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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
fleib
1,124 posts
 
Hi Halcro,
You might have a problem with that. The arm is probably designed with at least 15mm overhang and with an SAE type headshell, chances are the cart will be too far forward. In order to achieve underhang you'll have to move the arm further back.

If you have some kind of arm pod set-up, this might not be a problem. Otherwise I think you'll have to drill a new armboard. I have an arm similar to a Graham Robin and no way without remounting.

I believe the alignment is 5mm toward the spindle from the center of the recorded part. That would be 95mm from the spindle, if I'm not mistaken.
Regards,
fleib
1,124 posts
 
Correction - the lead-out starts at approx. 60mm and the record goes to 160mm, so I guess it would be more like 105mm from the spindle.

I have a few records that are recorded much closer to the label. You'd have to experiment. VE has a free download protractor called Chpratz. It's a calibrated straight line with a grid all the way and calibrated with distance from the spindle.

One thing that peaked my interest was a comment by one of the reviewers. He thought the shorter version of the arm sounds better - less resonance and vibrations. I was thinking of getting one of those straight arm DJ tables just to try it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Regards,
hiho
451 posts
 

Instruction on setting up the RS-1A tonearm using underhang scheme. I believe the arm uses the tangential point (or reference point) right in the middle of the platter which is 3 inches away from the spindle about 76mm radius.

"Structure & Features of RS-A1 Tonearm" by Shirou Horii

You can use that as a starting point to experiment with the SAEC or other available arms.

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doron
43 posts
 
Hello Halcro,

Based on your experience, which JVC motor has morer torque,
The TT-71/81 or the coreless TT-101?

Thanks!

Doron
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Hi Doron,
According to Vintage Knob...the TT-81 has 1.3Kg/Cm starting torque against the 1.8Kg/Cm for the TT-101.
I don't know how that relates to perceived performance as both decks are consistently immune to the the effects of 'stylus drag' even under three cartridges running simultaneously...😍
I also can't hear a difference in performance between the two decks in my system.....
Regards
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