Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

I find the rebuild and re plinth of a direct drive from the 70’s really far more appealing than spending considerable sums on a new belt drive despite the pitfalls, most of which are repairable we hope. I am currently re plinthing a Sony TTS 8000, using a SAEC 506/30 and an AT ART9. Even with the plinth at prototype stage it sounds fabulous, and easily superior to my (previous) Roksan Xerxes 10/SME IV. Absolutely effortless and super clean sound, after many hours ensuring the arm position and geometry were as good as can be, this required me to produce a specific protractor (laser engraved on to acrylic) which has enabled very accurate cartridge alignment. Once the final plinth is complete and made i’ll put some images on my system page.. This really brings back the joy of our crazy hobby and it's fascinating to use 40 year old designs that can excel sonically against most modern decks..

Thanks for the offer, Peter.  I sent you a PM.  Just as an aside, isn't silver oxide a perfectly good conductor, which is partly why to use silver?  I know when Bill Thalmann worked on my DP80, he replaced all the OEM transistors with new ones, on the premise that the OEM ones with which he is familiar are prone to failure (although I don't think any of them had actually failed in my DP80).  I wouldn't be surprised if the transistors in the TT101 were of the same provenance as those in the DP80.

Aigenga,

You tightened the bottom bearing well too tight, this one is used to set the height of the rotor inside the motor housing.  You should re-examine this assembly.  The reason that the bottom plug was secured with a "clay like material" was to prevent it form coming loose.  tighten it just so much that you get a rub with the top cover on the motor on, then back it off a quarter turn, then secure it with a dap of nail polish or similar.

Best of luck

Peter    

Regarding the transistors used in the TT-101 I want to make sure that I can get the table working with the new ones installed, I'm still a little ways away form this.

Once I get it going I'll let you know the appropriate replacements

Good Listening


Peter