Vintage Denon Direct Drive Turntable

I think a large dollop of the goodness of this set-up is bolting the Triplanar very firmly to the slate. In theory, any energy put into the tonearm by the Koetsu is going to be traveling down the tonearm and into 70-lbs of slate, where it would easily be dissipated. I can't easily mount the Triplanar on either the SP10 Mk2A slate plinth or the forthcoming Lenco/PTP in slate, because the respective chassis' simply do not allow the tonearm to get close enough to the spindle, so I probably won't be making comparisons among the 3 tables using this tonearm. (It could be done with the SP10, but I would need to raise up the Triplanar on an additional small piece of slate, about 3/4" thick.) I may be able to do a tt comparison with the RS-A1 or the Dynavector DV505. But what I am most surprised about with regard to the Denon is how completely open and rhythmic it is, virtues usually ascribed to sprung belt drives and idlers. Whereas, traditionally I think of the Denon dd's as being a bit on the dark side. There is no trace at all of that quality using slate. None at all. I briefly tried the SAEC ss300 platter mat in place of the Denon rubber mat. I am not sure this is a good idea, because the ss300 is heavier, and one wants to stay close to the mass of the stock mat. (In the owners manual, Denon specifically warns against using anything but the stock mat. This is because any tt servo mechanism is designed specifically to run a certain platter mass.) Anyway, I think the sonics may be even slightly better, cleaner with better bass definition, using the ss300. BTW, my slate is about 19"X23" and 2 inches thick. This calculates to about 90 lbs, before making the large cut-out for the Denon.

Photos of my Denon DP80 in 2" slate slab w/Triplanar and Koetsu Urushi, plus a photo of my SP10 Mk2A in a similar slab with RS-A1 and Ortofon MC7500. Are now posted on my system site, since I don't know how to post them right here.

Dear Lew: That Denon looks gorgeous, good job and good listening too.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Thanks, Raul. It is as simple as simple gets, just slate, turntable chassis, and tonearm. No armboards, no fancy suspension. Right now I am using 2x2x2 inch slate cubes for "feet", but I would like to introduce something with a little compliance. The Denon is sitting on a damped granite slab, as per Adona, on an Adona equipment rack, with which I am pleased. Adona damps the granite by adhering it to what appears to be a slab of high density MDF. This takes the ringing out of the granite. The Technics is sitting on a 1" thick slate shelf. I may have more slate shelves made; it works well on the Adona rack. I plan to mount the Dyna DV505 on the Technics slab. Eventually, I will have the Lenco in slate up and running.

Lew, beautiful job. You encourage me to check out stone dealers here in So. Cal. but I don't expect much of a selection in slate. It occurred to me that some of the potential sonic benefits of slate might be gained by using a 1" thick slate base under the plinth. That would be much easier and cheaper than cutting/shaping the slate for the full plinth build.

Also I do think you've identified a critical point regarding the mechanical integrity of arm mounting. I note my EPA-100 arm has two rubber washers to place above and below the arm mounting surface. I will replace those with brass or stainless washers whenever I finally finish my SP-10 plinth.

Happy listening!