[sl_1800]

I took on a project, over a year ago, to build my own turntable.  Well mostly all I built was the plinth, the rest was bought used or new.  My goal was to copy the look of a VPI Aries 3 using wood and paint.

The plinth is made from 3 layers of 1" MDF.  I textured it and painted the center silver, top and bottom are satin black.  The motor and cartridge are new and the rest I found used.  The motor is that of a VPI Aries 3 with stainless housing, the platter and bearing also from a Aries 3 and the tonearm is a Techno Arm from Michelle Engineering.

How does it sound?  Much better than the Sonographe that I had.  Is it as good as a VPI, I don't know, and doubt I will ever get the chance to compare them side by side.

[Guy 13]

Hi sl_1800 and all Audio Circle members.
Nice work !
What are my chances to see pictures of under the hood?
Did you use some kind of insulation or damping material underneat?
Do you mind telling us how much it cost you to build this beauty?
Where did you get the spindle weight, how much does it weight and how much did it cost and where did you get it ?
WOW ! That's lots of questions !
Guy 13

[neobop]

That's great! It doesn't really matter if it will take on a VPI. It must sound way better than what you had and it looks cool in the extreme.

What's the armboard made of, MDF?
The clamp and ring from TT Weights?

That stand is really nice looking too.
neo

[Ericus Rex]

Very nice!

[DaveyW]

Yes! Great Job - It certainly looks the part

[Minn Mark]

Very nice ! Yes, please, publish some photos of the underside, and a complete parts lists: where did the platter/bearing source from ?  Is there something between the layers of MDF?

Great work. Would like to have one of those myself.

M

[twitch54]

Imitation is the sincerest for of flatery ! ......nice job ! ....BTW, I own an Aries III

[Peter J]

Well done!  I'd certainly be interested in more details as to parts sourcing and build planning if you're of a mind.

Very cool!

[sl_1800]

Thanks for all the kind words, especially since one of you actually owns a Aries 3.  As far pics under the hood, there isn't any.  It's just 3 layers of 1" MDF, nothing between the layers except paint.  The middle layer is screwed to the top from underneath and the bottom is then screwed to the middle layer from underneath.  The arm board is made of solid wood, poplar, not mdf, and I have no real reason for doing this.  I looked up the dimensions of a Aries 3 on the VPI site and went from there.  The only things difficult was the center section and the arm board.  The center section is a small dimension all the way around by a 1/4", similar to the VPI.  The arm board took some work because of the VTA adjustment on the arm.  The thru hole had to be smaller diameter than the top part of the hole, really wasn't all that hard just had to think of what tools I had and what would get the job done.

The center weight and outer ring are from TTweights.com I really like both of them but do wish I had gone with their heavier models.  The center weight was around $50 and the outer ring was on a sale for $300 when I got it.

I got the platter and bearing used on Audiogon.com  They had been purchased by someone, new from VPI, with intent to build his own table but just never got around to it, $300.00.  I got the VPI feet also used, $20.00.  The Michelle Technoarm, once again used from Audiogon, only 1 year old for $600.00.  The motor and belt I bought new from VPI, $400.00.  The cartridge new, Ortifon 2M Blue, $200.00 from Needle Doctor.  Audioquest anti-static carbon fibre brush, $15.00 from Amazon.  Digital measuring scale for setting the tracking force, $10.00? from Harbor Freight.  The 1" MDF was some I have had laying around here for many many many years, someone gave it to me.  The primer, spray paint, sand paper, screws, and such was around $25.00.  The table is sitting on a 1" MDF shelf which is sitting on 8, 1.5" Sorbothane spheres, which I bought on Amazon for $32.00.  I have around 2G invested which is more than I thought it would cost but I like it so..........

The maple and cherry rack it is sitting on is also one of my recent builds, you can see more pics of it on the circle.  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=91924.40

[simoon]

Very nice job!

I do, however, believe there would be an audible improvement by putting a layer of Dynamat or similar product between the layers. My belief comes for experience in helping a friend build a very similar project a few years ago.

We finished building a 3 layer plinth (acrylic, wood, acrylic) and assembled the table to test it as proof of concept, verify measurements, build quality, etc.

After listening for a week or so, we then installed Dynamat between the layers and the difference was immediately noticeable. Better bass and quieter backgrounds were the most obvious.

Even though that wood plinth of yours is solid and thick, it can still store and release energy that can affect the sound.

Just my .02....

[sl_1800]

simoon, thanks for the advice, I will give that a try.

[simoon]

It's an inexpensive and easy mod that you should find worth the effort.

Here are a few interesting eBay items that you or other DIY'rs may find interesting.

This is a pretty nice looking VTA adjustable arm mount -

http://cgi.ebay.com/VTA-Precision-adjustable-arm-board-/180636374460?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0ec455bc

Here is a solid looking 2 3/4 inch platter -

http://cgi.ebay.com/Advanced-Acrylic-Turntables-/180627929333?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0e4378f5

Here's a 5 3/4 pound edge of platter weight -

http://cgi.ebay.com/LP-edge-town-LP-Player-/170539919993?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b4f8aa79