Anyone remember the lateral tracking Bang and Olufsen record player from the 80’s??

Oh yeah, as a starving college student in the 60’s, and a long time afterward, I remember watching the B&O TT (any B&O product), wondering if I would ever be able to afford such a marvelous thing.

I am so lucky to have just successfully restored a Mitsubishi Vertical Linear Tracking TT, LT-V5, for use on top of a 12" deep bookcase where a horizontal TT will not fit. I am using my Reel to Reel player vertically now, they look awesome side by side.

DIATONE version is Japan Only, USA model is Mitsubishi LT-5V , see the very cool see-thru photo here along with the Japanese Diatone version’s specs:

https://audio-heritage.jp/DIATONE/player/lt-5v.html

3 belt kit readily available, $16.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-3-BELT-SET-for-MITSUBISHI-TURNTABLE-LT-5-LT-5V-LT-640-X-10-X-12/152375190799?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

It plays with zero tracking error, and sounds excellent. Any 1/2" cartridge that does not exceed maximum height to stylus tip of 18mm, Provided shims, or your shims are used to properly position smaller height cartridges. I’ve got an AT440ml on, the perfect height it turned out.

Belt drive. Just like my Thorens TD124, after letting it’s motor warm up a minute, speed is very steady, not needing re-adjustment, just a minute wait.

Researching while overhauling, I found it is a serious TT, much unique engineering, including the surprising fact that the platter is very slightly concave, I guess down about 1mm at the end of playing grooves, the headshell correspondingly and minutely angled for correct azimuth. I read an article mentioning 3mm edge to spindle, I find much less than that, I would have never realized the concave platter unless reading these

http://www.soundfountain.com/mitsubishi/mitsubishi-lt-5v.html

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/the-story-of-my-mitsubishi-lt-5v-turntable.1349/

A spring loaded record clamp holds the LP against that very slightly concave platter. The clamp is pre-positioned by it’s horizontal arm, however the clamp is completely free of the arm when pressed/locked onto the spindle. Very clever.

This long video was invaluable in preparing for my attempt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5XO51leGzU

Some members know I had been chasing a Technics Vertical Linear Tracking TT, SL-V5.

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-v5.shtml

Disappointed as I was, I got lucky not getting the Technics, and Bill (a member here) having a pair of LT-5V’s project. He lives only 1 hr 20 minutes away, and his willingness to swap with me.

curious about relative costs of these units. I found this conversion/inflation chart

https://www.inflationtool.com/japanese-yen/1980-to-present-value?amount=70000

so, 70,000 yen 1980 is 101,000 today is $940. usd today

anybody know the exchange rate in 1980, i.e. 70,000 yen in 1980 was _____ usd in 1980?

In 1971 I got a Rabco ST4 belt drive with a cheaper version of Henry Rabinow’s LT tonearm. Clamshell dustcover, sprung motorboard, with an ADC XLM. That was used with a Quad 33 and PAS3 for a few years until it developed a worn out nylon guide that was critical to its LT arm, that no one could fix. Later I had an HK ST7 with a Denon DL103S operating on the same principle...Today, in addition to my WTT I have a Revox B795 That I rarely use, but I still love LT in theory. The downfall has always been the complexity of maintaining tangency. Anyone try the Clearaudio TT5?

I still have my Beogram TX linear tracking TT purchased in 1984 with MMC2 cartridge.  Never had any mechanical issues with it during the 20 years of heavy use.  I put it away in the early 2000s to focus on digital.  When I pulled it out of storage 2 years ago it still worked fine but the hinge covering the tonearm was faulty so I took the unit to my local B&O store and they serviced the mechanicals and repaired the hinge. Looks and works good as new.  As previously mentioned Soundsmith handles all B&O cartridges so I may upgrade just to see what kind of sound quality is possible.  I haven't put together my analog listening room yet but plan to augment the TX with either a Rega P6, VPI Prime Scout or Technics SL1200GR.  I'm retiring at the end of 2020 so should have more time to audition these TTs as long as Covid is under control.  https://sound-smith.com/bo-cartridges

glupson

terrific TT, my Vertical version is belt drive, yours is Quartz Locked Direct Drive. Glancing at the manual available here

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/mitsubishi/lt-30.shtml

it has a full complement of fine adjustments

here is 2 belt kit on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MITSUBISHI-LT-30-BELT-Kit-2-belts/123886275552?hash=item1cd8328be0:g:4aUAAOSwVLZdBsMI

Like old tape recorders, the old belts turn into nasty rubbery glue. I strongly suspect if you remove the cover, clean the gunk out, clean the rail the arm moves on, lube and install new belts, you will have it working again.