One (important) thing, ...I just realized...

I don't feel a need to adjust for differing record thicknesses.

OK..... I've been listening today for 12 hours straight.

Still not tired. My plan is to go for 12 more hours.

This would not have been a possibility before.

Right now, I've got Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris "All The Road Running" spinning. Sounding fantastic!