[BPoletti]

Greetings,

At the urging of Sturgis, I'm posting a link to a VinylEngine thread describing a DIY table project I'm working on.

A little local background....

Around 8 years ago, I was given a TNT platter and bearing / spindle, and purchased a VPI TNT SAMA with the intention of building a DIY TNT.  For several reasons the project was back-burnered.  Since that time, I've retired and with some health changes have resumed the project.  The thread describes that last couple of weeks of work. 

Many thanks to Sam Kennard (of Vibrapod fame) without whom this project would have never started.

The thread....

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=30168

[BPoletti]

Please feel free to comment or make suggestions.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

 

[BPoletti]

Update posted on VinylEngine.

Next update after this one will contain pictures of the bearing / spindle in place, the platter mounted, maybe the position of the motor drive.  Armboard will be drilled but not finished and probably not mounted.

[pumpkinman]

I only wish I had the guts

[bpape]

Zactly.  TT's are SO sensitive to any kind of trivial, minor changes that I'd never attempt to do one.  All the power to you. We wanna see pics though (and eventually hear it!) 

Bryan

[BPoletti]

You're right.  Minor changes to a tt can change its sound. 

A significant amount of thought and research went into the selection of material and design of this table.  I chose baltic birch over other materials because its characteristics are between MDF (most VPI tables including Aires) and acrylic (VPI TNT from which the bearing / spindle and platter came.  I'm adding 2 lead blocks (@25 pounds) tightly coupled to the bottom of the plinth in such a way that they are hanging suspended from the plinth rather than resting on top of another layer (better damping).  Total weight of the plinth plus platter will be about 85 pounds not including arm or armboard.  Motor is not included as it will be on a separate isolated sub-chassis.

The resulting plinth will be significantly more massive and dead than any of the VPIs, the drive will be more isolated from the table (longer belts, separate subchassis).  I like the early TNT platter (same as the HW-19mMk IV platter) MUCH MORE than any of the other VPI platters. 

Pics of the project from the start through current are on VinylEngine:

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=30168

I've got my fingers crossed, but I'm confident it will end up better than the HW-19 III which is itself very good.  If everything else is equal, the Micro Seiki MA-505 and Clavis da Capo for the new tt will perform better than the arm / cart on the -19.

[BPoletti]

Updates posted today.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=30168

[BPoletti]

When I get the turntable finished and "roughed in" for set-up, I would like a pair or two of highly educated ears to help me tweak the final cartridge set-up (VTA, VTF).  Any volunteers?  (Caution: This might be considered work so there may be an exchange of alcohol involved.)  This may also require a comparison to my existing table set-up, a write up of the results and report of the general opinion of the table. 

I expect the table to be ready by the weekend of 25 - 26 September.

[BPoletti]

Project table completed.  Updates posted.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=30168

I have the cartridge set-up fairly close, but it needs a little more time to complete its 2nd break-in.  The VTA and VTF are pretty close, but not dead on yet.  There's time.

More later as I start real critical listening.  From what I've heard so far, it's pretty good.  It leaves the HW-19 in the dust.  (It should.  Every component is better.)