Upper Level Vintage DD Strenghts and Weaknesses
@pindac, using the word ’cornerstone’ like this in relation to turntable footers is tricky. For stability you’ll need 4....... Anyway, while upper vintage turntables (DD or otherwise) are still competitive, in most cases their designers didn’t spend too much thought on plinths and footers. There are exceptions like Pioneer P3, where the wood veneer plinth is more like a skirt over some very elaborate suspension. But in most cases the footers just have some type of resilient material to absorb external vibrations, including the earth’s plate movement as some seem to believe. My appartment has wooden floors and in such a case these resilient footers are totally inadequate to absorb foot falls and other floor borne vibrations. Wall mounting is the only way to go. When you have eliminated the floor as a source of vibrations you don’t need resilient footers and you can change to mass loading the table. Consequently, my tables are all wall mounted and have their original footers replaced with non resilient ones. In every case the sonic improvement (in terms of tighter bass response, cleaner highs, dynamics, etc.) was as obvious as can be. I use Finite Elemente Cerabase Compact footers, but I’m sure there are plenty of alternatives that will give the same result. |
A friend who has been a Mentor for a proportion of my Journey in HiFi in relation to Turntables, has their own TT Mounted on a Wall Mounted Steel Framed Shelf. A Sub Plinth is also used and Two Types of Footer used between The Plinth, Sub Plinth and Wall Shelf. When I am in my friends environment I can not imagine a better method to mount the TT. In my own environment I have tried a Steel Framed Wall Shelf as a Basic Support and also with various Sub Plinth Construction Methods. I have also used Rack Mounting on the Racks Top Shelf. The Best I have achieved is the Consruction I have in use to sit the Rack On and the Construction I use on Top of the Rack. The Sound Quality that is being produced in my listening environment, is the most satisfying I have achieved over many years of working with the permutations of materials used in the constructions used as a Support. The Next Stop really has to be Trialing with Plinth Materials. I am at present using a Compressed Plywood that is approx' 800Kg a Cubic Metre (1764 lb per 1.3 Cubic Yard) The Next Trial is going to be with a Compressed Plywood that is approx' 1400Kg a Cubic Metre ( 3087 lb per 1.3 Cubic Yard ) There is quite a lot of information availble where the merits of coupling a Japanese Vintage DD TT, to a Densified Wood Plinth are made known. |
Luxman PD-444 is suspended on its adjustable feet, placed on top of the heavy metal custom made rack in my system. Wooden floor with parquet on top was made in 1957. And thanks god I don't have to think about plinth, because nearly all my DD turntables from Technics, Denon, Victor can be used in different plinths (original or custom). When you have an option to change plinth it can be an endless quests for entire life! |
