Check this out


http://www.teresaudio.com/t-340.html
pontus
Nope. Never had anything to do with Teres. Only own their turntable. And love it.

I use the Teres Cocobolo base. It is not sealed, other than a surface finish. Last time I looked, it was still on my shelf. Hadn't crawled off anywhere. I live in an area with over 90% humidity for much of the year. Smoky Mountain area. I have no air conditioning. I use a wood stove for heat. My TT is right near the glass door and is subjected to near freezing temps in the winter(when the stove goes out during the night), and over 90 degree temps in summer. Finish is still on, and stability is fine. It is not made nearly as stiff as the platter on the 340. I don't know what extremes you feel any TT is going to be subjected to, but I'm certainly right up near the max in that department.

I also work with wood. I make musical instruments, specifically acoustic guitars. I am keenly aware of wood stability characteristics too. I believe that a nearly 4" thick platter of puzzle-fitted hardwoods with a density so high that it will nearly sink in water, and then soaked in an epoxy treatment that is made to withstand permanent immersion in water, will do just fine in the home environment.

Now that you've questioned my motives, maybe I should question yours?

And let's look at the stability issue and its real implications. Let's say that it might even go out a few thou periodically under extreme conditions. What are the potential problems?
1) Let's say it goes out of round by a couple thou. Well the TT has a continuously monitored platter speed that is constantly being read by an optical sensor and feeding a microcontroller that maintains speed to less than a tenth of a percent continuously. Controller takes care of that. And yes, it reads the platter, not the motor.
2) Let's say it goes out of shape like a potato chip by a couple thou. Well, most records are at least a couple thou out anyway. The system handles those quite easily. No problem.
3) Let's say that it squeezes tighter on the bearing shaft. No problem, the bearing shaft is part of the spindle, and is not immersed in the bearing well at the section where the
platter is attached to the spindle. Can't affect anything there.

This is worst case. Please don't tell me that you think it is going to go out by inches.

And how about the many turntables which have MDF platters and bases? They don't change with temp and humidity conditions? How about aluminum? Doesn't it change with temp? How about steel? How about brass? They don't change? Of course they do. Do they change evenly? Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on if there were any stress risers in the material when it was made. That's why they cryo treat rifle barrels.

Yes, I think it is good that you make people aware of the characteristics of wood. As you say, buyer beware.
Jyprez

Wet wood? Are you familiar with the moisture content of the wood before it goes through the process that Teres uses? I know I'm not. I understand from reading the Teres web pages that there is some extensive cabinet making experience at their disposal. I doubt they are going into this blind, and I really doubt they would go to the expense and trouble of this process as just a marketing tool. Some exotic, space-age man-made material would fit that bill and without the headaches of possible future problems. As a part-time woodworker you should appreciate that the exotic woods that are being used here are not your average cherry, or oak, or maple, or mahogany, etc., that are used in furniture making. Teres has stipulated that movement is concern, but I agree with Teres that the movement in question here is much less than what we see with furniture.

Anyway, I would still love to hear the 365 or even the 235. But I fear that if I do I will never feel the same about my current TT.
Actually MDF will not change with temp and humidity. I once soaked a piece of MDF in water for days and could not measure the change with a micrometer. I can't speak for acrylic as I am not sufficiently familiar with the characteristics but perhaps a materials engineer out there can answer this.
You ask how many turntables have MDF bases. I would say a great many starting with the rega. How about speakers as well. Most all are made with MDF and a wood veneer. How many solid hardwood speakers do you know of?

As far as subtle changes in the wood. I am sure that teres has accounted for the most significant changes in their design. I certainly would not expect movement observable to the unaided eye or I would quickly ship my table back. But as you yourself have pointed out to all of us many times in this forum, turntables are exquisitly sensitive devices where tremendous differences in sound quality can be achieved with very subtle changes.
So let's see, should I play my records on a base with random and uneven density that is subject to even subtle expansion and contraction? For my part, I think not. But the ear is king so if it sounds better to you, then I say go for it!
To each his own. I have no interest in making an argument over this. I don't even have the blasted table. And it is likely that I never will, because I can't afford it anyway.

They made the table that way because they thought it sounded better and felt they could make it stable. Time will tell.
One final response to Dan ed ....
I say wet wood because all wood is wet at some level. The cell structure of wood makes it like a sponge, even when kiln dried, the moisture content is only reduced, never eliminated and will still change to be in equilibrium with the surrounding air.