DIY TT

Holmz-ie, The title of this thread is "DIY TT".  So tell us about your DIY TT. It can't be a Star Sapphire.  I thought you brought up a few DD turntables, like the aforementioned Denons.

@lewm Iwas responding to Raul, who asked 

Btw, which TT/tonearm/cartridges do you own?

So yeah mentioning the TT - I guess also could mean that there are the implicit question of:

1. Maybe just stick with the Sota?
2. Cannibalise the Soto for motor and speed controller?
3. Modify the Sota to accept a second tone arm?

But I think Raul’s question was more of a perspective to understand where I am coming from? (I dunno, I am not a mind reader.)

if you canabalize the SOTA, you should keep everything but the the cabinet. The platter, bearing, motor, subchassis, springs, etc, just make tge box that sits in bigger. the subchassis will need a whisker of modification to support the back arm. 

Thanks Jim - I am relatively handy with the wood tools.
Not great - but good enough to with table saws and routers.

I might pull the Sota apart and inspect the bearing and take some measurements.

I have referenced a  Denon DP-80 with a Gunmetal Platter as these become available for sale and might have proved attractive to the OP.

From my many years of acquiring Japanese Design Vintage DD TT's, I have not seen a Gunmetal Platter as a singular item for sale, even though I have seen the whole Platter Assembly, minus TT,  and inclusive of the Gunmetal part for sale.

There are commonly seen Gunmetal or Stainless Steel options for a Platter that are belonging to other Japanese Vintage DD TT's. Maybe there is a want for such add on parts to a TT within the Japan Market, and I was fortunate to find a DP-80 wiith this part included, I have seen m any since my purchase and there is a premium asking price for such a model.

The jury is out on Massey vs Lightweight Plinths, the point is argued in many forums, I let my listening experiences produce the evidence I needed to motivate my making a change.  

I do not get too caught up in the absolute mechanical theories for a device used in a TT Set Up, much of the precision that is suggested should be in place is inaudible to most listeners and definitely will be very difficult to determine to a well trained ear that has an older body coupled to them. 

There are multiple TT's that have a Platter Spindle that has an eccentric rotation in place as part of the poor design for the interfaces or usage has allowed the interfaces to wear.

The eccentric rotations are detrimental to the Stylus contact in the Groove and Speed Stability, but the replays on a TT with such a Spindle Interface are thoroughly enjoyed y the TT's owner.

Obsessing over thousands of a mm, is not for me, or in that case many manufacturers, who seem to have at time flagrantly flouted the ideas associated with tight tolerances, these things add to the bottom line.

I do meet and share time with individuals who do take microns seriously in the work they produce, one trusted friend also has devices that enable them to measure the effects of some of the work undertaken. They keep there keen eye on such concerns for the workshop, and can separate listening pleasure during demonstrations from the work produced, and I see this as a very attractive trait.

The listeners reactions to the demonstration is enough to see the qualities that are on offer.  

The theory of the mechanics and the obsession with the theories is good fuel for some to rant and attack over, and these rants from my experiences are seen to manifest from a small group only.

I have yet to see a Manufacturer go toe to toe with somebody on the design theories, and it is these bodies that the average user has only got to trust in such matters.

The challenges are usually directed at a user who has made known a choice they chose to use, and one which I am sure in many instances has proven to be a very enjoyable encounter. 

As most comes from a very small faction, it is quite tolerable, even though sometimes there is an unsavoury element to the expressions being made.