So this 1219 fills the gap quite nicely.
I've got it set up on my main system now, side by side with the Linn.
I'm planning to use this for general listening and use the LP12 for more serious sessions.
It's a good way to keep the miles down on the DL-S1 too.
Dave,
Go buy yourself some LAST Stylast....the stuff is truly wondrous at preserving styli. They claim up to 10x more life - I believe it.
I think it's USD$35 here now...so it's probably 35 quid there or so in the translation. Even at that price for only a couple ounces of fluid it's worth it. I have the ORIGINAL bottle I bought 25 years ago and I think I'm at about 60% used now.
I apply after each 2 album sides....it's yet another painful ritual to add to the many already involved in vinyl playback, but for pricey (and simply superb) carts like the
Denon DL-S1, it's worth every drop.
I've told the story before but it bears repeating. I bought a new
Denon DL-160 that had been re-tipped by Mr. van den Hul. I absent-mindedly was using the Stylast from the very start when I first put it on the end of the tonearm. Although I was fairly pleased with the sound of the Denon - it didn't live up to standards after 50 hours when break-in is ALWAYS complete on any styli. I always find break in sufficient by 25 hours - and I personally think it's nearly or wholly entirely
mechanical with a cartridge.
Somewhere the light bulb went off in my head and I realized I was using Stylast on it and cold turkey stopped. So, by adding the wear reducing liquid, the stylus probably only had the equivalent of 5-10 hours on it. Applying no Stylast, gradually over the next 20 hours the cartridge bloomed into one of my faves is it today - not something I normally say about moving coils; but the Denon's sound decidedly different, and better, to me.
So, the Stylast seems to do exactly what LAST claims it does - retard wear. Unfortunately, I know of no quick and dirty amateur way of assessing whether the LAST Record Preservative works....but, I use that, as well, for the last 25 years in the hopes it does what it claims, too.
Of course, I NOW use Stylast all the time on the DL-160vdH to keep it playing sweetly for the next couple decades

John