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Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

I have just acquired a 32 year old JVC/Victor TT-101 DD turntable after having its lesser brother, the TT-81 for the last year.
TT-101
This is one of the great DD designs made at a time when the giant Japanese electronics companies like Technics, Denon, JVC/Victor and Pioneer could pour millions of dollars into 'flagship' models to 'enhance' their lower range models which often sold in the millions.
Because of their complexity however.......if they malfunction.....parts are 'unobtanium'....and they often cannot be repaired.
128x128halcro
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Oh yes Professor....
I have already settled on the thin Jico suede mat as a 'delicious' match.
However my son will have to do with the thicker Jico mat...😜
I know you prefer an alternate mat with your TT-71....

Shane...that Victor is twice the price I paid for the QL-A7...which also comes with a 2 year Guarantee from HiFiDo....👍
I also don't recognise that arm whilst the A7 comes with a rather fine Victor arm...🎼
I do think the TT-81 with its bi-directional servo control is potentially better than the TT-71 (or at least as good) so there is no way I am ridding myself of it and the three bronze armpods.
Rather...I need to examine how I can create a cradle with more mass to test whether my theory is correct...?
aigenga
131 posts
 
Halcro, get yourself either a single purpose turntable wall shelf (like the Solid Steel that I use) and spike the turntable to it, or a good stand and an isolation pad like an SRA or Symposium. I would put my naked TT-101 against any plinthed DD and be sure of a favorable outcome.
hiho
451 posts
 

I have experience with the JVC QL-A7 and QL-7, both using TT-71 motor unit. Great for the money. But the gems, as far as pure turntables are concerned, are actually in the integrated turntables such as QL-Y7, QL-Y66F, QL-70A, etc., all have coreless motor and smooth sonic. The QL-Y66F is the same as QL-70A, except one with electronic arm and the other is manual. Electronic arms are not reliable unfortunately but the motor unit is stable and reliable. It's high time for people to look into those and install your arm of choice. If all integrated DD turntables have an armless version, history could be rewritten. But audiophiles usually overlook them because they want to use their own arm and I don't blame them. But they're missing out on gems.

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hiho
451 posts
 

Correction: the model should be QL_A70, not 70A. I have keep these model numbers straight in my head. :)

Sorry for the confusion.

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hiho
451 posts
 

Correction of correction. Oops. The above should read:

"I should have kept these model numbers straight in my head."

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