Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Forgot to say that my TT101 is running but not "up and running". Time got away from me this weekend, and I have yet to mount a cartridge. I did install the chassis into the QL10 plinth, which I have modified extensively with metal arm board and metal re-enforcements underneath the MDF stock plinth, to add mass and structural rigidity, and constrained layer dampening.

Has anyone unearthed any data on the Victor UA7045 tonearm, particularly its effective mass?  I have an FR64S mounted on the Victor plinth, but I might want to go back to the UA7045, if it would be a better match for a higher compliance cartridge than is the FR64S.

Lew, re: metal mats

Some time ago I believe it was Raul who recommended the Audio Technica AT666.  That is a metal mat with vacuum hold down.  His preference was simply as an added mat, ignoring the vacuum.  I looked that up and it weighs 1.4 kg, still pretty heavy but within the range listed in the SP-10 MK 2 manual.

lewm
03-14-2016 5:54pm
2.7 kg!!!!!! (...) Perhaps Peter and JP can chime in on this subject.

If you go to a show where Pass Labs have their source setup, you'll likely see a MKII with an ~8kg stainless steel platter.  My understanding is their 'tables have been setup this way for years without issue.  Stainless platters for the MKII show up on Yahoo every once in a while.

I had one (a platter) here for a bit on one of my MKII.  Takes a little longer to start and stop, but I didn't notice any ill effects.  I didn't measure any circuit parameters while running it - having a MK3, it was doubtful I'd even keep a MKII around.  W&F was about the same as the stock platter.

You'll see stainless platters show up on Yahoo every once in a while.  

I'd monitor the thrust pad a bit more often.  

I have run a micro seiki CU mat on my MK2 for months - to me it sounds much better that way.  I would state that the bearing in the MK2 can easily handle this load, its a thrust plate and a ball bearing.

Below is a seller on eBay that sells replica of it weighing in at 3KG!!!!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICRO-SEIKI-COPPER-MAT-CU-500-REPLICA-WORLD-BEST-LOOKS-FANTASTIC-BRAND-NEW-/...

And a thinner one weighing in at "only"1.86kg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICRO-SEIKI-COPPER-MAT-CU-180-REPLICA-WORLD-BEST-LOOKS-FANTASTIC-BRAND-NEW-S...


Good Listening


Peter

@lewm cu-500 on my sp10mk2 only improved the sound quality to another level of performance. One of the best upgrade i have ever made.