Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Hi Halco,

My primary TT is the Scheu Premier with Verus Rim Drive and Talea II tonearm sitting on a Minus K.  I also have a Technics SP-10 Mk2a in a DIY plinth and EPA-100 arm.  I will audition the TT-101 with a SAEC WE-506-30 arm.  Eventually, all three tonearms will be heard with the TT-101. My end goal is to have multiple tonearms on one TT.  

 I have put the JVC TT-101 through its paces and verified everything works as it should. The KAB Speedstrobe confirms its speed stability as well.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the JVC wood plinth and its short comings.

You will agree I have a tedious task ahead of me to determine if the TT-101 truly merits a place on the Minus K.

An impressive list of tables and arms Norm.....
No shabby equipment there..😎👍
Will be interesting to hear your impressions once your Victor is making music.....
The Minus K is a good platform for any deck and will allow the TT-101 to shine.

To all Victor TT-101 owners:

I’m hearing a “hum” when I press my ear up to the platter mat. Sounds like a transformer hum.  Doubt very much this is normal. Would other JVC DD table owners please chime in and comment on this?

All the electronics are original. Will replacing the caps in the PS board eliminate this hum? Or is it something more seriously wrong? Like a bad/noisy transformer? The wall voltage measures between 102-103VAC.

Plans to replace all the electrolytic caps are in the works.

I’ve also noticed on several occasions the speed briefly jumps from “33.33” to “33.32 or 33.34” during lp playing. Is this normal? Playing one side of an lp, this may occur once or twice, or no at all.  

Halcro, is this what you mean by “Are we living Dangerously”?

Hi Norm,

Neither is normal.  The hum could be high load on the PT due to bad filter caps in the PSU.  The speed issue may be a consequence, or there could be other causes. 

A recap isn't a fix-all though - it will need calibration afterwards, and that's a smidge tricky on these. 

Halcro, is this what you mean by “Are we living Dangerously”?

Kinda....😩
The TT-101 is just more complex electronically than any other deck I know of.
I've never heard a 'hum' with mine however.
Apart from replacing the electrolytic capacitors....the most critical thing I found with my TT-101 are all the 35 year-old solder joints. There can be micro cracks which are invisible to the naked eye.
The best 'fix' is to flush them all out and re-do the lot.
The most critical ones (especially if the speed indicator changes)  are the joints under the control panel.
I would strongly recommend that you send your deck to jpjones (if he is willing) who is somewhat of a 'guru' electronically and was able to fix Lewm's intransigent Victor where others had failed.

Once fixed....I believe you can look forward to years of NOT living dangerously..👀
Good luck...