DIY Custom Made Turntables, some doubts..

When I saw DIY custom made turntables I thought you meant DIY custom made turntables. Like this. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367

But what you mean is simply buying table and arm separately. Which is no big deal. In terms of difficulty, what you have to learn, its not very hard at all. (Says the guy who built his from scratch...)

There are a lot of great tables, and a lot of great arms, but they don't always come together that way. With a little research you can put together a great front end without too much trouble. 

This can even be done as your first table. My first was a Basis/Graham/Glider. A lot of reading went into that choice but as a result of all the research when it came it went together and was up and running easy as could be.

Some tables will be drilled for certain arms. Others use an arm board. There's a lot of variety. The best advice is to just start looking at a lot of them, read reviews and comments, pay attention to setup, and what things cost. 

The most important decision you will face is how to allocate funds. You can buy a really killer table and a starter arm, for example, if you want a killer rig but can't afford everything all at once. Or you could get a more balanced table/arm/cart. 

So step #1 is have some sort of budget. Which needs to include cartridge, phono stage, interconnect, and power cords. Even if you aren't buying this all at once it needs to be kept in mind as it makes a huge difference. Look at my system. Look how much attention went into just the rack. These things make a huge difference with turntables. DYODD.

Please, someone can explain me how is the process of assemble a turntable when you purchase or DIY the cabinet

How projects like this works, in order to assemble the turntable with the tonearms correct distance in relation to the platter, in order to work properly?

I presume that tonearms that are sold separately, have all the instructions how to be installed in the correct position, is that right?

With tonearm manual and Dr.Feickert protractor you can measure all you need precisely. Find yourself a Dr.Feickert protractor (latest version) used and it will help you to align all cartridges, toneamrs on any turntables. 

direct driver platter motor, like a Denon or JVC for example, and separated tonearm.

I’m the owner of JVC Victor and Denon, if you need help with tonearm/cartridge or anything related to such system please ask in direct.

Thanks for the advices, I will research more about this subject.

I think it’d be EXTREMELY difficult to get any kind of results even approaching a good commercial TT. I would not attempt it. 

Hey guys, I was thinking more about this concept yesterday, maybe for a beginner, is better to start with something like this? or similar..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_NiU3nELpM

In order to learn how to install different tonearms, as the cabinet itself already have the module to take out and install other tonearms, and also different DD motors patters...

Instead of a project like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5jUsvCq-1E

Where I presume it is a much more complex to setup.

Makes sense? What do you think? Any info is very much appreciated in order to understand more about this concept.

Thanks to all, best regards.

There is no difference in set-up process as you will have to measure and drill a mounting hole for each tonearm individually and the size and Pivot to Spindle distance depends on the tonearm, for each tonearm it’s different. To measure Pivot to Spindle distance and to align your cartridge you need Dr.Feickert protractor. You need a blank arm boards (not already drilled for another tonearm or you will end up like this). If you will make a custom (blank) arm boards for original plinth they will be different color and veneer on the original plinth and on your custom arm board will never be the same. The Victor plinth is easy to made, look here.

I have both original Victor plinth, including the one designed for two tonearms, i prefer small one for one tonearm.

If you have a carpenter you can order something like Baltic birch plywood sandwich and for the best possible result you could use Pneumatic Insulators, here is mine.

That round plinth is just super ugly (on your linked page), you could make your own plinth in traditional size and shape. Denon original plinth are much better than original Victor plinth (i have both). For Denon you’d better buy original DK-300 plinth!

Here is mine.

Here is another example of custom made plinth for JVC Victor TT, but this can be too complicated for you.

Or you can use it without plinth, but with tonearm pod/base like this. This is same TT with a ring slate plinth, the owner is audiogon member.

*** My advice (and it’s simplest):

Buy Denon DP-80 drive in perfect condition, find yourself and original Denon DK-300 plinth, think about tonearm and cartridge budget then, and find yourself a nice vintage tonearm, for MM cartridges Denon DA-401 tonearm is absolutely amazing. This is complete setup (DP80, DK300. DA401) and if you will replace stock feet with AT616 Pneumatic insulators this will be superb setup.

If you need help with parts ask in direct.

P.S. And what you're asking for is not a custom made turntable. Back in the days it was normal to buy everything separately when it comes to high fidelity (drive, plinth, tonearm, cartridge). You can't make a turntable yourself, all you can make yourself is plinth, nothing else. 

Thank you so much for this infos, will take a look at the Dr.Feickert protractor, and try to learn how works, this is new for me, very interesting!

Many thanks.

 

This is the MANUAL, read how it works, pretty easy.
It’s made in Germany, the protractor is metal (very high quality)

Good luck 

millercarbon. When I saw cosmicjazz's post I was excited we would discuss a the design and construction of a high end custom TT. Your's is magnificent! I want to design and build a custom TT along the lines of a Micro Seiki 8000. Single tonearm. I can build the Plinth and Platter.  Should I start with the Drive and Power Supply? As I thought cosmicjazz was asking, where does one start with this? budget would be about $10,000.

I suggest that you visit a good retailer and listen to a few options at your price point, so that the retailer gets some idea about your tastes. Tell him about the rest of your system, so that he can advise you about how components should act together in a pleasing way. Then buy.

The dealer will assemble your TT. The dealer will adjust and align it. Ask to be allowed to watch the process. Start learning from a pro.

In addition to saving you a lot of time and frustration, a dealer can save you a lot of money. At least, if I had listened to mine, I would have. There are many technical issues which he understands pretty well, and from your posting I infer that you are still beginning. At this point, a pro can help you a lot.

I built my turntable from scratch. I designed all the parts except the motor, belt, and air bearing, specified and sourced materials, and hired shops which had specialized precision equipment. Even so, I still take advice from my dealer, who recommended my higher end Koetsu cartridge - which by the way, was a tremendous success.

Last, beware of cables - they make a difference, but until you are into this hobby for tens of thousands, they deliver smaller benefits for the cost. For now, buy the cheapest cables you can find. Then upgrade one cable at a time, and make sure that you get them 'on approval' so you can send them back if they don't make a sufficient improvement.

Good luck! It's a long journey (half a century for me), but a good one! Welcome to the club!

Thinman, you can build one heck of a turntable for $10,000, especially if you can do some of your own machining and electronics.

Motor and controller is an issue. Easiest, and arguably the best, is an AC synchronous motor with a solid state controller. I used a Premotec 9904 111 31813, which is specifically designed for high end belt turntables. But since it’s only 1.8W, you have to spin the platter up to speed by hand. Sounds weird - but if your motor has very little power, it has very little ability to vibrate the platter too. You can spend 50K on a TT with this design feature, the Nottingham Deco.

Lots of AC controllers available - I built mine from a schematic in one of the ’Art of Electronics’ books, Second Edition, maybe. A telescope controller. Didn't want one more R&D project at that point!

Good luck, man!

Thinman, you might also want to consider an air bearing. Once you have heard one, there's no going back!

I use a New Way thrust bushing for a very stiff air cushion in 3 dimensions. Virtually noiseless.

these guys have isolation feet for DIY projects, https://www.mnpctech.com/collections/turntable-lsolation-feet