Trampolin 1 vs 2, experience?

[k_numigl]

Has anybody tried the Trampolin2 with a LP12 without Keel?
Comparisons between Trampolin 1 & 2?

I'm asking because I had a try: change from T1 to T2, but
results confuse me. I expected that the T2 would simply
produce 'more music' than the T1, as Linn changed over to
the T2. So I sat down and put on the first record - hmm,
certainly a change, but to the better? Listening to a
small number of tunes, I arrived at the impression that
music was less meaningful and beautiful as before. Two
pianos could less easily be followed with their (at
least) 4 melodies and sounded more noisy - when before
they had a lot of drive, joy and the many melodies were
more easily followed. Same pattern with a small jazz
combo: clarinet and piano, partly playing the same melody,
were now less easy to distinguish. Solos, which were
quite witty before, sounded more boring. Strange
situation....

So I changed back to the T1, as I experienced many times
that this change back suddenly shows up the deficiencies
of the old equipment while the improvement of the change forward
was not immediatly evident because it sounded just 'normal',
i.e. just musically right. But back to the T1, music sounded
well organized again, drive and tunefulness were back, just
more fun. And more melodies to follow at the same time.

As I do not expect that Linn changes anything to the
worse, I wonder whether anybody has similar or opposing
experiences.

I am aware that the subject is complex, as
turntable support, materials, level and rigid stand of the
LP12 &c. &c. all play important roles. But I changed
nothing except of the Trampolin - and tried different
materials as the table surface on wich the LP12 stands.
With similar results.

Confusedly yours, Klaus

[lejonklou]

I have compared Trampolin 1 with 2 several times on Cirkus LP12's and I think version 2 is a significant upgrade, more cost-effective than many other LP12 upgrades.

I have mainly used my own Quadraspire wallshelf when doing these comparisons, but on a few occasions also furniture from IKEA such as Lack and Corras (none of them modified). It has always been clearly better with Trampolin 2 and therefore I feel surprised by your findings.

I am thinking something must be wrong, but it's hard to guess what. I have a few questions/suggestions to start with:

* Have you screwed the Trampolin feet all the way in (don't overtighten because they can break)? This adjustment should never be used, not even to level an LP12 on a non-levelled surface.

* Did you remove the cover for the hole below the arm pillar? Thomas OK compared and reported that it sounded better with the cover removed.

* If you tap the Trampolin 2 from below after it's been installed, can you hear that the fit to the LP12 is absolutely vibration-free? The sticky felt strips are needed to achieve this, put them on everywhere between the screw holes.

* If you have a T-kable, separate the central ground connection in the area where the cable exits the plinth. The idea is that when the ground connection can be placed at the side of the left and right cables, the T-kable will be less squeezed by the Trampolin 2. As it's stiffer, it squeezes more and this can degrade the sound.

[k_numigl]

The world is ok again.
Fredrik, thanks for your hints and encouragement!

- Yes, feet were all screwed in (were delivered with strange
settings...)

- T-cable was splitted and squeezing avoided as good as possible.

- Felt strips were attached.

BUT
cover of the hole below the armboard was not removed. As I did this, it
became apparent that 2 of the 3 iron screws were entirely screwed
in, but the third wasn't. Only half way in. Taking it out showed that
it had seized in the aluminium plate and nobody seemed to care
(precision eng.....??). Did it vibrate? Anyhow, as in any case it is
impossible to reinstall it: off it went.

AND
I noticed that the trampolin feet left irregular marks in the box
(better to say: in the foam inside the box). All four feet made
strong marks on one side of the round feet only, the opposite side
was markless. Indicating they have been tilted in the box. So that
I expected a not well centered rubber membrane. I let the fully
assembled LP12 stand on its new feet for a night, hoping for an
adjustment. After lifting it up slightly and setting it down evenly,

sound was just beautiful and musically right.

I 'fear' it will improve further with further centering of the feet and
agree, it's a comparatively economic improvement and well worth the
effort also in the case a Keel is out of discussion because of
financial reasons (as it is for me). But is it very difficult to
cut out holes in the foam in order to give some space to the feet??

A final note:
I had to drill an additional hole in the T2 alu board because the one at the
back left (seen in operating position of the LP12) was just where
the cable to the Lingo comes out of the LP12. My T1 had two
holes there for both versions.... If you have to do so,
lubricate your ca. 4mm drill with denaturated alcohol (methylated spirit)
- this gives best results with aluminium.

Thanks again,
musically happy,
but having raised some doubts with respect to mechanics,
Klaus

[ThomasOK]

Glad to hear you got this sorted out. I have also found a definite improvement with the T2 over the T1 regardless of the surface it sits on. I use an Archidea turntable stand but have also heard it on Quadraspire Wall shelves (both wood and acrylic) and on some heavier furniture. I haven't really run into the problem of the feet not sitting right as my customers usually drop the LP12 off for a day or two for fitting and setup. Since the turntable is in a setup jig the feet have some time to settle.

[k_numigl]

A further interesting question is, whether to mount the earth connection between
the T2 and the LP12 chassis. I skipped it, because I suspect it is there for
safety reasons 'only', which are not too important, however, if you use the low
voltage Lingo supply. I just saw potential for unwanted vibration (but did not
make a proper comparison).

BTW, my support for the LP12 is custom made from American 'Tulip Tree' wood
(Liriodendron tulipifera), wich is a splendid wood for the purpose. Solid and light
and little resonances. We tried many solid wood types..... but this is
another and almost infinite discussion.

Regards, K.

[Tony Tune-age]

When the first Linn trampolin was released, I had it installed without the new adjustable rubber feet and used the original screw-in feet. The improvement was noticable, and when I upgraded to the original Trampolin with adjustable rubber feet - it sounded better.

Then I had the complete new Trampolin II installed, and it sounded better than the Trampolin I. Both the Trampolin I and II made an improvement and were better than the original hard cardboard type material.

I never felt bad about the Trampolin upgrade(s).