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Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

I have just acquired a 32 year old JVC/Victor TT-101 DD turntable after having its lesser brother, the TT-81 for the last year.
TT-101
This is one of the great DD designs made at a time when the giant Japanese electronics companies like Technics, Denon, JVC/Victor and Pioneer could pour millions of dollars into 'flagship' models to 'enhance' their lower range models which often sold in the millions.
Because of their complexity however.......if they malfunction.....parts are 'unobtanium'....and they often cannot be repaired.
128x128halcro
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
I can't sleep well at nights worrying about this extra drag on the Victor motor :^(
Have returned the stock rubber mat plus suede leather Victor mat on top.
In this case......improved sound takes a back seat.
in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Radicalsteve congratulations on acquiring the Kenwood LO7D, I think a spectacular direct drive and by far the best performing dd that I have owned so far.

Just a friendly suggestion, the top portion of the platter on the LO7D is stainless steel and you may find using just a good centre weight, like a TTM oil damping weight, could be more to your liking then the MS cu180.
Besides thats a lot of extra weight I think not really intended for the table design.



geoch's avatar
geoch
354 posts
 
I would recommend the Goldmund or the Boston MAT 2
If you have access try the Lexan for spaciousness or Metacrylate.
Delrin is not bad also if is in between cork (lower level)& copper (upper level). The sound of Delrin is dull/cloudy 'cause of it's damping ability.
geoch's avatar
geoch
354 posts
 
I must admit that Copper mat is not my fav, as I've found it somewhat coarse with a rough and overwhelming projection but also overall thin body of sound. Maybe this reflects the system matching & fine tuning in my set-up? I don't know but I would love if it could manage to sounds like it looks. Not Delrin, neither Copper but also never anything soft with even the slightest elasticity no matter if it is cork or leather or felt or especially rubber.
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
The Cu180 on its own does have a slight brittleness in the highest frequencies but if one places a very thin leather, suede or felt mat on top, this vanishes and the bottom end solidifies even further.
I've reached a compromise by eliminating the Victor rubber mat and placing the very thin Victor suede (pigskin) mat directly on the aluminium platter.
This gives me almost the same advantages of the Cu180 yet the platter stops dead and reverses slightly exactly as the manual dictates.
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