Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Welcome to the TT-101 club Norm 👏
It seems to be growing at a great rate....
What table did you have before?
I've listened extensively to a TT-71 mounted in a JVC wood plinth and whilst sounding good, it does not quite have the solidity of focus nor the reach into the lower sonic regions that the heavy granite plinth endows.
The crystalline shimmers of the upper frequency harmonics are also clearer and more delicate with the granite.
And Fleib is right.....the rubber dampening between the aluminium motor unit and the granite base is essential, as listening with the motor unit in direct contact with the granite was a drain on the emotional content.
Direct contact to wood is a different kettle of fish...🐠🐟
I think you're correct in the assumption that with the rubber supports, the actual 'material' of the base assumes lesser importance than its 'mass'. And that was the motivating force in directing my design to 'stone'. Other than brass, bronze or steel....stone was the densest material for that form of plinth.
I don't however agree with your thoughts on air-borne vibrations affecting the motor unit.
What tonearm are you intending to use with your turntable?...or did it come with one already mounted?
And have you checked that all the functions work correctly on the notoriously complex TT-101?
Regards

Hi Halco,

My primary TT is the Scheu Premier with Verus Rim Drive and Talea II tonearm sitting on a Minus K.  I also have a Technics SP-10 Mk2a in a DIY plinth and EPA-100 arm.  I will audition the TT-101 with a SAEC WE-506-30 arm.  Eventually, all three tonearms will be heard with the TT-101. My end goal is to have multiple tonearms on one TT.  

 I have put the JVC TT-101 through its paces and verified everything works as it should. The KAB Speedstrobe confirms its speed stability as well.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the JVC wood plinth and its short comings.

You will agree I have a tedious task ahead of me to determine if the TT-101 truly merits a place on the Minus K.

An impressive list of tables and arms Norm.....
No shabby equipment there..😎👍
Will be interesting to hear your impressions once your Victor is making music.....
The Minus K is a good platform for any deck and will allow the TT-101 to shine.

To all Victor TT-101 owners:

I’m hearing a “hum” when I press my ear up to the platter mat. Sounds like a transformer hum.  Doubt very much this is normal. Would other JVC DD table owners please chime in and comment on this?

All the electronics are original. Will replacing the caps in the PS board eliminate this hum? Or is it something more seriously wrong? Like a bad/noisy transformer? The wall voltage measures between 102-103VAC.

Plans to replace all the electrolytic caps are in the works.

I’ve also noticed on several occasions the speed briefly jumps from “33.33” to “33.32 or 33.34” during lp playing. Is this normal? Playing one side of an lp, this may occur once or twice, or no at all.  

Halcro, is this what you mean by “Are we living Dangerously”?

Hi Norm,

Neither is normal.  The hum could be high load on the PT due to bad filter caps in the PSU.  The speed issue may be a consequence, or there could be other causes. 

A recap isn't a fix-all though - it will need calibration afterwards, and that's a smidge tricky on these.