emt 950, technics sp10 - direct drive sound

@lohanimal I have been instrumental in having a rethink attended to for the TTS 8000 Spindle Bearing Bushes.

I have donated a TTS 8000 to support the investigations undertaken and enable dimensions to be taken for New Bush Sleeves to be used within the Bearing Housing.

These New Parts are made from Torlon.

A New Sump Plug is also produced for the Base of the Housing/Pressed Metal Bowl, that has a machining that enables a selection of Thrust Pads to be used, in my case Torlon again.

Another TTS 8000 Owner who has adopted these same methods, as well as extend on them, has also discovered a simple method to retain lubricant in the Pressed Metal Bowl. This has been in constant use with an oil lubricant since the method was discovered with no leaching of a thin lubricant occurring.

I have a selection of Bushes at hand, produced to suit one of my owned TTS 800's Bearing Housing Inner Wall and Spindle Diameters.

The Bushes when seated in the housing will require a Final Hand Ream with a Reamer Tool. 

If you would like to try this out let me know, I have a demonstration Instructional on fitting the Bushes from the Engineer who produced the Bushes, this can be sent to your email.

If satisfied with the info' on fitting and the interest still remains, I can send on a few Bushes to yourself.

What has been learnt through individual taking on this modification, is that in one case the Interference Fit Ball at the base of the Spindle had been discovered with a noticeable scribing to the surface. It is a reasonable easy fix and is worth checking for when the part is in hand. I have seen this condition reported on over the years on bearings being serviced on Long-Term usage TT's, it is aways worth a check, or request for a check, when a Bearing is being stripped down.    

I use EMT948 which has the same built in phonosatge.

The internal phonostage is guts OK. It sound very neutral but rough and flat. Any decent external phonostage will be better. EMT DD turntable have much more potential that their built in phonostages.  

I use the EMT 929 tonearm and TSD15 SFL and SPH carriages. I don't have experience with adapting not EMT tonearms.  

Regards,

Alex.

@pindac 

I need to check out how this is all done. How do you press the bearing - is it a high pressure fit?

Have you done before and after Sn measurements? I recall having a very good conversation with the late great Max Townshend last year about bearings and he said that people wrongly get fixated with the hardness of bearings - that's why, when signals excite them (as per a record player) they can/do cause high frequency sibilance. As such tungsten carbide and steel balls can/do sound better than ceramic balls.

@alexberger thanks - you are yet another person to say the original phono stage is a bit meh. I have two very good phono stages - as such i think i will get the plug option. No doubt the engineer will say it's heresy but there again EMT themselves make a very high end phono stage.

@lohanimal I can assure you all evaluations reporting on improvements to be had, are subjective only, but in some cases on other Vintage TT Models.

I know individuals who have used a Stethoscope to compare the noise levels between Delrin Bushes and Delrin Thrust Pad, used in place of a Sintered Bronze Bush and Original Thrust Pad.

From discussions with others who have thought through the redesign of the inner of the Spindle Bearing Housing, I have been informed that if an Hydrodynamic Condition is present within the Housing the noise levels produced, will be different to separate, between most materials that are selected. I have even been informed of info' that has shown this from the Heyday of TT Production.   

The goal is to maintain the Hydrodynamic condition, which in many designs is not achievable, hence the Thermoplastics machined to a much-improved tolerance than an off the shelf Metal Bush Part, is an improved interface when Hydrodynamic Conditions are not able to be maintained.

Pindac, can you define “hydrodynamic conditions”, as you use the term? Are you referring to maintenance of a thin layer of lubricant between spindle and bushing or ball? Thanks.