Has anyone here restored a Sony TTS 8000 platter or a similar strobed platter

Unless the TTS-8000 just needs light cosmetic work it's just not worth the effort of a full restoration.  They were an early effort by Sony to try and capture the low-end of the professional market.  Most were sold to consumers.

I have restored 3-4 of these for customers over the years and IMO they're just not that great.  Looks - good.  Build quality - OK.  Ease of finding replacement parts - poor.  Sound quality, once restored - OK but not great.

Unless you are in love with this model I would look for something else as a restoration project: TD-124, 301/401, Lenco, Rek-O-Kut or EMT.  All of these will provide a better final result and reward for your efforts.

parrotbee, I just never felt that this deck was worth the (any) amount of effort required to get it into operational and salable condition.  YMMV

clearly you have not heard one well enough set up as they can beat so many TT's around, vintage or modern

Sorry, gotta respectfully disagree.  I've restored several (4?) of these over the years and heard others, restored and original.  Just doesn't float my boat.  But I'm happy you like yours.

My spidey sense smells a trap but here goes:

It's not that I think the TTS8000 is a bad turntable, just that it's not a great turntable IMO and is not worth a lot of time or effort to restore; not from a monetary (resale) perspective anyway and I just don't think it's a great sounding deck.  My ears, yours may be different.  I won't go into a litany of what I think is "wrong" with the TTS8000.  If you really want my opinion please send me a PM.

If I were going to spend the time and money to restore a vintage deck my No. 1 choice would be a TD124, preferably a MkI.  It's built like a Swiss battleship* and sounds great.  Parts are readily available and there are a myriad of upgrade and customization options.  I would lump in the TD121 as well.  Single speed, simpler design and still sounds great if adjusted properly.

No 2 choice would be a good Garrard 301 or (preferably) a 401.  Also great, bulletproof designs that support a wide array of tonearm/cartridge combinations.

No. 3 would probably be a Luxman DD turntable p PD 121/131, better a PD 441 or best a PD 444.  Absolutely phenomenal decks that are easy to restore (assuming that you don't need unobtanium parts) and sound great.  Completely different that the Luxmans but still great.  Any of these will paired with a restored Micro Seiki MA-505 tonearm and paired with a great medium compliance MC cartridge will beat many much more expensive decks.

There are lots of others: Lenco, Empire (very vintage sound but still great), EMT, some of the Rek-O-Kut models.  These are mainly less desirable as restoration candidates because of limited parts availability.

Right now anything vintage is hot and considered great.  You seldom saw a used TTS8000 for sale until just a few years ago.  Because they were rare?  No, because no one wanted them.  Now anything made in the "golden age" is a classic.  Well, there are great classics, good classics, and a lot of less then good.  You can decide for yourself where the TTS8000 fits
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