Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

So Hiho,

If one wanted a Victor coreless motor unit which shared the dimensions of the TT-81/101 and had all the operating controls on the platter unit itself (like the TT-101)....I assume that these are not available as 'stand-alone'?
Is there a model in your integrated list from which I could remove the motor unit as a 'drop-in' for my TT-81/101?

Halcro,

I have thought of the same thing before but JVC made their integrated turntables rather hard to do that because the circuit boards are laid out all over the place and wires are like spaghetti. After some research I believe the QL-A75 is the closest to what you are talking about. It's probably the simplest construction as the top plate or chassis contains all the controls and the circuit boards are all under the top plate so making plinth cut out a lot easier. I never owned one but I have similar QL-Y55F with the electronic tonearm but the main board took up the whole width of the plinth underneath. The QL-A75 is almost top of the line and I am sure it's a great performer even with its stock tonearm, which is an old school mechanical one so that's good.

Here are some pictures from a Japanese website:

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/gt2500jzz/34155439.html

The QL-A75 is rather hard to find though. And the A-95 is even harder!

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Another approach is to make an armpod or island for a tonearm, preferably 12", that can just swing over to whatever table you will be using. Of course, you have to remove whatever compliant footers so it wouldn't affect VTA or geometry. Pretty much the same concept as your "nude" approach. This way, you are not affecting the resale value of your stock table. Just another thought.

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Here's one forum member improving his JVC QL-A75 by adding mass and damping to the plinth:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=426693

Here's one that adds a SAEC arm bracket to the stock plinth:

http://www13.plala.or.jp/mj4018/we308l2.html

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Halcro,

With my JVC QL-F6, I use a Signet TK5Ea. The original stylus is on its last leg and needs to be replaced soon. I used to have a TK-7E but Audio Technica no longer make that kind of stylus so I sold it and I opted to for flexibility and kept the "Ea" type of body. I just reread your earlier post about the QL-A7 with the Signet TK-3Ea and coincidentally that's almost the same set up I had in my introduction to JVC! I was using a QL-7 with Signet cartridge. Fantastic sound!

Happy listening!

Hiho, your suggestion for a VPI 10.5 might not work. Remember the mounting pedestal for the VPI arms is offset from the pivot point and requires more clearance adjacent to the platter. They will not work with SP-10 Mk 2 or 3 for example with their square frame unless that is removed. I have mounted a 10.5 with my SP-15 but that frame is rounded and provides clearance.

I'm not familiar with the QL-A95 to know if it is framed.