Nude Turntable Project

09-14-15: Halcro
...I have just brought in a Victor QL-A7 from Japan for my son (who has recently dived into HiFi and vinyl).
Listening to this in my system (with a Signet TK-3Ea/155Lc cartridge) was a sobering experience.
This $600 table literally shamed the belt-drive Raven AC-2 loaded with mega-dollar arms and cartridges.
It also sounded stunningly better than my 'nude' TT-101 and TT-81 Victors (also with their mega-dollar arms).
This salutary experience has caused me to reflect on the wisdom of my 'nude' turntable mounting. The heavy wood plinth of the QL-A7 combined with the four large mildly compliant feet appear to bestow upon the performance, a depth and palette somewhat greater than is extracted with the steel cradle and spiked feet of my 'nude' mounting.
Changes are in the wind....👀
Halcro (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

Halcro in my view you should purchase another QLA7. Based on your comments above this would give you a benchmark to aspire to. If you could duplicate the arm/cartridge then you will have a "constant" against which to analyse any mods to your TT101.

A good suggestion Dover......
I will surely be borrowing the QLA7 for comparison sessions once the granite cradle arrives.

I bought my TT101 as part of a "QL10", with plinth and tonearm. I usually find that I hate hate hate the sound of plinths made with MDF, and since the QL10 seems to have a layer of MDF, I took some steps to CLD it by (1) replacing the MDF-ish tonearm mount board with an alu one that is in turn bolted to another piece of alu that runs cross-wise under the plinth. Then (2) I bolted large pieces of alu to the underside of the plinth. I hoped to achieve neutrality via CLD and in the process I added lots of mass. (The weight of the plinth is about doubled.) Sadly, though, I have no idea whether this worked because of the continuing malady of my TT101.

MDF today is just timber dust that is glued together.The glue is very expensive so in the manufacturing process they put in just enough glue to stabilise the outside faces of the board. In the centre where there is very little glue there is no structural strength at all.

The Victor plinths appear to be more like the chipboard used in speakers in the 70's.This is quite different to modern MDF. From what I can see on the net the CLP2D Victor plinth appears to use layers of chipboard, and from the dark lines I can see, it would appear that they may have used layers of chipboard with each layer being veneered on both sides. The QLA7 appears to be a simplified and lighter version.

Fast foward to todays speakers - Dynaudio put forward that they can get a cleaner midrange out of MDF than plywood, but they veneer both sides of the MDF with hardwood veneer to strengthen the board.

An interesting material for plinths is Engineered Quatrz stone used in kitchen bench tops. Corian is basically a polycarbonate compound ( includes aluminium nitrate ( salt ) that is a fire retardant ). Engineered stone by comparison is around 93% Quartz stone and 7% Epoxy. It does need special blades for cutting but is much easier and less expensive than slate. Most decent bench top manufacturers use big router beds and if you draw up what you want including holes for TT, tonearm, screws etc they can cut everything for you very accurately.

Just picked up my repaired TT-101 yesterday in time for the new granite cradle.
After 3 months without it....it's like a heroin hit...💉