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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
rwwear
2,873 posts
 
Technics claimed the SP-10MKIII would maintain speed with up to one thousand tonearms tracking at 2 grams each.
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Technics claimed the SP-10MKIII would maintain speed with up to one thousand tonearms tracking at 2 grams each.

I'm aware of that claim and would love to see it demonstrated....👅
But seriously....I've seen claims by the new Monaco DD about its speed accuracy surpassing measuring instruments...
I've also seen the VPI Direct Feickert Speed App test published by Fremer which didn't appear so 'perfect'?
Regardless of 'claims'....there is a difference between 'speed accuracy' and 'speed stability'.
It would be nice to see any of the SP10Mk3 owners out there with 2 or more tonearms, post a video to YouTube showing the behaviour with the Timeline.
It would also be nice to see the NVS, the Monaco, the VPI Direct or any other vintage or modern DD pass this test.
Claims are not worth the time of day....
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

The accuracy surpassing measuring instruments was only

possible in ''the real socialistic countries'' thanks to the beloved

leadership of the communist party.

rwwear
2,873 posts
 
Even if Technics measurements were off 50% it would still be impressive. Have you ever tried to slow the platter of a MK3 with your hand? It's quite difficult.
lewm
13,168 posts
 
Nandric wins "Funniest Post" award. The rest of you can hand in your computers.
Henry, are you confirming that the data posted by Fremer come from the Feickert tools? I am sure he does not keep it a secret, but I cannot find where he says what instruments he uses. If the cost is reasonable, I would love to purchase the equipment just to test my 5 turntables.

Results for a DD will be heavily dependent upon the accuracy of calibration of the particular unit under test. That’s where guys like JP come into the picture. JP’s homebuilt chip for the Mk3 is more accurate than the original chip, but at a level where we are not sure it could be heard (perhaps also "surpassing [the accuracy of] measuring instruments"). Or maybe JP has done a listening test by now that does reveal differences. In other words, if one sample of a Mk3 is less accurate than one sample of a TT101, it proves nothing unless we know the state of tune of those two units.

I did run my Mk3 with a borrowed Timeline, and it was spot on at about 10 feet projection, but with "only" one tonearm and cartridge playing music. The friend who lent it to me owns a very expensive belt-drive. When he demonstrated the Timeline to me on his system, he literally had to get up and run to the motor controller about every 5 minutes so as to prevent the reflection from marching all around the room. As it was, it marched about 2-3 feet in minutes. He subsequently complained about the speed problem to the manufacturer who promptly supplied him with an "upgrade" to the motor controller.  In fairness, that did help the speed problem.  I think the Timeline is over-rated and overpriced, nevertheless.
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