Classic Lenco MKI
Delivered November 18, 2006, reviewed February 13th, 2014,
by Bob Olson, Arlington, Virginia
Jean, I’m one of your earlier clients and have what may be the very first “Giant Lenco” you built. It’s also one of the earliest tables to have what you called the “glass mod.” Over time I’ve put in an upgraded bearing (not your current “ultimate” bearing), put on large brass footers and got the mat and record clamp you recommended.
I don’t know if I ever told you that I bought the Lenco against the strong advice of a local audio sales and repair store owner who has been my audio guru. He just shook his head at the idea that a Lenco could sound better than a belt drive player and warned me that Lencos can have mechanical problems (he had repaired several of them). I knew he was wrong about the sound, since I had heard one of your even earlier, smaller models significantly outperform a VPI TNT turntable. But I did worry about mechanical problems like wear on the idler wheel.
I’m happy to report that longevity and mechanical problems are not an issue. My Giant Lenco is running as smoothly as ever. I recently tightened a nut, which is the sum total of mechanical issues over the past seven years. Every audiophile friend who has heard my Lenco is impressed by its driving pace and dead-on timing, its clarity and detail, bass and treble extension, and overall coherence. I have gotten so much pleasure over the years using this deck – thanks for leading the Lenco Revival.
Bob Olson