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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.
halcro
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
You're a lucky man Thekong...
Did you actually own the Sirius III or did you just have the arm?
If only the arm...what table did you have it on?
Will be most interesting to hear your impressions once you have the SP10-III bedded in...😋
thekong
221 posts
 
I wish I have a Sirius III, but no such luck yet! My Rockport 6000 arm is a simplified version of the Sirius III arm, and it is on a Capella II TT.

However, I am also in the process of setting up a Sirius II, so it would be interesting nevertheless to compare it to the SP10MK3 and Exclusive P3A in coming months :-)
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
You didn't buy the SP10/3 and P3a that were just listed on HiFiDo....did you Thekong..?
thekong
221 posts
 
No, the P3a was from a friend in Hong Kong, and the SP10MK3 from Yahoo Japan. Actually, a local Sony PS X9 slipped through my fingers just a couple on months ago!
fleib
1,124 posts
 
Griff,
I don't usually speak against VPI, but their answer to your inquiry, "I was told by a return email that they no longer provide arm boards for the Aries", doesn't seem open to future possibilities. Perhaps their answer was worded differently, or that's not exactly what they meant?

If some part or material has become unobtainable, there's not much they can do, but VPI now seems to have a take the money and run philosophy. They sell out their parts for discontinued tables (HW19, TNT, Traveler) and abandon their product and customer. You could take the first Sota ever made, send it to Sota for refurb and they'll give you options. It would probably make more sense to buy a new table, but they don't leave the customer hanging. Rant over.

I can fix everything on the 7045, except I'm not sure about the VTA adjuster lock. It seems frozen in the open position. Does the arm need to be mounted for it to lock?
Not too late to cancel the charge. BTW, I was surprised to see the counterweight fixing bolt is 4mm thread. Heavy duty arm.
Regards,

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