Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

They both have bidirectional servo, but the 101 has an additional servo to compare phase - double bidirectional. Why else are the electronics so much more complicated on the 101?
You're saying this is incorrect?

I don't know where you read this Fleib, but the description of both TT-81 and TT-101 in the Service manuals are identical except the 101 has a 'coreless' servo motor.
Most of the additional complexity of the 101 I believe is centred on its circuitry of multiple 1Hz pitch adjustability (5 steps up and 5 steps down) together with its digital speed indication and its complex new braking system.

A massive platter imparts solidity to the sound, viable if and only if correct speed can be maintained. That's why so many belt drivers w/heavy platters sound ponderous IMO.

This is a subjective view and IMO has become an oft-repeated audio myth...
It implies that turntables like Rega and Project cannot have "solidity"to their sound....
I have found that to be too much of a generalisation.
I can understand the concept of a massive platter for a belt-drive deck which is trying to rely on inertia for its speed maintenance but for a DD which is quartz-locked and servo-controlled, a heavy platter simply involves a more powerful motor with all its associated problems.
I believe 'solidity' comes firstly from the ability of the turntable to maintain perfect speed through the heavily modulated grooves (resulting from complex low-frequency information) without suffering 'stylus drag'. A feat I still have not seen performed by a belt-drive....
Secondly I believe 'solidity' is greatly improved by the rigidity of the turntable supporting structure, its isolation from structure-born feedback and then the materials chosen to implement these.
It's interesting to note that the Victor engineers did not change anything about the platter weight and materials between the 81 and 101 and I can tell you that the 'solidity' achieved by this 'lightweight' aluminium platter is unmatched by any megaton platter I have heard.

And I thought we just discovered that old solder joints were the only problem areas of these old turntables....?
And this might be just the TT-101....
No problems at all with the TT-81 or the thousands of other makes and models of 70s Japanese DD decks out there from all the Forum reports...?
And just to lay to rest another bugaboo about these vintage decks....they are generally easy to repair by any competent Tech....and all the ICs, transistors, capacitors and resistors are still readily obtainable...😍

Griff,
That's beyond belief. VPI still has Aries listed as a current table. Even if it were discontinued you should still be able to get an armboard. Have they no shame?

I suspect they've grown too fast and forgotten where they came from. They used to bend over backwards to help the customer. Now the customer bends over buying an expensive VPI.

If you ever get that 801 mounted I'd be curious what you think. I just got a UA-7045. It needs a little work.
Regards,

Rockport came the closest with its Sirius III

Hi Halco, just wonder whether you have any measurement figures on the Rockport Sirius III, with Timeline or otherwise. I am really interested to see how the Sirius III compares to vintage Japanese DD turntables.

Thanks!

Halcro,
I told you where I read that stuff and asked if it was correct. You don't seem too sure about all the additional complexity you talked about. It's all from the speed control adjustments and breaking?

As far as platter weight you said, "This is a subjective view and IMO has become an oft-repeated audio myth...
It implies that turntables like Rega and Project cannot have "solidity"to their sound....
I have found that to be too much of a generalisation."

You're arguing against an implied generalization?
First of all I never made that generalization.
Secondly, I still believe that "audio myth" has some merit.
You make a good case for speed stability and I'm not disputing that, but it's not the only parameter IMO.

Now I'm playing devil's advocate against vintage tables?
Of all the millions of DD tables sold back in the day, I wonder how many have burned out motors or discarded for a broken part or lack of a good tech.
All I own are vintage tables, but for some people new is easier, especially with dealer support. Maybe VPI has gone rogue, but most companies support past product.

Hi Thekong,
I don't know how many Sirius IIIs were made nor how many are still in operation......but it was more than 10 years ago that I was able to listen at length to one in my friend Richard's system.
That was before the Timeline or the Feickert Speed App...👀
What I remember clearly to this day, is the shock of hearing familiar records reproduced with a clarity, brilliance and definition from the mids to the ultra-highs I was unused to.
The lack of mid-bass to lower-bass definition and power I wrongly or rightly lay at the feet of the tangential tracking arm......
With my Victors....especially since the granite cradle....that clarity, brilliance and definition are now familiar residents chez moi 😋 albeit without the forward emphasis of the Rockport (probably due to the balance of the complete bass presentation with the Victors)...?
Richard has had a Caliburn for the last nine years so opportunities to test the Sirius III have deserted me. It would indeed be interesting to see how she tests against the best vintage Japanese gear..?
Regards