2. analog
  3. 1342792708

DIY turntable plinth material

I have a spare VPI super platter/spindle, thinking of building a TT out of it.

I have some materials in mind

I have a spare BDR shelf that I can use, but its difficult to work with and will only consider if it offers significant performance upgrade.

I can have acrylic or MDF cut to any shape, both are easy to work with. I once had a 400lb granite but I can't possibly imagine using it due to the size and weight.

I assume a mixture of different materials should offer the best performance, wondering what do people use to build their TT?
semi

Showing 3 responses by bpoletti

bpoletti
1,561 posts
 
IMO, the better VPI platters seem to work very well with MDF. In particular, the Aries and Classics are great performers. That might be an easy and inexpensive place to start. It might also be a good idea to figure out a good set of feet or suspension. That will make a huge difference in performance.

Have you considered the armboard material and how to mount the armboard to the plinth (if that's your plan)?

From personal experience using a TNT1 platter / spindle / bearing and motor, a 1" acrylic plinth and 1/2" armboard bolted to the back right corner made for a good performer, but did leave room for improvement.

One issue that I ran into was that the original TNT bearing extended well-below the plinth top surface. Took a re-think of the feet.
bpoletti
1,561 posts
 
I'm not familiar with the bearing and spindle assy for the platter you're using. Make sure that there is adequate clearance between the top of the plinth and the bottom of the installed bearing to clear the shelf surface. Also suggest that the plinth should be at least 2 inches think. Laminating 3/4" MDF is rumored to work OK.
bpoletti
1,561 posts
 
I've been curious about Corian. Is it easily worked like wood or MDF? Looking for a possible alternative to the acrylic plinth I'm using now. How does it sound compared to the VPI plinths?
More to discover