What's this? Am I admitting to muddled thinking, wrong judgment, or worse? Well, not really. Pro-jects are still boring turntables, Blue Jeans belong on your legs, and Salamanders belong in a bog. That is clearheaded thinking any day of the week. What I'm about to apologize for is my bashing a table in my own line, the great Well Tempered Lab, namely the starter table the Simplex. The original Simplex was a stripped down version of the Amadeus, with a 9"tonearm instead of the 10" in the Amadeus, to accommodate the smaller profile of the starter table. Sonically it was fine, bettering most of the Regas, certainly those Pro-jects, yet there was this touch and feel of it, with a bigger tonearm rest than needed, that made it unplayable to me. The Amadeus is a joy to use in comparison. I blasted the Simplex on forums, I refused to stock it, I childishly stuck my tongue out at it when in its presence.
So now, lo and behold, in this bleak winter season, arrives the new version of the Simplex, aptly named the Simplex Mk 2. From the opening of the box I could sense things would be different, and indeed they are. The finish is wonderful, using a light baltic birch ply on the plinth sides and black MDF on top. The unique ball approach for the arm pivot is still there, this time in a muted blue, which matches better the black tonearm and top plinth. The tonearm rest is the standard devil's fork as with the rest of the Well Tempered Lab line. The on/off switch is still a toggle on the back, which with the plinth size is most easy to use. The feet are 4 balls that attach directly to the plinth via sockets in the underside of the plinth, rather than the tube/ball feet attachment used in the Amadeus, making for a very tidy look from the sides. My demo unit has a Dynavector 20X2 H on it at present, a perfect match for the arm. Next I'll be trying the TLC from WTL, a mm cartridge which is gaining a great reputation in the field. Again, if you're a moving magnet devotee, you really should come check out this cartridge.
Back to the Simplex Mk2....so, not only have there been noticable thought given to the new version as for aesthetics and usability, musically it has also taken a leap up! The Simplex Mk2, from here on referred to as the Simplex, is noticeably closer to the Amadeus, always a great thing to these ears. It has that uncanny ability to release the music from the platter, to give the notes more attention than the groove noise, to give transparency and life to the recording that Well Tempered Lab tables are known for. And hence, the end to my scorn of the old Simplex, my love affair with the new Simplex is off and running. I can't quit playing it, looks like it's going to be a long night...
Drum roll, if you please.....
So now, lo and behold, in this bleak winter season, arrives the new version of the Simplex, aptly named the Simplex Mk 2. From the opening of the box I could sense things would be different, and indeed they are. The finish is wonderful, using a light baltic birch ply on the plinth sides and black MDF on top. The unique ball approach for the arm pivot is still there, this time in a muted blue, which matches better the black tonearm and top plinth. The tonearm rest is the standard devil's fork as with the rest of the Well Tempered Lab line. The on/off switch is still a toggle on the back, which with the plinth size is most easy to use. The feet are 4 balls that attach directly to the plinth via sockets in the underside of the plinth, rather than the tube/ball feet attachment used in the Amadeus, making for a very tidy look from the sides. My demo unit has a Dynavector 20X2 H on it at present, a perfect match for the arm. Next I'll be trying the TLC from WTL, a mm cartridge which is gaining a great reputation in the field. Again, if you're a moving magnet devotee, you really should come check out this cartridge.
Back to the Simplex Mk2....so, not only have there been noticable thought given to the new version as for aesthetics and usability, musically it has also taken a leap up! The Simplex Mk2, from here on referred to as the Simplex, is noticeably closer to the Amadeus, always a great thing to these ears. It has that uncanny ability to release the music from the platter, to give the notes more attention than the groove noise, to give transparency and life to the recording that Well Tempered Lab tables are known for. And hence, the end to my scorn of the old Simplex, my love affair with the new Simplex is off and running. I can't quit playing it, looks like it's going to be a long night...
Drum roll, if you please.....
Highly recommended, make an appointment and come have a listen. Finally a Simplex I'm proud to have and own, and make no apologies for. Like its cousin, the Wax Engine - a WTL inspired table at $1000, the Simplex is best in its class.
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