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Let's mod a PL-41 !

If you find a connector that would be great. I replaced the wire in my tonearm. First attempt, not difficult at all. It helped to make a little hook out of some hanger wire to get it through the crux. I used Teflon Jacketed silver coated copper wire. Sounds good! To avoid using the original DIN chord, I am thinking about making a little jack plate and connecting the wires directly to some RCA females.
 
I know for a fact that there is a DIN connector for the PL-41. I just can't remember where I saw the post or thread, whatever. I will look around and see if I can find it.
 
Guys
This might be a little off topic, but here goes.
I moved my Denon 103 over to the PL-41, and the combination is stellar... originally the Denon was mounted in my SME 3009/Thorens TD124 rig, I loved the sound.
But after moving the Denon to the PL-41 this left the SME without a pickup, so I figured im mount an Ortofon VMS 20 E mkll, that I bought a while ago with a spare new stylus.
Well the Ortofon is like a Shure in the fact that it is a light tracker 1-1.2 gram and is high compliance. Well guys I gotta say this thing gells with the SME, way better combo than the Denon. top to bottom is so nice, the stage is way wider. The tiniest of anti scate adjustments defiantly changes the channel to channel balance. Once i had it set up Im thinking it's the best cart I have heard with this arm.
I think I might have a keeper here. I was thinking of taking my Shure V15 lll off my AR+Rega combo but now im not so sure. From what i remember the Ortofon + Rega was just ok.... where the Shure + Rega is a pretty sweet match.
One thing i notice is tracking a record with a slight warp, the SME does this any cart with no reaction from speaker cones, it just rides the groove, Im thinking superior ballance and about zero bearing friction. The Pioneer arm i get a slight woofer movement on a slight warp. Higher bearing friction ? less than perfect ballance ??
Any ideas or comments ??

bob
 
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Funny you mention the Denon DL103. I just got one for $118. At that price I had to. After you and Tromatic said such good things about the PL-41/Denon DL103 combo it was a no brainer.

What does the SME arm like for tracking force? I ask because the PL-41 arm likes 2-3 grams TF and the Denon is right there. Thus, the great synergy.
 
For the record-

Some of the Pioneer arms use a funky DIN plug that's not the universal size- I had found a vendor for this special DIN out of Isreal, but it turned out to be the stock DIN and doesn't fit the DIN pins on certain Pioneer arms.


However, some Pioneer arms indeed use the standard DIN plugs, so just verify before you order, as to not end up with a headache.

Cheers,

Paul
 
Mark Walters said:
Funny you mention the Denon DL103. I just got one for $118. At that price I had to. After you and Tromatic said such good things about the PL-41/Denon DL103 combo it was a no brainer.

What does the SME arm like for tracking force? I ask because the PL-41 arm likes 2-3 grams TF and the Denon is right there. Thus, the great synergy.
Click to expand...

Mark
On the SME, this is a fairly low mass arm, Im not sure if there is an optimum tracking weight. It will balance a heavy cart pretty easily the Denon + about a 4 gram weight no problems at all. The maximum tracking weight by the slider weight is 3 grams.
Im thinking what you are, this arm is a killer match with a Shure V15, my V15lll tracks at 1.25 on the high side. I think the specs say .75 to 1.25 gram for the V15lll.
Of all the carts I have had on the SME, I have never had one that gave me trouble. The Rega is a different story, tried it with a Grado Gold and that was hell, the arm would get the shimmys and skip grooves, same for an AT, the purple stylus model. Same carts in the SME no issues. It seems to me that with the SME arm mass is less of an issue. But this combo is SME/Ortofon is sweet. The balance is a tiny bit hot, but detail and stage are stellar.
What makes this even stranger is I have the V15lll mounted in the Rega on an AR table, and this combination is very nice no issues, and one hell of a tracker.
Actually used the Rega on the TD124 for about a year, when I tried the SME on the 124 there was no comparison it pounded the Rega.
I guess its a synergy, like a Denon on a PL-41. Oh yeah, if I remember correctly the Denon took about 20 hours play time to start to settle in, after that it seemed to just get a clarity without any brightness. To my ears it sounds like a high end mi or mm instead of a moving coil.
I thought better than a wood bodied Grado for a fraction of the money.



bob
 
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I bet that Shure V15 III with the JICO SAS stylus would be sweet in combination with the Thorens/SME set up. Tough to beat.
 
Mark Walters said:
I bet that Shure V15 III with the JICO SAS stylus would be sweet in combination with the Thorens/SME set up. Tough to beat.
Click to expand...
Mark
I have been thinking the very same thing! The V15lll is a winner, I imagine the Jico would take it over the top. A nearly 40 year old cart that could embarrass alot of players today.
I have an M95 that is close in sound to the V15, id love to get the Jico for that one too.
My 124, I have had that table for better than 10 years... she has been totally rebuilt, motor rebuilt new bearings. every bearing or sleeve replaced. Speed is dead on within a few seconds and stays that way. You cant hear or feel it running. The old girl is goin on 50 !

bob
 
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Mark Walters said:
I know for a fact that there is a DIN connector for the PL-41. I just can't remember where I saw the post or thread, whatever. I will look around and see if I can find it.
Click to expand...

There was a post recently on a thread regarding the PL41 and a new DIN connector, but if I recall correctly it was the wrong size.
 
MrIgotNomoney said:
Mark
I have been thinking the very same thing! The V15lll is a winner, I imagine the Jico would take it over the top. A nearly 40 year old cart that could embarrass alot of players today.
I have an M95 that is close in sound to the V15, id love to get the Jico for that one too.
My 124, I have had that table for better than 10 years... she has been totally rebuilt, motor rebuilt new bearings. every bearing or sleeve replaced. Speed is dead on within a few seconds and stays that way. You cant hear or feel it running. The old girl is goin on 50 !


bob
Click to expand...


I have an M91ED that I am getting the JICO SAS for. I am in the process of rebuilding a Thorens TD 145 MK II and I think that is where the cart is heading. Not as good as the combination you have but it should be pretty good.

Isotonic said:
There was a post recently on a thread regarding the PL41 and a new DIN connector, but if I recall correctly it was the wrong size.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think we both read that one. I thought they had a DIN, but maybe I am mistaken. I thought for sure that I saw this somewhere (not AK?).
 
Deli, here are the pics that you requested. Sorry, but my photography skills need mucho improvement.

DSCN2366.jpg

DSCN2367.jpg

DSCN2365.jpg

DSCN2369.jpg

DSCN1216.jpg


Hope this helps.
 
Guys
Im going to measure the arm pillar tube, hoping that I can fit a din connector to the PL-41 arm. It would be nice to rewire also.
Thanks Rob for starting this thread ! maybe we will get a PL41 thread all our own.
It's been alot of fun re discovering this table, I cant help but think that this table is gonna be a cult classic.
I love my PL-41
bob
 
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FWIW, I got my thrust pad in the mail the other day, and Finnbow deserves a public thank-you for that project!:thmbsp:
 
Man!
It's getting tough to maintain patience/stick to budget on this tonearm search.

I was hoping to have one by the end of this weekend, but a couple of likely auction candidates appear to be about to go out of range.:no:
But I can't stop - I'm sitting here with a perfectly good (except for the missing arm) PL-41!
Maybe I'll get started on the interior plinth mods I have planned. And I do have to go see Tom Petty later today...
 
Naptown Rob said:
Man!
It's getting tough to maintain patience/stick to budget on this tonearm search.

I was hoping to have one by the end of this weekend, but a couple of likely auction candidates appear to be about to go out of range.:no:
But I can't stop - I'm sitting here with a perfectly good (except for the missing arm) PL-41!
Maybe I'll get started on the interior plinth mods I have planned. And I do have to go see Tom Petty later today...
Click to expand...

Stick to your guns! Something will come up, it always does. In the meantime, I have a good deal on the Sumiko FT-3 and I am way underbudget on it, so that is good. I can't wait to get that arm and put it in to see if the experiment is a success or not. I am just waiting for the arm to be re-wired with better quality tone arm wire. In the meantime, I have taken the whole bearing assembly apart for a polish, new thrust washer, and a little fresh oil. I am also going to fully polish (400, 600, 1000, 1500 wet, then jewelers rouge) the platter while I wait.

Have fun at the show.
 
Another one escapes!

I had high hopes for an Acos Lustre GST1, but it's gone too far out of the budget.
The search continues...
 
Rob - Not that it's any of my business, but how 'bout mounting Mark's removed PL-41 arm if he achieves success with his new arm and doesn't need it.

This does remove the mad scientist aspect of this whole adventure, however.
 
I am definitely nervous in the service about whether the Sumiko FT-3 is going to work or not. Deli is re-wiring it as we speak with Cardas wiring/end clips. My success would certainly equate to a bargain for Rob and a PL-41 arm already rewired with Cardas 33awg and upgraded RCA's...:thmbsp:
 
Well, this would certainly leave me with one very nice PL-41.:scratch2:

But as you say finnbow - if we can't be mad scientists, then where's the real fun?:smoke:
I guess I could still do some plinth mods.

Mark - if you wind up with a great success story, and I wind up still wandering through the wilderness searching for the elusive Great Bargain Tonearm, then we'll have to talk...
 
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