Modified Pro-Ject Genie3 turntable

[Jadran]

Hey everyone!
I've been here for a while, just reading. Great site, cool people around.
Now, I'm glad to publish here my modded turntable. It's Pro-Ject famous little bargain TT - RPM-1 Genie 3.
My modified turntable has got the new name - "Sphere"
OK, why I did this damage at the first place. Because it was something from the beginning I found not right, although I did fall in love with this unit from the first moment I saw it. It was extremely cheap to buy, and was fun to try some modding.
What I found wrong is very light boomerang base especially that left end with the huge hole in MDF where the motor goes.
The left side is just too lightweight and the other where the tone-arm sits quite heavy. Not good at all.
And in front there is half of the 1700 gr. platter always "hanging" free, and (when TT is off) with the small force on the edge of the platter the whole TT falls easily down, to the right. Whoever owns this device knows what I'm talking about
The motor, ah motor, what a piece of toy. It is lightweight and it’s shaking every time when switched on and turns the belt. I was tired to watch this. A friend told me that I bought a toy. So, if toy I've decided to play with it
Let me point out that I'm not an electrician or a carpenter lol it is just a hobby.
So, to make the long story as short as possible (but with the images) here’s what I’ve done:
1.Displaced the motor, fixed it inside the metal ring and on the top of extra heavy weight – doorstopper! http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/projectsphere2011motorb.jpg/
Yes, no mistake here lol
2.Closed the hole on the boomerang with a metal bonnet, from the bottom side http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/263/projectsphere2011bonnet.jpg/
3.On top of it have put the glass holder with the marble sphere http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/projectsphereglassbasem.jpg/
4.Replaced the silly plastic spikes with metal ones. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/projectsphere2011newspi.jpg/
5.And finally turned the metal RCA output box for 90° to the right – out http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/projectsphere2011newspi.jpg/

+ new cartridge Denon MC DL-160 (something that I’ve done months before this mod)
(more to see here: http://img835.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=projectsphereglassbasem.jpg )
I am very happy with the final result, however there are some more little details I would like to do in the future (not now, it’s too hot this summer here lol) . I wanted to keep this modding as simple and clean as possible, so no painting new color or such things, just few drills inside the base and glue where it needed and that’s all.
I have achieved that turntable got additional weight of 590 grams. So that gives total of some 3890 grams (excluding the Disc Stabilizer with its 280 grams) and also much better stability.
And finally the most important result is – the sound! Yes, sound is now more tight, cleaner and precise. Nice bass, simply all at the right place J
Turntable is connected via Yaqin MS12 preamp (tubes orig. China 12AX7 and RCA JRC-5814A) to the MengYue (Music Angel) EL84 (vintage Russian tubes 4x6P14P-K + 2x 6N1P-V). LS are Mordaunt-Shorts Avant 902i (and all in very small room). But here is enough room for more “toys” like two CD players, one DVD, another Music Angel preamp,.. OK, that’s it folks. Hope you do like it (or dislike it)?
Just don’t be too cruel on judging LOL
Any questions, comments or suggestions are welcome! cheers!

[wintermute]

Hi JadRan and welcome to diyAudio for anyone struggling with the links use the last one and go through the slideshow

ImageShack(TM) slideshow

Tony.

[doomy]

Cool! Thanks for sharing.

I wonder about the platter mat on picture 13, it seems EXTREMELY similar to the IKEA thingy for kitchen, protecting the other thingy. I wonder how the sound is, it was a cool idea, it's a nice alternative to the felt mat.

(sorry for my bad description, I am tired and my english could be better)

[johancraftech]

The biggest improvement I found was to supply the "toy" motor with a crystal controlled 50Hz sine wave, amplitude 16V.

Jadran how did you remove the plastic spikes? Are they just glued on to the base?

[Jadran]

Originally Posted by wintermute

Hi JadRan and welcome to diyAudio for anyone struggling with the links use the last one and go through the slideshow

ImageShack(TM) slideshow

Tony.

Thanks Tony!
Yes, slide show is easier to watch

[Jadran]

Originally Posted by doomy

Cool! Thanks for sharing.

I wonder about the platter mat on picture 13, it seems EXTREMELY similar to the IKEA thingy for kitchen, protecting the other thingy. I wonder how the sound is, it was a cool idea, it's a nice alternative to the felt mat.

(sorry for my bad description, I am tired and my english could be better)

Hi, the mat is made of EVA (Ethylene vinyl acetate) - EVA can be used as a substitute for cork in many applications as a shock absorber, for exp. So as cork mat is quite expensive I decided to give this a try, and it does the work very well, also looks more attractive. What's more, it's always more fun to do it yourself than just buy it
And the original felt mat is not just too thin, it usually sticks to the records - another thing that needed replacement the next day I bought it.

[Jadran]

Originally Posted by johancraftech

The biggest improvement I found was to supply the "toy" motor with a crystal controlled 50Hz sine wave, amplitude 16V.

Jadran how did you remove the plastic spikes? Are they just glued on to the base?

Can you provide the link to this improvement?

Plastic spikes are just silly. I was a bit crazy about those too, there are long screwes on top of boomerang (under the platter) that you need to remove first.
Then spikes need to push-pull on a side (use jaws if they don't go by hand) as spikes are also glued.
On the new metal ones I put the rubber stickers and just glued onto the base.

[johancraftech]

Originally Posted by Jadran

Can you provide the link to this improvement?

Plastic spikes are just silly. I was a bit crazy about those too, there are long screwes on top of boomerang (under the platter) that you need to remove first.
Then spikes need to push-pull on a side (use jaws if they don't go by hand) as spikes are also glued.
On the new metal ones I put the rubber stickers and just glued onto the base.

Attached is schematic, if you use Cadsoft Eagle Cad, you can PM me for files and source code (Designed by someone in Denmark I believe).

I think the spikes on my TT is only glued on as there are no screws on the "boomerang" under the platter.

[Jadran]

Originally Posted by johancraftech

Attached is schematic, if you use Cadsoft Eagle Cad, you can PM me for files and source code (Designed by someone in Denmark I believe).

I think the spikes on my TT is only glued on as there are no screws on the "boomerang" under the platter.

Possible that on yours are just glued, more so if it's the first model, as they did "improve" later one. But not enough, for me though
Here's how it was on mine TT




Thanks for pdf. I'll check it later and PM

[doomy]

Originally Posted by Jadran

Hi, the mat is made of EVA (Ethylene vinyl acetate) - EVA can be used as a substitute for cork in many applications as a shock absorber, for exp. So as cork mat is quite expensive I decided to give this a try, and it does the work very well, also looks more attractive. What's more, it's always more fun to do it yourself than just buy it

Hello again.
Thanks for the information, it was really creative. I found more information about "my IKEA mat" : RATIONELL VARIERA article number 800.128.53 . I don't know what sort of plastic it is, I'll ask IKEA someday. DIY is fun!