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Plinth ideas for DENON PD-80 DD turntable

While my pair of Victor TT-101 still sleeping in the storage, i decided to buy another Flying Saucer.

The DENON DP-80, vintageknob always have nice images and info about rare stuff...

On that page you see DP-80 with DA-401 tonearm for hich compliance cartridges (i have this tonesm NOS). It could be an interesting project, it was hard to resist ...

The question is the Plinth for this Denon DP-80.
The original DK-300 plinth is an option, but searching for something better i found this one.

Custom made plinth is always an option and i have superb Audio-Technica AT-616 pneumatic insulators to use under the plinth.

But what do you guys using with your Denon PD-80 ?

P.S. some companies now producing even an iron cast plinth and graphite plinth, i have no access to graphite, but iron cast here is cheap to make a custom plinth.
128x128chakster
bima
30 posts
 
The foam in all original ones are gone by now - there’s a suitable replacement available at Home Depot for $3 available - cut it into 0.875 lengths put it in place you will have 8 feet left.
@pbnaudio I used weather-stripping to replace mine — is that what you mean? It's the foam-with-adhesive for sealing windows, doors, etc.* I had 4 or 5 rolls already, various sizes — one of them seemed the right width and thickness (they compress a bit, so thickness matters — too much compression, they become like hard rubber and no longer isolate; too little, and they do nothing at all).

But they also come in different densities, from very spongy to quite firm.

Which density, width, thickness do you recommend Peter? It seems many of the DP-80s in this thread may need it, and it's a fairly easy DIY.

* Ironically, I never used any of them for insulation. Only for Audio; one of the many useful 'tweaks' at your local hardware.
bima
30 posts
 

...but honestly i don’t care about it, can’t remember when i’ve been using a rubber mat last time, normally i replace them with my favorite SAEC SS-300 (lightweight) or heavy Micro Seiki CU-180(or superheavy CU-500) depends on the turntable torque and platter.
@chakster  I have the SS-300 too, and use it on most TTs, preferring it to rubber. But there's an issue with the DP-80. The platter is in two parts, isolated from each other, to keep all bearing/motor noise from reaching the inner part where the LP/stylus do their thing — it's quite different from the split-platter on an LP12 and others where the 2 parts are in direct hard contact with each other. 

Both the 300 and CU-180 interfere with the platter's design. Though the DP80 has ample torque for the CU-180, it interferes the most. I suggest the SS-300 is better suited: it has a cut-out on the underside at the edge, so it doesn't contact the outer platter at all.
chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
 I suggest the SS-300 is better suited: it has a cut-out on the underside at the edge, so it doesn't contact the outer platter at all.

You're right, just tried it. It is true that the bottom side of the SS-300 is slightly smaller in diameter than my Denon rubber mat. So this must be the right mat for DP-80 

I've seen people using it with CU-180 too, but i thought about weight on that spring denon platter. Maybe this is a wrong mat for DP-80. 

Has anyone tried this ?   
lewm
13,045 posts
 
I use ss300 on my TT101. If the dp80 was in regular use, I’d buy an ss300 for it,too.
I’ve been in Tokyo this whole time, visiting our son. When I get back home I’ll check the condition of the Dp80 platter.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,613 posts
 
Chakster  - I use the Boston mat on my DP80 it works great.
Another mat that needs investigating is the Acromat from funk firm.
As far as using CU mats on the DP80 i don't think its a good idea they are too heavy for the spring suspended inner platter.

Good Listening

Peter

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