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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
 
Haha Don....
I would rarely talk trash about belt-drives in general as I have one myself and enjoy it immensely ☺️
But when they start charging $30 Grand-$200 Grand for gigantic belt drives whose performances can be matched (or bettered) by $1000 well-chosen vintage Japanese DD decks......people need to wake up and smell the roses 🌹
For 30 years the high-end audio world ignored the great Japanese DD 'Statement" products from Technics, Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, JVC/Victor, Denon etc and convinced the public that belt-drive was the 'only' way to 'turn'.....mainly because anyone could knock up a belt-drive in his garage (and many still do).
If not for the Internet there would still be little recognition for DD turntables as a viable alternative.
When I first entered the audio world with a Technics DD and Kenwood integrated stereo amp....I was soon convinced by all the British Audio mags to go belt-drive. I soon bought a Rega Planar 3 with Hadcock arm and actually heard no discernible differences to my Technics but I happily stuck with the Rega for nearly 30 years.

That was then and this is now.

rwwear
2,873 posts
 
Sounds like my story halcro. I never liked that Planer 3. I finally got rid of it years ago along with that bouncy Linn Sondek.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,614 posts
 
A Technics SP10MK3 Japanese Version in need of an overhaul was just sold on Ebay for $ 50 short of $5K, guess folks are starting to pay attention to these magnificent players.

Good Listening


Peter
lewm
13,261 posts
 
Peter, That would be a very low average price for any Mk3 that is in decent cosmetic and electrical shape.  Someone got a good deal.  Fully done Mk3's in a quality plinth have sold for more than $12K.  I paid more than $5K for mine with no plinth, about 6-7 years ago, albeit mine was NOS.  ("NOS" means very little, however, when you're talking about an electronic device that was sitting on a shelf for 30 or more years.  Although I got "like new" cosmetic appearance, I still had to go through the electricals, replace all caps, calibrate the drive system, etc.)  I nevertheless believe that this is a stone cold bargain, whenever I listen to my Mk3.
lewm
13,261 posts
 
Belt drive?  We don' need no stinkin' belt drive!
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