Tonearm mount on the plinth or on Pillar ?

pani
In a typical cutting lathe is the cutting arm mounted on the same plinth as the platter or is it on a platform ?

here is a pic
http://www.sonicscoop.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/stocklathe.jpg

Pani
fwiw. I still do own three tables but only use one. Two of the three tables Verdier La Platine (main) and my DIY SP10 MKII (up to version 8?) from years ago have pillars/pods for the tonearm which is bolted into the plinth. The Platter structure is bolted into this same plinth. The Brass Pod on my SP10MKII is very heavy its not going anywhere but it was very easy to shoot a bolt in from the bottom, and I use only one tonearm with it so I bolted it in.

https://goo.gl/photos/1tpMKeEahAdXFEN38

The third table is a Jean Nantais table. I don’t know how familiar you are with his designs.

http://www.idler-wheel-drive.com/

Going back if I recall, Jean is very much in favor of a very rigid coupling. But even he recognizes the problems with bolting a tonearm to a plinth that is shared with a spinning platter/bearing/motor. All his designs have "voids" where the tonearm is mounted to lessen the effect of the plinth itself. This void extends down through the whole 100 lb plinth on mine. I think the plinth would weigh quite a bit more if the two voids for two tonearms were filled in.

Raul - you misunderstood the intent/purpose of the youtube video that my 16 year old son budding audiophile at the time took. He is now 21 - where does time go? This was an experiment/ a test during an Audiophile Phase. I indicated that this tonearm/cart/ in the traditional setup the sound was terrible; but the armpod setup with the roller block jrs. significantly changed resonances/vibrations (which vinyl play is all about) for the better.
The focus was the symposium roller block jrs. on an armpod; and the technics table has only a skeleton plinth. Not sure how you came up with a stock plinth ?

Pryso - I think at this point I am willing to put up with some earthquake shakes if it meant good year round weather. Can you imagine that armpod on the roller block jrs. if not being used moving back and forth, during a quake - like the buildings themselves.

moonglum

great vid. It could be planted on many audiophile forum threads. :^)
I use oil in the bolt threads of the pods before the bolt is inserted.

Cheers

Theories are great.....
I know of tonearm designers who can convince you that Uni-pivots are theoretically superior to gimballed tonearms....
But hey....they can both work fine.
I know some turntable designers who can convince you that belt-drive high mass turntables are theoretically superior to direct-drive and idlers......
But hey...they can all work just fine.
I know some cartridge designers who can convince you that MC is theoretically superior to MM....
But hey...they can both work fine.
Yep....I just love theories 😎

Dear @lewm: """  my opinions on this issue are well known; no point repeating myself. Others can think differently.... """

are those opinions based or with foundation on first hand experiences in your own audio system through several tests with and with out same tonearm/cartridge?

If yes I would like to hear your confirmation about and trade-offs you experienced and if not maybe is time to have the stand alone tonearm tower to confirm or not your opinions, this could gives more value to those opinions. Don't you think?


Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

No thanks, Raul.
This is not to say you and Halcro are "wrong".  Really, really; I don't care.  I am sure that your system, and Henry's system too, are wonderful.  Both of your systems differ from mine in very many ways, other than turntable/tonearm linkage, and it is not incumbent upon me to try out all the variations in order to say that I prefer what I have.  Over 40 years, I've been there and done that.

The OP asked for opinions. I have stated my opinion and the theoretical why of it (and so has Atma-sphere in a more elegant treatise), and that's all I care to do on this subject. Like I also said, I fully approve of Halcro's current TT101 set-up, even though he may believe we are at odds.  (Your set-up may be just fine by me, too.  I haven't seen any photos, so I cannot really say.) Like you say, enjoy the music. I certainly am.

Chris, thanks for the update on your SP-10 Mk 2.  Your idea to mount your arm on a separate pillar and then bolt the pillar to the base (plinth), same as for the motor unit, is similar to the direction I've moved.  That is sort of a "middle ground" between a naked table and one that is directly connected. ;^)

My thinking is by not mounting the arm and motor unit to the same top layer of whatever material in the plinth but still have a fixed connection, any energy transfer between the two will need to travel a greater distance and (likely) through different materials, and thus be absorbed or at least diminished.  Now after multiple false starts I need to find someone local with the proper tools to build it for me.