New turntable by Mark Levinson

[TWInsall]

My 515b arrived on Monday and after a 2 hour set up I have been listening to it at least 8 hours a day. They have changed the the finish on the platin to a satin textured finish and the motor pulley now is black. I like the three belts with the motor with increased torque even if they are a pain to install. Like the push button speed selection. They include a VPI alignment jig to mount your cartridge properly. The owners manual is not detailed at all. They don't bother to explain the anti skating due dad at all. They send the unit with feet in the locked position so you need to unscrew them a few turns before leveling the TT. Like the stylus tracking pressure gauge they included. Made my own dust cover yesterday. The 20 X 2 Dynavector sounds great with cleaner detailed mid and lower bass than my 20 X . The staging has more depth but that could be difference in arms. The 20 X feeds my MP100 then to a c-34. The 20 X 2 feeds the phono section of my MX 151. Both are high output. I don't like the phono section of the C-34 unless I use the graphic tone controls very judiciously. Also take the digital coax out of the MP 100 to feed the MX 151. Its interesting to compare the two TT's side by side playing duplicates of Sheffield records. The ML is sensitive to touching the platin or mounting surface. Where the Thorens is not. The 20 X tracks slightly better than the 20X 2. I contribute that to the linear arm on the Thorens vs the gimbled arm on the ML. I prefer the Gimbled arm on the ML as compared to the unipivot arms on the VPI. Its a shame the B&O 8000 was a night mare to maintain. So easy to use. push a go button and a return button. It would track warped records like no other. I spoke to VPI the other day, they have no connections with ML anymore. But I measured the platter and it remains 12 inches so I am going to order a hold down ring to correct warped records from my VPI/ML dealer. Its fun to re-discover your lp collection. No I didn't purchase the version with the Ortofon cart. preferring Dynavector. Surprised at the phono section of the 151 its at least the equal of the MP100.