Monolith table
- Thread starter Roboturner91
- Start date
Got the Orbit today. It's too early to draw any major conclusions sound-wise.
In terms of build quality, the Monolith just feels like a more substantial table. It's heavier, the hinges and dustcover are thicker and nicer, the removable headshell, etc.
By comparison the Orbit feels light and the corner cutting is more obvious. More plastic. I do appreciate the spartan design though, and NAD gear is proof that just because a piece of gear looks/feels cheap, doesn't mean it won't sound really good. Speed wise it's running at 33.38 with .09 w/f, although the belt is not broken in yet. I'm a little underwhelmed with the sound so far, but I'm assuming that's just the cart needing more time to break in.
I'll be using both these tables over the next couple weeks as often as possible to figure out which one I'd rather keep. I may buy another cart to match the one on the U-turn so I can do a true A-B comparison. I suspect that the AT100 on the Monolith is way better but I'm not shelling out $100 for one of those that I don't intend to keep.
hbucker
Well-Known Member
If you got the basic Orbit, the cart on the Monolith will be much better. A bit of an apples-oranges comparison.
I've heard people say the Orbit seems like a lot of plastic. I have to say, it seems like there is less plastic on my Orbit than on lots of turntables I've seen. The plinth isn't plastic. The platter isn't plastic - unless you want to count an acrylic platter as plastic. There is plastic on tonearm assembly, but I'd be shocked if the Monolith didn't include some plastic here too.
Doesn't change my life one way or the other. I'm just curious where all this plastic is compared to other tables in this price range.
I've had my Orbit Plus for a year now and have had zero tracking issues with it. It's been very stable.
Will be interested to hear your comparisons.
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
Still running it stock... played maybe 7 LPs on it
For what I paid for it , it's a very good bargain -- Some of you may know how well I like the Technics SL-23 for the price vs SQ ratio
This table competes well with the SL23
It's not so much that there's an abundance of plastic on the U-turn. But where there is plastic, it seems like kind of a lower grade plastic or something as compared to the Monolith or even my 80s Technics.
Not a big deal, it's not like it's in places where the sound quality would be affected.
As I said, I'm going to pick up another AT3600 so I can do a better A-B comparison of the sound. TBH, I expect the U-turn to win the sound comparison but there are other factors at play too. The U-turn's dust cover/hinges are downright chintzy, and I kinda hate the non-removable headshell and the way the counterweight works. It's like they set out to make cartridge swapping as difficult as possible.
And I really like the Monolith's auto stop. I would have to shell out an extra $40 for a Q-Up on the U-turn to get similar functionality, and the Q-Up can't co-exist with the U-turn's arm lifter so you have to make a choice.
The one thing I have noticed that makes a definite difference is the U-turn's platter, and I only have the basic MDF one. I totally get why the design of the new Fluance tables changed to the belt-around-platter design.
Not a big deal, it's not like it's in places where the sound quality would be affected.
As I said, I'm going to pick up another AT3600 so I can do a better A-B comparison of the sound. TBH, I expect the U-turn to win the sound comparison but there are other factors at play too. The U-turn's dust cover/hinges are downright chintzy, and I kinda hate the non-removable headshell and the way the counterweight works. It's like they set out to make cartridge swapping as difficult as possible.
And I really like the Monolith's auto stop. I would have to shell out an extra $40 for a Q-Up on the U-turn to get similar functionality, and the Q-Up can't co-exist with the U-turn's arm lifter so you have to make a choice.
The one thing I have noticed that makes a definite difference is the U-turn's platter, and I only have the basic MDF one. I totally get why the design of the new Fluance tables changed to the belt-around-platter design.
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lico
Super Member
These new decks remind me of the SL 20 or realistic variant I used to own a long time ago. But better.
I've come to the conclusion that I like the Monolith better because of its convenience features.
The U-turn's sound is a little better, owing to the platter, I think. There is a slight harshness that comes through on the Monolith, that I can largely tame by using the felt mat on top of the rubber one.
I may end up keeping them both. Neither table is a clear-cut winner, each has its strengths and weaknesses. I do find myself wishing that U-turn could come up with an improved model that addressed its slight weaknesses. I'd be first in line for that.
The U-turn's sound is a little better, owing to the platter, I think. There is a slight harshness that comes through on the Monolith, that I can largely tame by using the felt mat on top of the rubber one.
I may end up keeping them both. Neither table is a clear-cut winner, each has its strengths and weaknesses. I do find myself wishing that U-turn could come up with an improved model that addressed its slight weaknesses. I'd be first in line for that.
I checked the tracking force on the Monolith with a force gauge a few minutes ago. The counterweight must be labeled wrong. At the 1.5 mark on the counterweight the force gauge reads 1.96 g. At the 1 mark it reads 1.45. No wonder it sounded better when I backed it off a couple weeks ago, I was using it at 1.25 according to the counterweight.
Has anybody with one of the Fluance or Teac tables checked their stylus force? Curious if they're all mislabeled.
I'm generally suspicious of all calibrated counterweights Robo. I have made it a long term habit to approximate using the calibration marks and then to confirm/dial-in using a cheap digital gauge. Having said that, I've found the calibrations on my Fluances to be roughly as accurate as the one on my PLX-1000. Of course, my Orbit has no markings at all.
I just never needed a force gauge before since I only had p-mount tables. Handy little thing though.
lico
Super Member
Teac counterweight markings are more accurate than Monolith IME. Even though Monolith arm looks to be the same, the counterweight is heavier on the ML but markings are in same position. This allows for zero balancing a lighter headshell/cartridge with the ML (something the Teac can have trouble with). But at the expense of accuracy. Having a scale takes out the uncertainty.
hifitommy
Super Member
the monoprice, teac, and akai tables as well as others have that non-standard angled headshell. i have the akai ant ordered a shell for the $29 price.
the fluance has a standard mount detachable shell, the best of which are the Jelco/Sumiko/Zupreme shells with TWO retaining pins and Litz headshell wire. i prefer these to most of the others.
some of these tables don't give wow and flutter specs so realize there may be audible w&f. i got my akai for cheap and just to quickly check newly acquired used records. it also has software for recording to the computer and a built in phono preamp which sounds ok but isn't anything to write home about.
the fluance has a standard mount detachable shell, the best of which are the Jelco/Sumiko/Zupreme shells with TWO retaining pins and Litz headshell wire. i prefer these to most of the others.
some of these tables don't give wow and flutter specs so realize there may be audible w&f. i got my akai for cheap and just to quickly check newly acquired used records. it also has software for recording to the computer and a built in phono preamp which sounds ok but isn't anything to write home about.
lico
Super Member
Do you hear audible wow and flutter on your akai?
Soundwise, I like the Orbit just a tiny bit better. For ease of use, I like the Monolith a lot better. I'll probably end up keeping the Monolith, it's just more practical.
I do like the Orbit very much, don't get me wrong. It's a tough decision to make and I've waffled at least a dozen times. If the orbit had the auto stop and removable headshell, I'd keep it instead. I do now understand @DavidTT comment earlier about how he wished U-turn would come out with an improved model with some of these convenience features.
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