RubiKon subchassis

Hardware and software, modifications and DIY

Moderator: Staff

Post Reply
User avatar
ThomasOK
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4358
Joined: 2007-02-02 18:41
Location: United States
Contact:

RubiKon subchassis

Post by ThomasOK »

I just finished a couple of days of evaluation of the new RubiKon subchassis. For those unfamiliar with it It is a two-piece subchassis (separate subchassis and armboard) precision machined from aluminum made by AudioFlat in the UK. It was designed to give performance approaching the Keel for significantly less money and for a much wider range of tonearms. A model which accommodates ALL Linn arms and one for the Aro are now available with a Rega model soon to follow and an SME mount version planned as well. It just started shipping recently and will initially be avail from a handful of select dealers in the UK and North America. Here are my findings so far.

In order to do a proper comparison I like to eliminate all possible variations between the two units I am comparing. This required borrowing a fully loaded LP12 (including Radikal, Urika and CH plinth) and configuring it to be the same as the store demo table. That meant removing the Urika and CH plinth and installing a Linn Cherry plinth, Trampolin2 and original T.Kable with first version RCAs on the borrowed LP12 and fitting a Radikal, RubiKon and Trampolin2 on the demo LP12 (which already had the Cherry plinth and the same version T.Kable). Once the LP12/Keel had the suspension readjusted and the arm cable properly dressed I then went on to the LP12/RubiKon which, of course, needed to have the suspension completely rebuilt and adjusted, the arm cable dressed, the grounding properly connected and all the new fittings adjusted for the proper torques (a non-trivial task when you have to find all new optimum settings for several fasteners). On the torque front I won't guarantee that I have the absolute best settings for all the fasteners as I didn't have time to check a really wide range of torques on all of them but I am quite sure I at least have very, very good settings for all of them and most likely optimal settings for most.

Both LP12s also feature Ekos SE arms and Akiva cartridges (second generation). In eliminating variables I also optimized the orientation and centering of both platters and transferred the same felt mat along with the record. Then I wanted them placed on the same type of surface so I had to change out Quadraspire Wall shelf from acrylic to Maple to match the Quadraspire Q4 rack next to it. One of the LP12s had to go on the wall shelf and the other on the rack but the top shelf of the rack was isolated to make them as close as possible (switching the LP12s between the two surfaces made little difference and didn't have any effect on the differences heard).

The system used was a Uphorik (pre-Dyanmik due to the difficulty in getting Linn to upgrade it), a KK/1/D, Solos and a pair of Vienna Acoustics Klimt The Music speakers that were in the room at the time. System wired with Linn Silvers and K20 and using Linn AC cords direct into the wall (same version Linn AC cable for the Radikals).

So with that exceedingly long preamble what did I hear? To relieve the tension I will state clearly that I heard the RubiKon sounding really very good. In fact, better than I expected it to be. I had heard from Peter that it had about 85% the performance of the Keel. Peter is a great setup guy and certainly knows his stuff but he is also more of a Naimee and I am more of a Linnie so I have to factor that in. But in the listening I have been able to do here I would have to agree and add possibly even 90%. The RubiKon is first off a product that does nothing to diminish the musical quality of the LP12, in other words it doesn't change the sound of the LP12 it improves it (compared to a Cirkus subchassis). Like the best third party products I've used with an LP12 (CH plinths, Lejonklou phono stages, Archidee and AudioTech stands) it keeps the Linn musical character while letting you hear even more of the music.

In listening to the RubiKon compared to the Keel I found things like the audibility of surface noise and frequency balance to be very similar. Both provided a huge amount more information of how the musicians are playing and of the quality of the instruments than the steel subchassis. They both also have a much better flow to the music and the interplay between musicians is more obvious. The Keel is still superior but it is a close thing with one customer I did the demo for liking the RubiKon on a quick A/B. For myself and the others here we found the Keel had two immediately noticeable advantages: the decay of the notes and harmonics on the instruments was longer, more natural and easier to hear and the low bass had a touch more foundation and a bit more texture. Overall the RubiKon had powerful, rhythmic and tuneful bass, the Keel just let you hear a little more of the string sound and resonance. The musicians seemed to be more real and present with the Keel but not by a large amount. You could tell that the Keel had the more direct, solid connection between the arm, subchassis and main bearing and was thus able to pull out even finer details that give that little bit more realism. But the RubiKon came surprisingly close for a unit composed of three separate pieces bolted together. I would not have believed it could be that close if I hadn't heard it myself. The RubiKon has a very smooth and even frequency balance very much like the Keel, it makes the kind of upgrade over the steel subchassis that has your jaw dropping with the amount of information it pulls out of the groove. If the Keel wasn't here everybody would be going nuts over it. The great thing is that this kind of performance is now available to owners of arms that don't work well or at all on the Keel like the Aro, Akito, Majik ProJect 9CC arm and soon the Regas. So if you really like your Aro or RB1000 you aren't shut out from the highest levels of LP12 performance.

I have to say that it was really difficult to get the setup so that I could really isolate the differences of these two subchassis because of the closeness of them. On Thursday, the first day I had the setups complete, I did the comparisons with a single Radikal so as to eliminate any difference the Radikals themselves might make. We could hear the differences but it was a bit difficult having to wait several minutes for each switch for the Radikal to sync the different motor. So yesterday I brought my Radikal in from home. Mine has the new Akurate case the store's the original case. Since I have found essentially no difference in the different casework I thought this would be fine and it did allow us to do quicker A/Bs with more music. But I didn't have shelf space for both Radikals so they had to be stacked. Now I know Radikals are sensitive to what they sit on but I hoped it wouldn't be too different. Well it wasn't TOO different but whichever Radikal was on the bottom sounded better and the one on top of it was less musical. So plug the RubiKon into the bottom Radikal and the differences were less, plug it into the top one and the differences were greater. Even using an old mat on the Keel and a new one on the RubiKon was almost enough to skew the results - the difference came through but it was definitely harder to hear.

So I really had to average the differences I heard to come up with a real feel for the differences as they could be small or even smaller depending on these factors. The bottom line is that the RubiKon is a very good subchassis, it is excellent value for the money and it brings a top flight performance within the reach of a fair number more people. It is also beautifully finished and very well put together. The work that went onto the design and manufacturing are quite evident. This is about as far from sticking a chunk of acrylic or carbon fiber in there and calling it a subchassis as you will get with a lot of evident work and listening to assure a quality product. Good work AudioFlat!
User avatar
lejonklou
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6523
Joined: 2007-01-30 10:38
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Post by lejonklou »

Very cool!

I'm impressed to hear that it comes so close to a Keel.

Congratulations to AudioFlat!
User avatar
Tony Tune-age
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 1579
Joined: 2009-12-19 19:07
Location: United States

Post by Tony Tune-age »

Great write-up Thomas, sounds like a very good alternative to the Keel.
Tony Tune-age
flatpopely
Member
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: 2010-01-12 23:33
Location: York, North Yorkshire. England
Contact:

Post by flatpopely »

lejonklou wrote:Very cool!

I'm impressed to hear that it comes so close to a Keel.

Congratulations to AudioFlat!
Thank you.

We had two priorities:-

1. It had to keep the Linn sound and pass the 'tune dem' but be an improvement on the steel sub chassis.

2. It had to be of a quality that people with an LP12 would feel happy to have installed in their decks.
User avatar
lejonklou
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6523
Joined: 2007-01-30 10:38
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Post by lejonklou »

Sound priorities.

I'm looking forward to when I get the chance to see and hear one. It's certainly looking spectacular on pictures!

Now that this product is out, what are your plans for the future, flatpopely? :)
flatpopely
Member
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: 2010-01-12 23:33
Location: York, North Yorkshire. England
Contact:

Post by flatpopely »

lejonklou wrote:Sound priorities.

I'm looking forward to when I get the chance to see and hear one. It's certainly looking spectacular on pictures!

Now that this product is out, what are your plans for the future, flatpopely? :)
Next up is a Rega mount version of the RubiKon. We have some things in mind but they are on the drawing board at the moment so I don't want to let on what they are :-)

Andrew.
Charlie1
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4831
Joined: 2007-12-11 00:30
Location: UK

Post by Charlie1 »

Yes, congratulations, once again Andrew (and to your business partner), on another positive response from a very experienced / well-respected LP12 specialist. You should be well set now, and get good forum member support too, which can't hurt. Personally, I couldn't do what you and Fredrik and others do, but I think its great someone takes these things on and builds a brand new business in the world of hi-fi.

Maybe, when you're ready, you could also consider approaching Anders Simonsson at Tonläget in Gothenburg. I don't know him myself, but others here on the forum will, and I know he has a very good reputation. He has designed his own hi-fi rack (Harmoni Mimer), using tune-dem, so might well be open to a 3rd party subchassis. I think he sells Lejonklou products too, so his priority is always on musicality and good value. Just a thought.
flatpopely
Member
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: 2010-01-12 23:33
Location: York, North Yorkshire. England
Contact:

Post by flatpopely »

Charlie1 wrote:Yes, congratulations, once again Andrew (and to your business partner), on another positive response from a very experienced / well-respected LP12 specialist. You should be well set now, and get good forum member support too, which can't hurt. Personally, I couldn't do what you and Fredrik and others do, but I think its great someone takes these things on and builds a brand new business in the world of hi-fi.

Maybe, when you're ready, you could also consider approaching Anders Simonsson at Tonläget in Gothenburg. I don't know him myself, but others here on the forum will, and I know he has a very good reputation. He has designed his own hi-fi rack (Harmoni Mimer), using tune-dem, so might well be open to a 3rd party subchassis. I think he sells Lejonklou products too, so his priority is always on musicality and good value. Just a thought.
Cheers Charlie.

I'll bear Anders in mind as things move along.

Regards

Andrew.
hepcat
Member
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 2007-01-31 17:38
Location: Sweden

Post by hepcat »

Hi flatpopely I surely recommend you to contact Anders Simonson @ Tonlaget. Me myself is very curious on your RubiKon I have read the treads on the Linn Forum But it's a bit to travel to Leicester to be able to hear it.

Charlie1 your absolutely right that he also sells Lejonklou's great products.

To all members if you're able to listen to Anders Hifiracks Mimer and Harmoni you should they are absolutely stunning.

Best Regards Mikael.

BTW I think this is my first post on this Forum but been a member for a long time.
User avatar
lejonklou
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6523
Joined: 2007-01-30 10:38
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Post by lejonklou »

Hi hepcat! Thanks for breaking a long silence with your first post.

Regarding RubiKon, is there any retailer in Scandinavia that has one?
hepcat
Member
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 2007-01-31 17:38
Location: Sweden

Post by hepcat »

lejonklou wrote:Hi hepcat! Thanks for breaking a long silence with your first post.

Regarding RubiKon, is there any retailer in Scandinavia that has one?
Not that I am aware of. But it would be nice to distribute them or something to Scandinavian dealers but I'll guess that it should need some money to do that. But I'll guess that I have to think about it and how it could be solved it would be real fun.
flatpopely
Member
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: 2010-01-12 23:33
Location: York, North Yorkshire. England
Contact:

Post by flatpopely »

hepcat wrote:
lejonklou wrote:Hi hepcat! Thanks for breaking a long silence with your first post.

Regarding RubiKon, is there any retailer in Scandinavia that has one?
Not that I am aware of. But it would be nice to distribute them or something to Scandinavian dealers but I'll guess that it should need some money to do that. But I'll guess that I have to think about it and how it could be solved it would be real fun.
You have a PM.

We have just signed up a Spanish dealer and Nokturne Audio now have stock so it all getting very exciting................and a little bit frightening!

Andrew.
User avatar
Tony Tune-age
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 1579
Joined: 2009-12-19 19:07
Location: United States

Post by Tony Tune-age »

Good luck with your company growth Andrew!
Tony Tune-age
flatpopely
Member
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: 2010-01-12 23:33
Location: York, North Yorkshire. England
Contact:

Post by flatpopely »

Tony Tune-age wrote:Good luck with your company growth Andrew!
Thanks.

It was going really slowly but now we have sold the first 20 and ordered another 30 things seem to have taken off.

Currently working on something new !!!!

Andrew and Mark.
Orthobiz
New member
New member
Posts: 3
Joined: 2011-04-05 23:47
Location: Michigan

Post by Orthobiz »

ThomasOK just fitted mine and my table sounds glorious. Much more involving with better instrument separation. I now know what it means when people say it's easier to follow the music.

However, I also got a new base, Trampolin2 and a Dynamiked Radikal...so in fairness, I didn't do just one thing at a time. Still, the end justifies the means!

I think mine is the first one sold and fitted in North America? I think everyone should run out and get it.

Paul
flatpopely
Member
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: 2010-01-12 23:33
Location: York, North Yorkshire. England
Contact:

Post by flatpopely »

I agree!

Seriously we set out to improve the deck but keep its sound intact, glad you like it.

Andrew.
Post Reply