I've owned a Reference Lenco (with two arms) for a year and a half but it's a Mark 1. I'll be sending it in to Jean soon for the new titanium idler wheel and whatever other upgrades he's come up with. Tonearms are either Graham Phantom II or Tri-planar VIIuii in one position and an SME M2-12R in the other. Right now, I have an A90 in the Tri-planar and a Mijajima Kansui in the SME, but sometimes I run SPUs in the SME and a couple of Benz cartridges in the Graham and Tri-planar. All combos have worked well.
As I said recently in the Garrard 301 thread, the 105 lb plinth is sheathed in solid Santos mahogany, including the top and armboards. He made it taking my preferences into account, and everything about the woodwork is first rate. The flame and grain in the mahogany have a subtle 3D effect and lovely reddish color, which deepens with age. I've also owned a Michell Orbe SE and Clearaudio Innovation Wood. Both are very fine tables but I sold them and kept the Lenco.
I am quite happy with the sound, which has terrific drive, rhythmic grip, coherence, and detail retrieval. A high-grade stethoscope to the armboards and plinth reveals near-silence. The noise floor when listening to music is quite low and the speed, as measured with a KAB strobe, holds precisely when adjusted. I haven't heard any of the slate-plinth restorations, which might be better yet, but I find my plinth to introduce no noticeable colorations.
I've never actually met him but I found Jean to be a good guy to work with when commissioning a turntable. He's passionate and opinionated but he cares about his work and really comes through.
Hope this helps.
As I said recently in the Garrard 301 thread, the 105 lb plinth is sheathed in solid Santos mahogany, including the top and armboards. He made it taking my preferences into account, and everything about the woodwork is first rate. The flame and grain in the mahogany have a subtle 3D effect and lovely reddish color, which deepens with age. I've also owned a Michell Orbe SE and Clearaudio Innovation Wood. Both are very fine tables but I sold them and kept the Lenco.
I am quite happy with the sound, which has terrific drive, rhythmic grip, coherence, and detail retrieval. A high-grade stethoscope to the armboards and plinth reveals near-silence. The noise floor when listening to music is quite low and the speed, as measured with a KAB strobe, holds precisely when adjusted. I haven't heard any of the slate-plinth restorations, which might be better yet, but I find my plinth to introduce no noticeable colorations.
I've never actually met him but I found Jean to be a good guy to work with when commissioning a turntable. He's passionate and opinionated but he cares about his work and really comes through.
Hope this helps.