Turntable mods

[Alaric]

I'm shopping for a TT and have begun to lose what's left of my mind. If I get a TT with captive cables , is it all that difficult to solder RCA jacks in place instead? (mmf-5) It seems like a little drilling and fabrication for the actual mounting points and four solder joints should do it. Or am I underestimating the level of difficulty? I realize this is mostly a speaker forum , but if you guys build speakers someone may have modded TTs. :B

http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf_products.asp?show=true&prolook=mmf_5

[wkhanna]

You will do anything to use those Cat Cables!!!!!!!

It might seem a bit strange/scary to mod a new TT, but if there is room inside the chassis, you should be able to do it. I might recommend Cardas terminals. A drill with sharp bits, and a soldering iron should accomplish 90% of the job. What material is the chassis made from? Can you go to an audio shop to take a very good at the TT?

[tyler]

I have modded a few Technics 1200MK5 TT's with excellent results. Many mods for the Technics can be found at www.kabusa.com. One of the best mods that they offer is the record clamp.

The biggest improvement is gained on this TT when changing the tone arm. Changing the arm will also require replacing the stock arm board. The arm boards can be purchased at www.originlive.com. They also offer the OL1 and Rega 250 arms for the arm board.

The results when using an OL1 tone arm on this TT is very impressive. :T

[Alaric]

Rear plate on the TT is metal. Aside from my apparent cable fixation , I wasn't real impressed with the fixed cables on the TT , and have heard some pretty disparaging remarks about their quality. Considering the price of a mmf-5 , I guess they had to save where they could.

The deal I had in mind is here http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....abl&1180969084
Also looking at http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....abl&1181466094
I think the Marantz is a rebadged Clearaudio Emotion.

Also this http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....abl&1181609936

Not to mention the 5 gazillion other choices..... :drool:

Just noticed sale pending on the first one!

[Alaric]

more options

Tyler , thanks for the info! The Technics 1200 series seems to have quite the following , and I've heard direct drives can tend towards tighter bass response. I still have a few doubts about a DJ table and direct drive , but the reviews are so far impressive.

Price came down a little on this one! http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....abl&1180919717

[tyler]

Alaric, The Technics does not always get the respect in the Audiophile community and is referred to as a dj turntable. The truth of matter is, it is sold in the millions and this justifies the lower cost. If it were built by a small shop somewhere the development and manufacturing cost would be ridicules! Read the article here regarding the development of the Technics http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/index.htm

[Alaric]

It's advertised as a DJ table by Needle Doctor and Todd The Vinyl Junkie. In fact , Technics advertises them as DJ tables.Interesting link-now I have some more reading to do!

[tyler]

Yes, designed for the dj. But also a great performer for listening if it is setup for that.

[chasw98]

Or go look for a real Technics..... A SP10!http://www.soundfountain.com/amb/sp10page.html

[Alaric]

Good link. I wonder , though , are there any potential issues with all those magnets on the platter and the pick-up (cartridge) being dependent on magnetism in one form or another?

[JoshK]

well, i am pretty far from being real experienced with tt's, but i had the mmf-5 and i really didn't like the tonearm. i think it was partly the ergonomics. many speak highly of it but i moved onto a rega planar 2 or 3...just briefly, but i kept the arm. i use it with my homebrewed teres.

my thought on putting jacks in the table is you are adding mass, which will add more parasitics, in a highly sensitive area. the cart is putting out a tiny signal and i think getting rid of any and all connections is best. no removeable headshell, no din connectors, no rca's. heck, i am planning to hard wire the tone arm cable into my phono stage. the only reason i haven't is because i haven't set my table back up. home is in renovation and the dust has kept me from bring it back out.

[tyler]

Or go look for a real Technics..... A SP10!http://www.soundfountain.com/amb/sp10page.html

Yes, I agree. ;x(

But I did not think that was in his budget. 8O

Also, many of the great vinyl recordings out there were mastered on a SP-02 cutting lathe. In the late 70's Matsushita formed a Special Pruducts group "SP". Their work produced the SP-02 and the SP series of transcription turntables finally culminating in the integrated Technics SL-1200. The 1200 is the outcome of years of research.

[Alaric]

Yes , Tyler , you are absolutely correct about things not in my budget. Still researching those Techs'.

[Alaric]

well, i am pretty far from being real experienced with tt's, but i had the mmf-5 and i really didn't like the tonearm. i think it was partly the ergonomics. many speak highly of it but i moved onto a rega planar 2 or 3...just briefly, but i kept the arm. i use it with my homebrewed teres.

my thought on putting jacks in the table is you are adding mass, which will add more parasitics, in a highly sensitive area. the cart is putting out a tiny signal and i think getting rid of any and all connections is best. no removeable headshell, no din connectors, no rca's. heck, i am planning to hard wire the tone arm cable into my phono stage. the only reason i haven't is because i haven't set my table back up. home is in renovation and the dust has kept me from bring it back out.

I was going with the theory that a good connection is better than a crappy wire.

[JoshK]

you could rewire it. i would think some fine silver wire, like that you can get from a-medical, could be called for. this is diy.

[tyler]

Good link. I wonder , though , are there any potential issues with all those magnets on the platter and the pick-up (cartridge) being dependent on magnetism in one form or another?

With a rumble figure of -80dB, Speed accuracy of 0.005% and Wow & Flutter of 0.01% I would say no. Most players wow and flutter are 0.02%.

[Alaric]

With a rumble figure of -80dB, Speed accuracy of 0.005% and Wow & Flutter of 0.01% I would say no. Most players wow and flutter are 0.02%.

I would say you make a pretty fair argument.

Good link. I wonder , though , are there any potential issues with all those magnets on the platter and the pick-up (cartridge) being dependent on magnetism in one form or another?

I will consider that question answered!

[Ecir38]

Alaric, any updates on what you diecided on.

[tyler]

Alaric, any updates on what you diecided on.

I would also be interested in what your decision was Alaric......

[Alaric]

The winner is.....

I found a great deal on a new mmf-5SE. I was aiming for a mmf-7 but my future ex-wife has turned into a monetary black hole. So , for a few hundred bucks under suggested retail , I got this

http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf_products.asp?show=true&prolook=mmf_5se

Money turned into a larger issue than I hoped when this began , but I'm still expecting an improvement over the Sony I have now. FedEx claims I will take delivery on Tuesday.

[Glowbug]

I've heard good things about those Music Halls...they've sold a ton of them, that's for sure.

Something tells me the build quality won't be quite up to what a Technics 1200 offers, though

[Ecir38]

Alaric, looks like you will be happy with your purchase, keep us updated. What will you be using as a phono amp?

To my suprise, I cannot find any turntable forums or any forums that have a turntable section. Can anyone help me out with this? In this day and age with all of the turntables out there i find this odd.

[Ecir38]

go figure, i found this thread at the HTguide with some good links in it. http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=20585
will post future TT? here in the future

[tyler]

Something tells me the build quality won't be quite up to what a Technics 1200 offers, though

I agree, no contest in that department IMO.

[Saurav]

To my suprise, I cannot find any turntable forums or any forums that have a turntable section.

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html

Haven't been there in years though, so I don't know what it's like any more. It used to be pretty normal - good info mixed in with large egos.

[Ecir38]

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html

Haven't been there in years though, so I don't know what it's like any more. It used to be pretty normal - good info mixed in with large egos.

Thanks don't know how i missed that, been at the asylum recently for the pc audio section. Found this link at the audioasylum which looks like it amy be a good one too.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=28

[Alaric]

Alaric, looks like you will be happy with your purchase, keep us updated. What will you be using as a phono amp?

To my suprise, I cannot find any turntable forums or any forums that have a turntable section. Can anyone help me out with this? In this day and age with all of the turntables out there i find this odd.

My pre has a MM phono stage , but at the moment I'm using a Bellari VP129. TT isn't run in yet , but so far I'm pleased with the combo.

[Alaric]

I've heard good things about those Music Halls...they've sold a ton of them, that's for sure.

Something tells me the build quality won't be quite up to what a Technics 1200 offers, though

If I ever decide to DJ I'll keep that in mind. Besides , if it never breaks , how will I know when to upgrade?

[JoshK]

There will always be a DD vs BD feud, but its funny to see some really hi-end BD manufacturers finding dharma in DD.

(I own a diy teres, fwiw)

[Ecir38]

(I own a diy teres, fwiw)

Do you have a build thread?

[JoshK]

No, I only took a few pictures, a couple while it building. They are in my gallery on audiocircle.