[tvad4]

Which would you choose?

The Origin Live RB250 includes Cardas re-wire and structural mod with end stub and counterweight.

You KAB enthusiasts know the story with the Technics SL1200 arm mods (fluid damper and re-wire).

Cost is not a concern.

[lcrim]

You know where I stand.

[lcrim]

Allright, IMO go with the fluid damping tray and the tonearm rewire.   I have all the mods and w/ the isoplatmat the playback is extraordinary.  You can change cartridges simply by unscrewing the head shell, floating the arm, reset tracking force, reset anti-skate and leveling the arm, all with dials that work in a prcision manner.  The Origin Live modded Rega 250 arm is probably a pretty good sounding arm.

[JimJ]

I've owned an SL-1200 and now a VPI w/ a Rega RB-300, and the Technics arm is definitely easier to use.

But...there's something about the Rega I like...

If cost isn't a concern, can you swing the OL Silver? I've been eyeing one as a possible replacement for mine 

[TheChairGuy]

Here's a fella' (in Scotland, I think) that can get you Origin Live performance for a lot less...especially if you already own a Rega 250:

http://www.audioorigami.co.uk/

Note: he also sells a fluid damper system for 80 quid ($160.00), too. I'm considering upgrading my Rega 250 with him...as it has a botch job, homebrew (prior owner, not me)  re-wire now makes it unusable. To get all the upgrades it's $500 or so....so I sit content with my JVC DD table now. 

[TheChairGuy]

Brit Audio charges $60 additional for labor...Audio Origimi prices are with included labor.  Also, AO drills out the cheap grounding plug Rega installs and inserts a brass rivet in it's place. I think (not sure) Johnny does that free of charge if you ask him, too.  There are pics on the site. 

Many have said the standard Rega wire isn't so awful....what's awful is the grounding scheme in the arm.  The Incognito solves the grounding issue and improves the sonics....but most folks think it's all because of the wire upgrade.

His upgrades can go well over and above the Incognito re-wire/re-grounding, too...including polishing the black powder coat off (a la Origin Live Silver), internally damping the tonearm with foam, counterweight and end stubs additions and even a silicone damper pot/trough.  The Rega then becomes a superb arm.

If you already own a Rega 250 already, it's about $500 for everything - much less than Origin Live (and not even including the cool silicone damping pot).

btw, you can use your existing cartridge leads from the Rega and save yourself 20BP ($40).  Highly doubtful, a change of clips will offer much up sonically. For a real treat, get rid of your clips entirely...buy some small cheap teflon O-rings to roll up the cartridge pins and bare wire and eliminate.  This way, you'll have one continuous length of the same wire from cartridge to rca leads.

Eliminating as many solder joints as possible has got to be good for miniscule cartridge voltages 

Enjoy, John

[TheChairGuy]

You mentioned cost not a concern at beginning of the topic, so I went whole hog 

For just a basic re-wire on a Rega, I'd go BritAudio route, too. Ciao 

[WEEZ]

Pardon my confusion....tvad, are you thinking of changing the arm on your 'table? or contemplating the purchase of a KAB 'table?

 

WEEZ

[WEEZ]

I can't imagine an appreciable improvement by going from an MMF-7 to a Technics...unless you go the full KAB monty; 'table, arm (w/mod's)...the works. I'm probably wrong.....

WEEZ

[WEEZ]

Not in my book. Others may disagree.

The fluid damping is the biggest draw, IMO. But...if you don't plan on changing cartridges like your underwear...I wouldn't spend twice the money if it were me.

(which it isn't )

WEEZ

[lcrim]

Some suggested light reading:
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/technics_sl1200_2_e.html

[TheChairGuy]

One or the other. I had won an E-Bay auction for a Technics SL-1200 and chickened out. Basically, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a stock SL-1200 and replace the arm, or buy a modded KAB.

...or just keep the table I presently own.    Frankly, for the $650 I have invested in my MMF-7 with Eroica H cart, it's tough to beat for the money.

What?? You won an item and reneged on the deal....urgh, not good sportsmanship, my man 

tvad, seriously, you are thinking too, too much about this and enjoying your current vinyl (as you seem to like it) too little. There's always something better out there, that you covet, that someone else already has and owns.  Unlike CD playback where you spin your wheels forever trying to make a convincing portrayal of music from it, vinyl can do it at comparitively little cost. 

As you move up the line, you get a little better sonics, tighter dynamics, wider/taller soundstaging, etc - not dramatic night and day difference as it already is musical. You're already at 90%....getting 3% better will cost you a lot more.

Seriously, chill out, enjoy what you have - the right table at the right moment in your life will appear some day.  Just don't stress it 

[TheChairGuy]

wow - BIG spender, $2.50 you offered?  Did you throw in an old pair of socks to sweeten the deal?   You assumed the second leading bidder bought the table from the guy.  How about $25 or $50 for jerking the seller around? You are soooooo magnanimous (and mixed up, too).

So, let's see what we know about you now thus far...

1. You renege on deals & agreements

2. You buy cables from Revelation Audio Labs, try 'em out, return 'em and bad mouth that company in print about their return procedures.

3. You have over 1200 posts here, been a member here for 2 years and just about no one, or in fact nobody at all, knows your first name.

#3 in and of itself means little...but combined with 1 and 2 tells a lot about the calibre of person you are and your comfort level with yourself. You got any other redeeming traits we should know about you 

In business, I tolerate undesirables as financial gain calls for it.....here on AudioCircle, a place to relax with fellow friends and hobbyists, I avoid them at all costs.  I'll be sure to stay away from posts that you are intimately involved with as I can. 

Please don't offer to buy anything I have for sale...they are not for sale to you  (oops, there's my finger again)

Oops, here it is again

(btw, this is not TheChairGuy as Moderator speaking...this is TCG, the Audio-phool.  In that spirit and role, I'll be staying as far away from you as I can in the future when at all possible.  You're not a good egg insofar as I can tell)

[JimJ]

I've owned an SL-1200 and now a VPI w/ a Rega RB-300, and the Technics arm is definitely easier to use.

But...there's something about the Rega I like...

If cost isn't a concern, can you swing the OL Silver? I've been eyeing one as a possible replacement for mine 

What is it about the Rega arm that you like better than the Technics.

Cost is always a concern.


John, thanks for the additional details.

Seems better-built to me. I know it sounds like an audiophool cop-out, but to my ears, the Rega does what the Technics does and goes a little further. It's a more musical arm to me. That's at the cost of a lot of user convienence, yes.

[eric the red]

One or the other. I had won an E-Bay auction for a Technics SL-1200 and chickened out....Reneged. And offered to pay the seller the $2.50 difference between my bid and the second highest bid

Wow-a $2.50 refund? I bet that seller AND 2nd bidder were happy about that one. Did that include the Pay Pal fees or did you charge the seller 3%??

[miklorsmith]

I have bought two things from Grant and he was super to deal with in both transactions, just my 2c.  John - stating a disclaimer that you're wearing one hat instead of the other doesn't distance you as much as you think, from an outside perspective.

My name's Mike, don't wear it out!   

[woodsyi]

Grant credited me $5.00 just because I was a nice guy.  Actually, he credited the money unsolicited when another poster pointed out that the same tube could be purchased on line for less.  He is good that way.  I am a little lackadaisical with the last few dollars here and there, but Grant is cool with me.

[macrojack]

I'll speak for Tvad. He sometimes behaves like everybody's conscience but he is honest to a fault. His biggest defect lies in the area of disagreeing with me. Now that I've said that, I'm sure he'll do it again.  I have made a purchase from him and provided positive feedback. He's a good guy who only seems to be indecisive. He's actually quite resolute, I think, maybe. Well, usually. I mean if you don't count the time......

[TheChairGuy]

tvad, I rushed judgement and, as macrojack has stated, I think that your worst failing is that you may be often indecisive.

As for character flaws - I have many - and freely admit to them.  I wasn't trying to paint myself on to a pedestal of virtue .  But, I do think ratting out on any contractual obligation/ deal is not a good character trait to own.

As far as Moderator status....to my knowlege you have behaved almost exemplary at AudioCircle.  I don't remember an instance where you cursed, used political language, or insulted anyone (as I have probably done, frankly  ).  You are not in any way an issue and your posts are often most thought provoking.

It's actually fairly easy to separate the two TheChairGuys.  The Moderator one think we ought to have a couple hundred more like you here (I kid you not)....the Audiophool will likely not buy or sell from you and may well steer slightly clear from topics you are involved in (as any member does).

Please remember that my role here is purely voluntary - I make zero from doing this and spent inordinate hours juggling my AC duties around my busy life that includes substantial travel, a young'un, work in general, a wife and everything else that goes with life.  So, Mike/miklorsmith (and others), I'd like to iterate that I am no 'insider'; as aside from JohnR, 'insiders' don't really exist at AC.  I'm just a regular member that raised his hand once too often to volunteer around here 

tvad, I owe you (at the very least a) partial apology for my post last night, then. Sorry for that.

[woodsyi]

tvad, I owe you (at the very least a) partial apology for my post last night, then. Sorry for that.

Partial apology accepted. Let's all sing a round of "Kumbaya" and move on.

Here you go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhY1fxQXa3A&mode=related&search=

I am not endorsing anything but she is pretty cute.