Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?


I have just acquired a 32 year old JVC/Victor TT-101 DD turntable after having its lesser brother, the TT-81 for the last year.
TT-101
This is one of the great DD designs made at a time when the giant Japanese electronics companies like Technics, Denon, JVC/Victor and Pioneer could pour millions of dollars into 'flagship' models to 'enhance' their lower range models which often sold in the millions.
Because of their complexity however.......if they malfunction.....parts are 'unobtanium'....and they often cannot be repaired.
128x128halcro
"As I already stated my hope was based on Lew because he seems to like to mess with all kinds of TT's in his garage(?)."

He sounds like my kind of guy! :)

The inquisitive mind is a wonderful thing.

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I just purchased a Micro Seiki Cu180 platter mat for my TT-101 which sounds wonderful.
Cu180
As it weighs 1.8Kg however.....and the Victor 101 motor is not as high torque as the SP10/II or III.....I'm a little worried as to possible damage to the motor and/or bearing?
The motor of the 101 has a 'brake' stop function which stops the platter beautifully and almost instantly when it has its standard rubber mat plus record.
However it is not a 'dead-stop' as I believe the SP10 has and now with the added weight of the Cu180.....the platter continues to spin after the stop button is pressed.
Could this potentially harm the motor?
Halcro,it is a great question -I also wonder about this. I used a heavy 5Kg Audiolife platter on my SP-10 for 6 months and guess what, it started to go wobbly and not hold a constant speed - it is now at my tech being repaired. I suspect the bearing will survive, but I am also interested to hear from others on the motor concern. I have used my SAEC mat on my 101 for well over a year with no issues, although like you observed the stop is not quite as crisp as with the stock rubber mat. BTW,the SAEC mat is superior to the CU-180 on my 101 and Lenco, whereas the CU-180 is better on my Micro SX8000 and L0-7D.
Halcro, Radicalsteve, in place of these heavy platter mats, why not consider trying a delrin mat. I believe Applied Fidelity has it for sale. If not satisfied with the sonics of the mat, send me a pm then I will discuss a diy one that you will be happy with.
What is the theory of a heavy copper mat? I can see adding to the flywheel effect, but that isn't how most dd turntables including the 101 work. I can see it as a EMI shield, but the TI material is probably better as it was designed for that purpose and it weighs relatively little. There has tone better mats for draining record vibrations (I like the achromat) and sorbothane is probably better at damping a ringing platter. So, what is it?