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
What I find to be especially interesting about that tonearm (EPA100Mk2, according to others) is its base structure.  From the photo, it seems to be one continuous piece that broadens out to cover the entire arm board.  Is that the case, or are we looking at a separate escutcheon into which the base of the tonearm sits?  If it's all one piece, that would provide a nice "sink" for energy generated in the arm wand. Reminds me a bit of the modern Durand Telos (big money), but I would bet that if it were possible to do a head to head, the Technics would be superior.
Thanks for those Links JP....
That arm is a serious piece of work 👁
Good score Shane 👏
@jp
very interesting the brochure, on the internet I had never found anything about it.


@downunder 
the arm collects the best EPA 100 and 500 but I believe it is limited to a narrow range of cartridges.
The TP4 cartridges have never reached the great quality and musicality of the traditional MM and MC cartridges and it is for this reason that it is limiting in choice, that you have supplied is a very good cartridge but
your turntable deserves the best for the cartridges.

@best-groove

I bought the SL1000Mk3 so I could put a Thales Simplicity II and Lyra Atlas on it from my TW table and this should raise the playback level a few notches. This will come in time.

the tonearm was a freebie that I am enjoying, as previously my EPC-P100C-MK4 was residing in an adaptor. The EPC-P100C-MK4 is as good as my Dynavector XV-1s so it is a great cartridge.
There is very little lacking with the sound I am getting so far.


There is one thing that sucks about this table - the turntable dust cover does not open high enough and acoustic transparent it is not, unlike the Exclusive P3 glass dust cover. The cover will stay off most of the time now.

regards