DIY TT

@holmz  : Both are entry level items, SAEC had four other tonearms a top yours. In the early 80's the top of the line had retail price in Jpan of  108,000 Yens and ours 52K and the 308 48K Yens.

In the other side and if you own the Saphire ( you did not say it when posted. ) model maybe could be a good time to send to SOTA or at least ask if exist important up-dates between your unit and the today Saphire model and then keep the SOTA TT change that tonearm and build an external arm pod for your second tonearm and that's it.

In any case you will need ( if you don't have it yet ) a good after market platform  where the SOTA will seated isolated of vibrations/resonances and even that the Saphire has the vacuum hold down characteristic try to find out  " dead " weigth of 200-300grs as a TT clamp even that you could think is redundant it's not and helps.

R.

This could be interesting for SOTA TT owners:

R.

I went a different route.  I used the motor housing, platter and bearing from a VPI TNT 4 and built my own plinth. I also used a 300 RPM Hurst motor and VPI's one speed pulley. Feet are also VPI for now .  The plinth is 21"x16" and 1 1/2" thick.

@holmz if you really want the best you could start looking closer to home at the “Commonwealth“ rim drive TT‘s built for Australian broadcast use. Come in 12 & 15“ versions, rare as, and not cheap when you do find one. Stereonet has some chat you could google up

built like brick …..only stronger…make Garrard 301 look like hello kitty record player…

@vinylzone The Self Built TT, looks very nice, the Acrylic or Polycarbonate Plinth Material is a nice touch.

The Acrylic when used as a thinner sheet and assembled to be used as a CLD Structure has produced quite attractive damping measurements.

I am sure the CLD structure will not have the same aesthetic as yours if clear sheets is used.

As for structures, I also see a further thought has been given to the Sub Plinth Structure as well, I have been carrying out investigations into assemblies across the years and have been quite surprised by some of the discoveries made.

It is interesting how a Plywood Board has proven itself as a Tier in a Structure and is seen on a regular basis used as a Tier in a structure under a TT.

There also appears to be an additional two Tiers of Acrylic used in the structure, this also of interest to me. 

Have these materials been selected through trialing them for their impact on the SQ being produced, or are they used as the initial design for a support structure as they were readily available.