HEAVY Platters. Metal or Plastic? Your personal Experiences

Fortunately for myself, I have owned and do own TT's without any concerns for their Bearing, these mainly being Idler Drive.

The Vintage Japanese TT's took my interest by complete surprise, and I have not looked back.

The SP10 MkII was the first to get the complete overhaul by a friend who specialises with these, I know a substantial outlay is required to find a TT that betters the work that is done as part of the full overhaul on the SP10's Electronics and Mechanics.

It really is each to their own on such matters, I took to the concept many many years past, and have stayed close to the work being done by others.

The idea of 'off the shelf' seems like a compromise, being reliant on another's limited knowledge or Budget Constraints. There are those who do promote products with methods that appeal, but these also come on a TT with a very large purchase figure attached. I am without any doubt, that I am more than capable of having a equivalent or better produced at a much more affordable cost, most importantly, produced by individuals that are trusted as friends and for their skill sets.

It was the work done by Martin Bastin in the Late 1990's on a Garrard 401 that  introduced me to the real time benefits of having a little extra thought put into a Bearing Design.

When I parted with the 401 and brought in a PTP Solid 9, I had a Brand New Bearing Design used on this TT, that was a modern design concept when compared to the original. I am sure there are original Bearings in use today using the same design ideas, and are much the better in their function for it.

I am sort of a loner, with my attitude to a Turntables Bearing Design and thoughts on how to improve on very obvious Deficiencies. It is a road less travelled.

I have learnt more on this subject over time, through experiencing the work of the few that I know personally that do care for this area and are active in carrying out modifications.

When a Stylus is encountering a Bearing Design in use on a TT, that is specifically thought out for working for the benefit of the Stylus Interface with the LP, and not just as the usual passive ancillary to aid a rotation during the TT's operation.

There is a notable difference perceived, one that is not easy to describe, as the effect is not commonly encountered, which makes it difficult to select a description, the impression made is almost like a good effect emotion, the impact is felt and the attraction felt is indelible.

I have experienced this first hand on Idler Drives across the past few years, and the SP10 was even more impressive. I own but do not consider the Idler Drive the go to TT any more. 

Hence, the interest in Vintage Japanese and the collection of Japanese Vintage DD TT's that are to undergo a rethink for the assemblies in the Bearing Housings.

The last modern design TT, I have seen that has a bearing design that had got me wanting to receive a demonstration of it, has been a Kuzma Model, it has materials in use I am interested in, and has a variation in the method of assembly, which I have been intrigued by, but this would be a Belt Drive, and I really do not see myself going back to this as a Drive design.   

I have a DP-80 with a Platter that has a Gun Metal Platter in place of the original, but I am not able to inform you how that presents in comparison to a Standard Design Platter, I can do this, but have not taken the time to do so.

I also have a Gun Metal Platter Mat and a Duraluminium Technihard Platter Mat that both add weight and am very impressed with these as Mats. These obviously add a noticeably increased weight to a Platter.

I am most settled with a LP replay on my system, in my listening environment, when the LP is on a Metal Mat and has a 1.4Kg Spindle Weight upon it.  

I have still got interest for other TT's the DP-80 Gun Metal Platter can be modified for furthering trials and it will be usable on a SP10 MkII. I also have a CAD Drawing to produce a replacement SP10 MkII Platter in a Metal such as SS or Gun Metal, it could even be Acetal. The replacement Platter idea is on hold at present as there are positive reports of producers of such alternative Platters, that make it known a Acetal Disc mechanically fastened to the OEM Platter has produced very similar results and is a very cost effective method to attain improvement.

I now own Three Spare OEM Platters to carry out Trials with. One will also have a Densified Wood used as the mechanically fastened Disc.

My encouraging work to be done with Platters, has prompted a friend to learn how to produce a Kaneta Design SP10 MkII, and then will produce a bespoke Platter design out of Acetal . As the concept it is looking likely to also incorporate a designed in peripheral ring, to clamp down the LP and be used to balance the Platter.

You are not alone in the idea of trying different types of Platter. 🖖

Using a heavy platter does not concern myself, I have seen New POM Thrust Pads used on a Lenco Bearing, the Thrust Pads were run for an extensive run time for both a Stacked Platter and Single Platter.

The wear on the Thrust Pads was looking almost identical and definitely not in a condition to cause a concern. A PEEK Thrust Pad is even more wear resistant and would offer a longer service life, but as many Vintage TT owners today are happy to go into a Bearing Housing to carry out a basic service, swapping out Thrust Pads is seen to happen quite commonly.  

There 'is/has' been a trend to exchange OEM Platters for Heavy Gun Metal Platters on certain Brands/Models of Vintage Japanese Design TT's.

My experiences has shown there is always a concern for the state of the Bearing on these older TT's, especially the models that have unknown histories of usage and never had the Bearing Housing undergo any form of a inspection of the internals. The idea a Sintered Bronze Bush is able to keep the TT Bearing in a acceptable condition to perform after 30-40 Years, is in my view best left for the Flat Earth Types.

I have seen scribed Steel Balls at the Thrust Pad Interface, and wear on Bush Liners that have been allowing the Spindle to lean when in rotation, the eccentric rotation is not wanted, I have witnessed Spindles that are able to make a Tapping Noise when light finger pressure is exerted onto it. There are even reports of the condition of the Bearing Housing having abraded the Spindle. 

Considering adding a increased weight platter for many Vintage Designs is happening frequently and does have its followers.

I have the Heavy Platter option on the DP-80 and am content with the idea of using similar methods on other owned TT's, I am not too keen to use the TT's in any guise until I am able to carry out measures to improve on the conditions within the Bearing Housing. To date this allows for the use of the SP10 MkII with a overhauled Bearing Assembly and soon the latest TT to receive a bearing upgrade is on the Sony TTS 8000 will be ready in June if there are no unforeseen events to cause delay .