Description

The Blob is finally done! It has been for a couple of months now but has taken a while to fine tune.

The biggest issues were to do with the air supply to the MG-1 and getting the whole thing to stay level.

It has taken two 20l/min pumps running through the two surge tanks to get enough flow to float the arm properly.

The irony is that even though I've gone to quite some lengths to make the Blob able to accommodate three arms at once the Airtech is so much better than my other arms and so much fun to use I've taken the others off.

At least now everything works the way I'd planned. The pumps are quiet enough to leave in the same room. The Lenco is a bloody fabulous piece of engineering. Everything Jean has been promoting on the two incarnations of the Lenco thread are demonstrably evident in this build as it already has been by all the other builders.

For me the greatest strengths of the Lenco centre around it's ability to carry a tune and stay coherent ragardles of how complex or indeed simple the music is. It rocks when it needs to and can be silken smooth if the vinyl is.

Mostly it justs sounds more like music and not hifi.

For any masochists out there I've posted a couple of full size jpegs of the CAD templates I used. If the compressed images are no good email me and I'll send the files directly. Just know what you're letting yourself in for!

So, after about nine months of buggerising about and now that I can sit back and enjoy the thing I can definitely say it was worthi it. Hey, I've already almost forgotten about the effort. I hope my kid appreciates what will be passed down to him!

Lastly the more astute among you may have noticed the CAD models of Nelson Pass' single driver horns and subwoofer designs. Should be the perfect compliment to the mighty Lenco. If I can fit them in the room it should be a load of fun.
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Components Toggle details

    • Lenco L78
    Final Setup, Tweaks and CAD Drawings
    • Lenco L78
    Full Size CAD Drawing JPEG.
    Set out shows the original two opposing arms layout for conventional pivot arms
    • Lenco L78
    CAD Drawing of modified plinth to take the Adanalog MG-1 Air Bearing Arm.
    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Grace 707
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    • Grace 707
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    • Grace 707
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • Lenco L78
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    • AirTech MG-1
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    • AirTech MG-1
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    • AirTech MG-1
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    • AirTech MG-1
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    • AirTech MG-1
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    • Nelson Pass J Low
    Not your average back loaded horn.
    • Nelson Pass El Pipe-O
    Couldn't resist. A pair of these should add a fair old whallop to the horns. Can't wait.

Comments 5

Owner
Thanks Jean
I had a friend visiting from London last month. Naturally I've been filling him in on the Lenco saga and he couldn't wait to hear it. Even though he's not an analogue guy I think he just wanted to make sure he wasn't missing out on something. It took a while but I think he got it by the end of his two week holiday. I kept telling him to stop thinking hifi and start listening to the instruments, the background [space - no noise from my rig!], the music in other words. The instruments on some new jazz reissues I got recently are almost tangible.
Thanks indeed for the cartridge tip. Whilst I love the DL with a passion I've got to hang something different off the other arms - eventually!
Best regards
Peter w

peter_w

Hi Peter, better late than never!! As I already wrote you, that is one Be-OO-ti-ful plinth, glad to see you hear all the Lenco strengths. As you can hear, Lencos should be the main subject of "Getting MUSIC via Hi-Fi 101" :-). The MG-1 does seem to be a natural partner to the Lenco doesn't it, almost as if they came out of the same factory! I've found the Dynavector 17D MKIII to be a perfect partner for the arm, both balancing each other perfectly, and talk about dynamics, POW!! PLING!!! SLAM!!! And delicate filigree detail too. Happy listening in the Land of Oz.

johnnantais

Peter,

My four feel like nothing compared to yours. It is alot of work, but showing these babies off is quite fun. I've seen several "high end" tables bite the dust after hearing these amazing spinners.

I'd like to know more about the MG-1. I agree with you- it is a bargain! So much so that I have one sitting in a box (wait, I think I can hear it calling me "where's the vinyl. get me out of this box"). I can't wait to hear it on my next Lenco which will be ready in a month or so.
Can I simply mount it on the plinth, no seperate arm board? Is it easy to mount and set up, which cart do you recommend/use? Can you think of anything I should prepare for which is not obvious?

Will you be using a set, low watt amp for the horns?
What part of the world do you live in?

Thanks Peter and enjoy the music!

oregon

Owner
Wow
Thanks Oregon. It seemed a waste to not let others know what I've learned along the way, especially since Jean has been so generous with his knowledge. The emails I'm getting clearly indicate the same puzzlement as I had, mainly to do with the lovely MG-1 arm. In hindsight it was a heck of a lot fun and very satisfying.
I just can't believe you've the energy to build four of 'em! It's pretty much impossible to even find them in Oz anyway.
Now for a nice set of Nelson Pass' back loaded horns and transmission line subs to really make the Lenco sing.
Better get a gym membership first so I can actually move them.

peter_w

Peter,
Your work is FABULOUS!!!
I have built 4 Lencos, which sound great and for which I am very proud, but your table is indeed a work of art, craftsmanship and beauty. Your hard work has paid off.
Thanks for the photos and explanations. Your system is one I constantly go to for inspiration and consultation.

oregon

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