Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Halcro,
I told you where I read that stuff and asked if it was correct. You don't seem too sure about all the additional complexity you talked about. It's all from the speed control adjustments and breaking?

As far as platter weight you said, "This is a subjective view and IMO has become an oft-repeated audio myth...
It implies that turntables like Rega and Project cannot have "solidity"to their sound....
I have found that to be too much of a generalisation."

You're arguing against an implied generalization?
First of all I never made that generalization.
Secondly, I still believe that "audio myth" has some merit.
You make a good case for speed stability and I'm not disputing that, but it's not the only parameter IMO.

Now I'm playing devil's advocate against vintage tables?
Of all the millions of DD tables sold back in the day, I wonder how many have burned out motors or discarded for a broken part or lack of a good tech.
All I own are vintage tables, but for some people new is easier, especially with dealer support. Maybe VPI has gone rogue, but most companies support past product.

Hi Thekong,
I don't know how many Sirius IIIs were made nor how many are still in operation......but it was more than 10 years ago that I was able to listen at length to one in my friend Richard's system.
That was before the Timeline or the Feickert Speed App...👀
What I remember clearly to this day, is the shock of hearing familiar records reproduced with a clarity, brilliance and definition from the mids to the ultra-highs I was unused to.
The lack of mid-bass to lower-bass definition and power I wrongly or rightly lay at the feet of the tangential tracking arm......
With my Victors....especially since the granite cradle....that clarity, brilliance and definition are now familiar residents chez moi 😋 albeit without the forward emphasis of the Rockport (probably due to the balance of the complete bass presentation with the Victors)...?
Richard has had a Caliburn for the last nine years so opportunities to test the Sirius III have deserted me. It would indeed be interesting to see how she tests against the best vintage Japanese gear..?
Regards

Fleib,

I do hope what ever is wrong with your UA-7045 is something that can be easily fixed. That is the tone arm I currently have mounted on my TT-81. You will be quite impressed with it if becomes fully operational.
In regards to the arm board on my Aries. It currently has the Graham arm board which I bought from Bob Graham to use with his 2.2 arm. I do have the original arm board that came with the Aries. It has been drilled for the Graham but I have not checked it to see if I could possible re-drill it to make it usable for the Lustre.
In all honesty, I have never had any problem with getting anything from VPI before. But they did sell a lot of these so I suspect they just sold all their back stock. I was quite surprised at their reply. It is after all nothing but a acrylic hockey puck!
Bob Graham has done the same thing with his arm wands for the 1.5, 2.0 and the 2.2. Due to certain production parts being unobtainable, you can not buy additional arm wands. He will do limited repair based upon parts available. This arm is not that old! I know our world has become a throw-away society, but come on!
Regards,

Fleib,
Just a thought I had......
How does the cartridge know the mass of the platter....❓👀
Regards

Hi Halco,

I was also blown away the first time I auditioned the Sirius III at the dealer over 10 years ago! However, I didn't notice any lack of mid-bass to lower-bass definition and power, maybe due to the different setup. Not sure about the air-supply in the Sirius III, but the stock air-supply for my Rockport 6000 arm is certainly inadequate, and major improvement can be had with a Jun Air compressor with integral surge tanks and multilevel of air regulations. With this upgrade, I don't feel the tangential arm is lacking in bass definition and power. If pressed, I may admit that the bass quantity maybe so very slightly less than arms like the FR64S, but the soundstage depth and width is something to die for.

But then, I must agree the performance of these flagship vintage DD turntables are shocking. It would be interesting if a direct comparison with the Sirius III could be arranged!

I have just managed to get hold of a Technics SP10MK3 from Japan, so will have some fun setting it up in coming weeks!

Cheers