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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
 
Dover,
When I graduated in 1970, a University Architecture degree in Sydney was 5 or 6 years of full-time study with Structural Engineering being a compulsory subject for each and every year.
But it was really 40 years of professional practice consulting and co-ordinating with all the relevant engineers (Geo-Tech, Structural, Civil, Hydraulics, Mechanical, Electrical, Acoustical) that taught me more than a mere 6 years of university study ever could...😎
I'd appreciate it if you could send me the Post where I said I had designed a bridge....as I haven't and I don't believe I wrote it? As I said.....very few bridges are designed with the input of an Architect.

When you say you studied engineering at university....did you graduate? 

dover
2,262 posts
 
Halcro - Yes in finance - switched to finance after a couple of years, decided engineering was not for me. I should have done an architectural degree in hindsight as that interests me more than civil engineering. Cheers.

rwwear
2,873 posts
 
I am a direct drive enthusiast and have become interested in JVC after reading this article:http://www.soundhifi.com/images/DC%20Technics%20SL-1200.pdf

Do any of you have any experience with the Victor TT-801? It appears to be even better in some regards to the 101. http://www.thevintageknob.org/jvc-TT-801.html

I am the proud owner of a Technics SP-10 MKIII, an SLP 1200 MKII, a Teac TN-400 and a Micro Seiki FVG RX-1500. I also have an Empire 698 which isn't working at the moment.

griffithds
852 posts
 
Damn, just how complicated 'can' we built this mousetrap!!!!!
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Thanks for those articles rwwear....especially the one by Dave Crawley on Quartz lock where he debunks the myth of 'speed hunting' that has regularly been levelled at DD decks by its antagonists.
The TT-801 seems to be a stripped down TT-101 (without the 1 Hz step pitch control circuitry) with an added vacuum hold-down.
I have no problem with vacuum hold-down per se.....but here's where 'vintage' and 'dangerously' very much apply, as a special rubber perimeter seal is required for the platter and if this is damaged or perished....where does one obtain a new one?
Banquo has recently scored a TT-801 to partner his trusty TT-101 and hopefully he can contribute here ❓👀

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