I own an early 80s era Empire 698. Quality to the core with touch sensitive lift. I am running a Sonus Blue Label calibrated and the pair make for flawless audio repro. I got one of the last and best. CDs and CD players made their entry shortly after. Watch the news, vinyl is making a comback!
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Seals, The later (and better) model Studios and Studiettos, use a JVC PLL quartz-controlled motor. The other makes that T_bone mentions are every bit as good as the Goldmunds. I bought my Studietto (20 yrs. ago!) because I like Swiss industrial design better than Japanese industrial design; the Goldmund performed well, but not as well as some of the Japanese DD's (like the big Denons) until I replaced the spring suspension with sorbothane. Now its performance is truly sensational! |
I have the Micro Seiki DQX 1000. It sound excellent to me but in respect of what TWL said above - yes there are those although very small waves visible in the spindle rotation. But I don't know what had happened as I had bought it second hand. If it had been shipped or just carried with the platter left on that might had caused it. It could be that there was no accident. Anyway want to install a new motor . If anybody can provide information that would be much appreciated. Thank you |
...above I miss the Kenwood KD-750. To me one of the best, even with the standard tone arm and e.g. and AT-OC 9. I compared it to quite a number of top DD turntables by Nakamichi, Denon, Technics a.s.o., as well as to top range BD tables by Transrotor and Clearaudio. Some of them in one or another aspect better, but still, the best overall performance was provided by the KD-750, even if it was a real bargain compared to the others mentioned. Just good engineering. I also own a Micro DDX1000 with SME3012, a little more difficult in handling / adjusting, but quite rewarding. My Belt drive Acoustic Solid Small Machine, surely a good table for the money, can't really compete. Neither could my ex-players Thorens 520 and LP12. I don't miss them. |
The question of how belt-drives sounded compared to direct-drives back in the day was asked. There was a discontinuity to the sound of the direct-drives, while the belt-drives ebbed and flowed like real music. The music on direct-drives seemed cut up and had the same sound-no matter what music was playing. I clearly heard this same sound on some higher-end Denons and that Nakamichi 1000(the one that centered the disc.). It was generally assumed that because the motor was directly coupled to the spindle, that there was no way around this problem with direct-drives. Now, since that time, I have become aware of the ability to hear what people are saying about something, and, yet, to listen beyond that(like cd). I still have no desire to own a direct-drive turntable, but maybe understand why the sound might not bother people. I do agree, though, that cd was considered better sound than most turntables in use at the time of its introduction. BTW, the original Walker tt was a cheap turntable when it was introduced. |
First, I wanted to let everybody know (if you don't already) that the wonderful site "Welcome at Direct Drive" is accessable again through a new link, which is: http://www.oocities.org/de/bc1a69/index_eng.html I wanted to expand a bit on Mmakshak's remarks, because they hint at something that seems to be a recurring event in the world of audio: namely that changes in the market often cause the curtailment in developing certain kinds of equipment/technologies that wind up on the back burner, sometimes for years! One such is the direct drive turntable. The belt drive took over the market because the inexpensive-to-produce version of the belt drive TT, like the original AR for example, sounded way better than the inexpensive-to-produce version of anything else. And both DD and idler drive TT's suffered from this situation -- with consumer DD's in particular getting a reputation for lousy performance -- which they deserved ;--) This is not to say that you couldn't find excellent DD's at the time, particularly from Japan, but none of them were what I would call 'consumer' products, and the companies that made them, particularly the Japanese, made a whole range of other products, and so eventually stopped developing DD's because the market wouldn't support entry-level (i.e., profitable) models. That's just the nature of free-market capitalism. But a whole generation of audio hobbyists were never exposed to DD's for that reason, and what they did hear, is that they sucked! Never mind that records themselves continued to be mastered on DD cutting lathes, hmmm . . . . As a general rule in mechanical engineering design, 'simple is better' IF one can pull it off in the actual product! With renewed interest in vinyl comes a renewed interest in TT's; and as always, new offerings start with the "Neiman-Marcus" models. But with today's advances in materials, electronic control, and manufacturing techniques, it won't be long before a $500 DD turntable hits the market that will provide the obvious benefits of this elegant solution to record spinning. My 2 cents. . |
"Never mind that records themselves continued to be mastered on DD cutting lathes, hmmm...." WHAT?? You mean to say that they are cutting all those lousy vibrations right into the records??? Surely you jest, they MUST be using belt-driven lathes since these units are so vastly superior, as proven above.... |
Reviving this old thread. I am looking for a direct drive turntable for my system. I already have a TJN Reference Lenco. The DD will be to add some variety. Morever I want to test the potential of a good DD. Between a Technics SP-10 MK2 with Obsidian plinth and Yamaha GT-2000X, which one is better (purely going by sonics) ? |
GrooveMaster Vintage Direct The Technics SP10 MK2 is an excellent table as well, the MK3 is even better, however most of the ones offered on eBay for an example are in need of an overhaul, which is certainly doable. Have just finished with a MK2, yet to design /build the plinth and so far I'm very impressed with the machine. Bought a Yamaha PX3 a while back to explore the possibilities - but passed on that one - simply too flimsy a drive mechanism. Do not have any experience with the GT-2000X. Best of Luck Peter |
Hi Peter, Your designs are interesting. In the world of direct drives there are few of these usual suspects which include the SP10, DP80, Yamaha GT-2000x, Kenwood L-07d and JVC TT101 to name a few. Since you have been working on DD models, whats your take ? Are any of these models equally good ? Should I be looking for any particular model, e.g SP-10 MK3 if I want top shelf performance ? Finally do you work on restoring any good DDs or are you dedicated to the Denon camp? :-) |
Pani I chose the Denon's, firstly because they are excellent machines and secondly because they are plentiful, theres literarily thousands of them available, and since I do this for a living (making audio equipment) I have to have a supply. Most I get from Japan, I have a scout there helping me secure them. Once they get here they are completely disassembled, all the capacitors replaced and most of the semi conductors as well. Then installed int the wooden plinths, which we make in house, with a completely new power supply etc. Readjusted and calibrated ready for another 40 years of service :-), I only have experience with Denons, and I only do the 3000, 2000, 6000 and 80 as they have "real" motors. I have a few DP75's also, which is a lot like the 80 but with a smaller motor As mention above I just redid a Technics SP10MK2, still need to figure out how to do a good looking plinth for it, which is a lot harder to do because of the plugged together circuit cards that take up almost all the space in the square metal chassis they are built on, also the mechanical brake is an obstacle to "loosing " the metal chassis (The Denon's, 2000, 6000 and 80 have electrical brakes BTW). This is probably the reason that most of the reissue Technics plinths are rectangular, which in my mind is way too "ordinary" I do think the Technics SP10MK2 is a wonderful machine, I'm certain that the MK3 is even better. I redid a Micro Seiki DDX1500 a while back as well that turned out nicely as well, however the drive system, in my opinion, is not on par with the above Denon's or the Technics SP10 MK2, 3 I would state that all the ones you mention are probably equally good at maintaining correct speed if updated and adjusted properly, but there's a lot more to than that to making the "sound" of a turntable, plinth material, platter, record mat etc. Choose just one, thats difficult, my own super biased opinion : a GrooveMaster Vintage Direct DP6 or DP8 :-) with a Graham Phantom, SME 4 or 5, or a Kuzma 4Point (Currently building DP6, with a 4Point for the Ralston Listening Library at the University of the South in Seawanee TN), the choices are endless. Good Listening Peter |
First, I want to update the link I posted in my 12-14-05 entry (scroll up) for the famous Direct Drive site. That (old) link is dead, but all is not lost! (it is now archived.) I think I'm going to save the whole site to my hard drive, just in case ;~) The current link is Welcome to Direct Drive I'm not going to repeat my enthusiasm for the sorbothane-modified Goldmund Studietto. I have two of them now (the second one brand new). I was going to fit the second one with a linear tracking arm (not a Goldmund) but I'm too old now, and the only acceptable arm (AirTangent) is now way out of my price range, so I'll probably list it soon. If anyone has questions about my passion for the Goldmund DD tables, I'll be more than happy to offer my reasons/opinions ;~) Yes, there are other DD tables I respect (the Nakamichi self-centering Dragon, for instance, or that multi-million dollar TT that Michael Fremer has) but for sheer overall performance combined with decades of consistent and trouble-free ease of use, nothing has given me the satisfaction of my Studietto (which I bought new with an SME V arm in 1990!) People have asked me why I never coveted the (very expensive) Goldmund Reference turntable? Well, because it's a belt drive! ;~)) . |
salamon67 I really like my Teac TN-400 with SME/Oracle 345 arm and custom cabinet. |
Hi, i agree with enjoy_the_music but i would include to the list: Goldmund ST4 Sony TTS-8000 Onkyo PX-100M 1. Denon DN-308 2. Denon DP100 and Technics SP-10mk3 3. Pioneer Exlcusive P3 4. Nak T-1000 (when its working properly) 5. Sony PSX9 6. Yamaha GT-2000X 7. Micro Seiki DDX1500 and Pioneer P10 |
Best DD for the money, Denon DP 790. Base can be tamed with soft rubber feet and with a good arm it is such a great value. I also love the Technics SL 110 (1100) replace the plastic thing at the bottom of the bearing spindle with a piece of soft teflon sheet. Like the big JVCs/Victors - QL 5 to the 101 and all between. I used the Micro DD1000 years ago and it was great (what a platter). BUT I still love my Lenco with the real suspension on the metal plinth. |
