Pushing an LPT to the limit

[Big Al]

How good can the LPT sound?
I bought Funk's V1 power supply for mine last year and this brought improvements in overall clarity and detail, but swapping my Dynavector DV10x5 for a Goldring G1042, adding Funk's Achromat and sitting the deck on a Base 01 isolation table has moved the performance into another league. I'm very impressed and wonder how it might now compare to the PT or PT Too/Export. I don't think I could ever part with the LPT but might consider starting a PT refurb project. Does anyone have any experience of the transition from LPT to the more expensive decks?
On the subject of Funk, I have great admiration for Arthur but I hope he soon finds time to concentrate more of his time on product development rather than answering the phone. Much as I value the personal touch, it's surely not good for business in the long run. Had to wait a while for the V1 buit it has been worth the wait and the motor was easy to fit.

[DaveMillier]

How good can the LPT sound?
I bought Funk's V1 power supply for mine last year and this brought improvements in overall clarity and detail, but swapping my Dynavector DV10x5 for a Goldring G1042, adding Funk's Achromat and sitting the deck on a Base 01 isolation table has moved the performance into another league. I'm very impressed and wonder how it might now compare to the PT or PT Too/Export. I don't think I could ever part with the LPT but might consider starting a PT refurb project. Does anyone have any experience of the transition from LPT to the more expensive decks?
On the subject of Funk, I have great admiration for Arthur but I hope he soon finds time to concentrate more of his time on product development rather than answering the phone. Much as I value the personal touch, it's surely not good for business in the long run. Had to wait a while for the V1 buit it has been worth the wait and the motor was easy to fit.

Hi

I met Arthur and Neil many years ago at the Camberwell factory when returning my brand new LPT for repairs We had a bit of a natter about the LPT and Arthur said at the time that in his opinion it was an excellent deck that didn't give up much to the PT.

I've been very happy with my LPT but bought a broken PT Too recently from ebay. I swapped the LPT psu into the PTT and got it going. The main difference I hear is that the bass is lighter in weight and noticeably "quicker" at starting and stopping. Interestingly I find that the PTT sounds more like CD while the LPT sounds more like the stereotype of a turntable: warmer, fuller, heavier but the difference is modest.

No doubt others here will argue differently but I have to admit I simply don't recognise the stuff that reviewers and enthusiasts go on about.

IMO you can make noticeble improvements to the sound of hifi by say going from a Dual 505 to a top turntable but the differences are still pretty modest. All these little tweaks that people image claim make night and day differences are completely inaudible to me.

It's the same with amps: I am currently using a Naim 42.5/Flatcap/110 and to my ears it sounds identical to my Onix OA21s and a Kenwood Prologic AV amp! Also I have been using £500 worth of Graham Slee Solo headphone amp for the last 6 weeks and despite hours and hours of listening tests I can't tell the slightest difference between it and a £30 cmoy or the H/p output of my EMU usb soundcard.

What really makes a difference is speakers, IMO. I'm in the process of upgrading the crossovers/tweeter in my speakers. I've done one so far (still awaiting some caps from Wilmslow) and it has dramatically improved clarity and tonal balance already...

[abril]

Hi
Recently moved up from an LPT(actually had 2-one to use and one to play with)and the difference with the PT original is very noticeable,with the LPT having a 'warmer' presentation,but I don't feel the PT1 is in any way lacking in bass performance,what is noticeable is the sheer 'attack' of the PT1.
The LPT I feel is limited in that sense and gets it's warmer presentation from motor noise breakthrough (you will see my item on it in the PT forum) the reduction in vibration of the motor achieved certainly makes it sound closer to the PT1 and no doubt the fitting of a DC motor to the LPT has a similar,but probably more extreme effect.

[Ian_Glos]

I have an LPT which I have had since new. Apart from a service on the circuit board it has run pretty well.

Last time I went to play the deck, I noticed a slowing and think that now is the time to upgrade the power supply. I am thinking of going the funk V1 + Archromat ( I presume 5mm) route. Could anyone let me know if this a simple diy mod and if the net result will be a noticeable improvement?

[abril]

Service the PSU by replacing all the electrolytics and possibly the 3k3? resistors,and more importantly change the phasing cap to optimise motor coil phase angle and you would be amazed the difference it makes

What is the belt condition like?

[Ian_Glos]

Thanks for the reply, sadly I am not that adept with a soldering iron so I think swap out or replacement are the options. I have seen the funk and origin live offerings, which would be the best option?

Any advice would be appreciated

[Lencotweaker]

Well I was an LPT user for many years. I bought a new one in 1990 and only switched in 2004. It was a great deck (apart from some PSU issues in the warranty period...) and I enjoyed it greatly. I always wanted an Export after hearing them in dealers back in the day (or an Anni after the Hifi World review in the early 90's) but never felt able to afford it. In about 2000 the PSU failed again and at that time the only option was a Origin Live DC kit. Difficult to get working well and I lost patience with it in the end but when it did work it made clear improvements in overall transparency, detail and soundstage depth. But then I discovered Ebay and bagged the Export I always wanted. Sadly it was D.O.A. (one new main bearing later from the lord AK himself in Funks early days) but once fixed up it blew me away. A-B comparisons with the LPT had the Export ahead by a country mile...

I also got one of the first achromats at that time but didn't feel it made much difference on PT's. I don't use one on my current Anni versary at all but do use one to great effect on Thorens and Lenco decks.

Personally I think theres a big step from a DC powered LPT with Achromat to a stock PTE. I never looked back anyway.

[Big Al]

Something I have yet to try with my LPT is changing the bearing oil. When I asked Arthur about this he was rather dismissive ("..but it only runs at 33 rpm..." ). However the press seem to recommend this. At the risk of embarrassment... how exactly do you access the bearing to drain the oil, clean the bearing and replace the oil on an LPT? The section with the spindle doesn't exactly slip off the bearing - there must be a proper way of doing this without risking damage to the bearing. Then, which oil to use? .. and would it be worthwhile?

[abril]

The spindle simply pulls out of the bearing (do it in stages as it generates terrific suction due to the close bearing fit) and takes forever to reseat for the same reason.
Don't lose the ball bearing
IMO not worth the hassle, it will take the best part of a day by the time it is running again for virtually no change.

[Ian_Glos]

Well I have fixed my LPT. After some deliberation and discussion with Arthur K @ Funk, I have installed the VX1 replacement board and motor. This is and evolution of the V1 and is therefore a DC power supply but the majority (ex plug-in adapter) are all contained within the chassis of the LPT. I personally did not want an additonal power supply box, so this solution works well for me.

Not quite a drop in but with some minor adjustments to the inside of the chassis it fits nicley and lines up with the existing fitting holes which give access to a couple of trim adjusters to set the speed.

This and in addition replacing my old Ortofon MC10 with a Goldring 2500 has put life back into the LPT and I am currently working my way through my vinyl collection

[Phil Y]

Hello Ian_Glos,
Good to hear you have your deck going again. Did you find going to a DC motor gave a significant improvement or did you fit the new cartridge at the same time (making it more difficult to tell which did what). I am considering going DC with my LPT but I would like to know weather it is worth the money, or is it just a small improvement and more something worth doing if/when the original AC set up gives up the ghost.

Regards, Phil.

[Ian_Glos]

Hello Phil,

the two were changed within a relatively short period and as the DC upgrade was prompted by the failure of the AC board and Motor it is a little difficult to give you concrete feedback.

I can however say that I find the DC power supply more stable and very little motor noise is heard. I also like the ability to tweak the speed without removing the the top plate, albeit via the two holes underneath.

What I have now though in combination seems very good. It took a while for the new cartridge to bed in but I am now hearing things that I didn't before in the music.

I think the only thing I might do in the future is to get an achromat which will involve adjusting the height of the arm so I'll hold on for the time being.

As for the should you/shouldn't you, I depends how big the itch is. In my own case it has definitely been worth it.

Regards, Ian

PS you wont see this on the Funk website yet, it's not long been released

[Phil Y]

Thanks for the info Ian, I will have a think.

Cheers, Phil.