View Full Version : EMT Audio "porn"
35 pages of EMT audio "porn":
http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=7793.0
Some may recognise one of the photos on p.33.
Marco, you may need calming down after looking at some of the pics! :eyebrows:
Oooh... I'll have a good read at that later! :)
Marco.
pure sound
03-12-2012, 19:18
I was listening to one of these two restored 927's last weekend at the Euro Triode Festival in Berlin. The owner was playing a fabulous array of 50's jazz & rock n roll from both 78's and LPs. Very impressive.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010148.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010147.jpg
It wasn't the only nice idler drive there though.
I also liked this Australian Orpheus Silex the first belt/idler. TheThorens 124 came later.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010142.jpg
The mighty Commonwealth also from Oz here with the Latvian Reed tonearm.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010177.jpg
and 3 that Frank Schroeder brought along.
Perpetuum (another belt/idler)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010156.jpg
A very rare Woollett Audio made in London at the end of the 50's.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010157.jpg
and my favourite although not playing here, a Neumann.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/P1010158.jpg
The Neumann looked like nothing special from the outside. It was only when the platter was removed (and its 16mm dia bearing shaft) that you saw the heavyweight castings within and the wide belt drive delivering power to two differing sized idler wheels (for 33/45). This belt drive also incorporated a mechanism similar to a tape tensioner. Not many items of HiFi inspire want these days but the Neumann did. These really are hen's teeth though.
Rare Bird
03-12-2012, 22:11
yum yum yummy yum yum
That's interesting Guy.
They say "size isn't everything", but the platter bearing shaft of the Neumann deck, at 16mm diameter, is larger than that of the Thorens 124/II (14mm) and of the EMT 930 (15mm). However, I believe the platter shaft on the Empire 'Troubador' turntable was larger still!
Interesting that the Orpheus Silex (a name I had not heard of) were using a combined belt/idler drive before Thorens. But then again Thorens and Garrard had 'direct drive' decks long before Technics et al.
And the Neumann deck used separate idlers for each speed. Fascinating.
Thanks for posting. :)
Regards
pure sound
03-12-2012, 23:49
The Woollett is a rim drive I hadn't heard of before, made in the late 50's by LG Woollett in London. I get the impression these are pretty rare. I'm told they were last listed in the 1960 Hi Fi Yearbook, priced at £17 17s, almost as much as a Garrard 301 with strobe platter (£18 1s) but with more speed adjustment (+/- 8%).
walpurgis
03-12-2012, 23:52
MMMM, some nice old goodies there!
35 pages of EMT audio "porn":
http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=7793.0
Some may recognise one of the photos on p.33.
Marco, you may need calming down after looking at some of the pics! :eyebrows:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m262/mumblescuddles/impulse.jpg
Never mind the EMT look at all the Impulse records ;)
Patrick Dixon
04-12-2012, 19:50
Some may recognise one of the photos on p.33.
One of the photos on page 3 (next to the Rega) is one of mine of my 927.
ive just gone thru that whole thread in one go....oh boy! its quite simply amazing
my gob is well and truly smacked :lol:
One of the photos on page 3 (next to the Rega) is one of mine of my 927.
Can't see it on page 3. :scratch:
pure sound
07-12-2012, 15:00
I'm guessing this one.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i318/murrayjohnson/EMT927platter.jpg
Patrick Dixon
07-12-2012, 19:34
That's the one Guy. The gentleman I got mine from had three - one was slightly less complete than the other two and they had all come from Granada TV. I do have a stand but it's not quite as good looking as the fabulous 'DJ' one in that thread. My 927 is similar to the mono one in the thread, I got J7 to re-wire the arm for stereo but it only has the mono 139 phono-preamp in the chassis.
I must sort out some proper cartridges for it sometime, I'm currently using a DL103 with which I'm not knocked-out, but I also have a couple of Ortofon mono tondose which need re-building.
pure sound
08-12-2012, 10:37
Too early to say how its presentation differs from the 301? I suppose you have different arms & carts on both.
There was definitely an ease & quality about the bass on the one at ETF in spite of the somewhat jury rigged set up it was being played through. It was a very nice sounding thing. Shame they are so effin' huge!
(not too mention expensive if you don't run across one being disposed of)
I suspect that 20 years ago they couldn't be given away. How times change.
Patrick Dixon
09-12-2012, 08:50
I've had them both for a while, and there are obvious similarities in presentation which I assume is due to the common idler drive, but the different arm/cart/phono stage combinations dominate the overall sound making it impossible to judge.
The Denon 103 is really lacking at HF and so gives the impression of a lack of detail, but it does sound much better through the EMT139 - even in mono and with the wrong eq!
Patrick Dixon
13-12-2012, 19:16
Shouldn't this be in the idler forum now?
Wakefield Turntables
13-12-2012, 20:00
Marco and the crew are slowly moving stuff over to the idler forum. Many of my threads regarding my 301 got moved. Just takes a little time mate ;)
Shouldn't this be in the idler forum now?
Possibly, but we have Members here (including myself) who are EMT users. Perhaps we should provide some 'pornographic' EMT photos of our own? :eyebrows:
Wakefield Turntables
13-12-2012, 20:27
If money was no objective which EMT would you purchase?? I've been doing a little research around EMT and love what I see, i must admit I'd love one.
The 927 and 930s are the most sought after. The 927 was designed to play 16" lacquers and is 'beefier' in construction: 20mm dia. platter shaft, heavier platter and larger motor.
The 930 has a 13" platter, smaller shaft (15mm) and smaller motor (but at least 20W), and was designed for broadcast studios.
Both were designed to be used 24/7 with complete reliability and both are three speed idler designs using 2 phase motors.
The 928 was a belt drive design, loosely modelled on the Thorens TD125, save the fine speed adjustment is achieved by a friction pad acting on the platter rim. An 'unloved' design from EMT enthusiasts' point of view. Not there is any thing wrong with design: it's a bit like steam train enthusiasts not likeing diesels.
Then there are the direct drive designs: the 938, 948 and the 950. The 950 is truely designed for broadcast use. Floor standing in a console, enormous amount of electronics, both for speed control as well as equalising amplification; they are probably only for the enthusiast who wants the 'ultimate' deck.
The 948 was a desk-top design. A simplified version of the 950, again with the electronics as plug in cards in a rack underneath. Finally the 938 was a further simplification of the 948, with all the electronics on a single board underneath the motor/platter.
All EMT decks used the unique EMT 949 arm and EMT mc cartridges; so limiting their appeal to audio enthusiasts. The only 'conventional' arm that has the same mounting distance as the 929 is the Fidelity Research FR-64 arm.
If you want either a 927 or 930 deck, expect to have to look outside the UK. The BBC did not use them, so the only UK source would be from another private owner willing to sell. Expect to pay at least £2,000 for one.
The BBC used many 950s, 948s and a few 938s. Possibly a few 928s as well.
All models occasionally appear on internet auction sites, but as always caveat emptor!
pure sound
13-12-2012, 23:24
Worth adding to the above that there was a Thorens badged version of the 938 called the TD524.
Worth adding to the above that there was a Thorens badged version of the 938 called the TD524.
Yes - they are probably more rare than the 938; though given the choice I would always go for a 938.
I remember once seeing on eBay an EMT 938 arm plate cut for the SME V. Now an EMT/SME combo would be something. (Pace Marco! :eyebrows:)
Wakefield Turntables
14-12-2012, 10:53
Wow thanks for the detailed reply. It's only a fantasy at the moment but one that I eventually hope to fulfil ;) I need to find some room in my hovel to be able to shoe-horn another deck :cool:
Patrick Dixon
14-12-2012, 19:19
The 927 and 930s are the most sought after.
Both were designed to be used 24/7 with complete reliability and both are three speed idler designs using 2 phase motors.
The 927 motor is actually 3 phase, but wired to work on 2 phase.
If you want either a 927 or 930 deck, expect to have to look outside the UK. The BBC did not use them, so the only UK source would be from another private owner willing to sell.
There were definitely some in ITV and possibly in independent radio - the 927 I have came from Granada TV and was one of three.
The BBC had some 930's and there were a pair on the Radio Caroline boat too :)
Almost forgot, Abbey Road uses a 927 modded to take a 2nd arm
Where were these Andy?
BTH K10A
16-12-2012, 12:11
Where were these Andy?
I looked at one of a pair that a West London dealer had in the late 90's. He said they came out of the BBC Bristol studio's and the one I saw had a BBC asset? sticker on the mains transformer cover. It had the RMA 229 mono tonearm and the phono control knobs were the round 927 type with a plain cover plate. There was no phono unit installed. The deck looked to be earlier that my 930 which was made in 1963.
My version of this thread:
http://www.boffinisland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/emt_140ts_pic-239x300.jpg
Yum ! Any expansive, endless, rich reverb you heard in the 60's - 80's is quite likely one of these..
http://repforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=38u01meju3jrcb6br2b4gma7c5&action=dlattach;topic=35977.0;attach=1883;image
Coo!
Saw a smaller version of the desk sell on eBay for only £1000 - was gutted that I couldn't afford to bid at the time. The one above is being advertised for €5500.. Such a nice design and superb modular build quality. Supposed to sound good too.
Yes - they are probably more rare than the 938; though given the choice I would always go for a 938.
I remember once seeing on eBay an EMT 938 arm plate cut for the SME V. Now an EMT/SME combo would be something. (Pace Marco! :eyebrows:)
The TD524s are often cheaper for the same machine despite being rarer. Saw one not selling for €700 on a forum - think it got reduced further in the end, more like around £500.
BTH K10A
26-12-2012, 09:52
The TD524s are often cheaper for the same machine despite being rarer. Saw one not selling for €700 on a forum - think it got reduced further in the end, more like around £500.
That's because the tonearm is not as good on the TD524 and they were intended as a disco deck (Like the Techy 1200/1210 :D). The TD738 is the one to go for and they do sell for a premium.
Oh, ok. Didn't know that.
EMT 240:
http://www.studio-dealers.com/system/images/253/medium/EMT240_INSIDE.jpg
A completely scaled down version of the 140 but instead of the steel sheet providing the reverb, they scaled this down in all dimensions and used a gold foil sheet to best replicate the steel..
BTH K10A
27-12-2012, 10:16
Then there's the Thorens 101
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THORENS-101-LIMITED-EMT-930-/330845965037?_uhb=1&pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&clk_rvr_id=431424847882&hash=item4d07f4caed&afsrc=1&nma=true&si=cAATSgc5eAJlPgvg9Xw15SEQdcQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Wakefield Turntables
27-12-2012, 11:37
:stalks: porn if ever I saw it.
Then there's the Thorens 101
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THORENS-101-LIMITED-EMT-930-/330845965037?_uhb=1&pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&clk_rvr_id=431424847882&hash=item4d07f4caed&afsrc=1&nma=true&si=cAATSgc5eAJlPgvg9Xw15SEQdcQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
christ, difficult not to get a boner looking at that :stalks:
stop leading me to the dark side
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