重劍無鋒

I have owned this LP12 for a few years, this is my second time changing the plinth.

This time, I acquired a Wenge wood plinth from Chris Harban.  This wood is, some claimed, best sounding wood for the LP12.  And due to the high quality of the sample, CH charged me for the price of Artist Series(USD1400) instead of Reference Series (USD1000)....much more expensive than the Bubinga plinth I bought from CH a few years ago.

The plinths (Larry and Kelvin also bought one, we share shipping) arrived shortly after payment (thanks for Larry for the arrangement).  I am impressed by the quality of the new plinth, seems like the craftmanship improved after all these years, maybe the high asking price is not that unreasonable.

Now they have a fancy trade mark at the corner brace

The material change inside the plinth (a sub frame to support the top plate and cross brace) will change the overall sound i believe

The overall size seems unchanged

Time to work, first remove all platters, and disconnect from main

The time is 10:10

Two columns of magazine were used to elevate the LP12

Worked from the under:  unlock the tonearm collar nut

Tonearm removed

Drain the bearing oil (change new oil after the wo

unlock the spring nuts, cross brace screws/nuts , remove the cross brace then take out the subchassis assembly

take the top plate away from the bubinga plinth and put it on the new wenge plinth, you can see a CH signature and manufacturing date at the corner brace

Put the subchassis inplace and mount all the springs and cross brace.  You will see the corner brace did not cut for the rega arm base, so I cut a small piece of wood out of the corner brace, now the arm can be fit and move(bounce) freely

Look like an easytask, but took me two hours to finish the work

after some fine-tuning, the LP12 sings again

The beauty of the wenge.

The sound?  I am surprised to hear the wenge has a lot more power than the bubinga, more details and dynamic.  It sounds a bit faster, too.  It is a much more forward sounding plinth compare to the bubinga.

If you find your beloved LP12 looks a bit tire or the wood color is a bit too ordinary, try to get a plinth from Chris Harban, you will see the majic too.