LAD EL80 Turntable

[Ammonite Audio]

I've 'found' an LAD EL80 turntable at work, apparently not working since someone has cut off the mains cable, but I think I may liberate it anyway. There's a manual and circuit diagram over at Vinyl Engine, but nothing else to shed much light on it.

I'd be interested to know if the motor was LAD's own work, or based around a proprietary unit, and if so, which one? The tonearm is a Jelco, of course, but is the drive system any good?

Any old hands remember having heard one?

[MCRU]

london acoustical developments, I used 2 of their DJ decks years ago!

[Techno Commander]

JVC direct drive based IIRC.

[Ammonite Audio]

JVC direct drive based IIRC.

Is that good?

[Gerry]

Is that good?

Yes. JVC were behind a number of DDs including Denon. They actually made their own motors unlike many others.

[nat8808]

I've one too! I think anyway... was £15 on ebay - they don't get much respect at all.

I think the EL80 (from memory) was a top, more powerful model.

The motor is JVC yes. I've also seen the motor for sale as pulled from a micro seiki deck and I believe it's also the same as used on the... the name as escaped me, the slate turntable from the 80s.

I also have a kit DJ turntable that also uses the same electronics.

The LAD is a suspended direct drive using rubber mounts - I'm sure it could be improved..

[Ammonite Audio]

The motor is JVC yes. I've also seen the motor for sale as pulled from a micro seiki deck and I believe it's also the same as used on the... the name as escaped me, the slate turntable from the 80s.

Would that be the JBE slate deck, with the odd platter made up of separate discs in a sort of flower arrangement, that has recently been re-evaluated, rather poorly, in one of the mags?


The LAD is a suspended direct drive using rubber mounts - I'm sure it could be improved..

It certainly could be, not least aesthetically!

[Beobloke]

Yes, I know it well! I've had two and currently still have an LAD GAJ828 and a GAJ942, both of which are functionally similar.

As mentioned, the motor is a direct drive JVC unit and, whilst lacking the storming torque of a Vestax or Technics, is still by no means a shrinking violet. The unit is well built, if a bit 'industrial' looking and the Jelco arm is excellent. In fact if you put one up against a standard, unmodified SL1200 you might just be surprised by how comprehensively the LAD outperforms it sonically!

All in all, it gets my vote as a keeper. Send the arm off to Audio Origami for a health check and re-wire and plop and Achromat on it and you will have a stormer of a deck!

[Ammonite Audio]

As it happens, it is a GAJ828 and not an EL80. The platter is very flimsy and lightweight and will certainly benefit from having something like an Achromat bonded to it. I shall take a screwdriver to it over the next few days to see what's within.

[nat8808]

Would that be the JBE slate deck, with the odd platter made up of separate discs in a sort of flower arrangement, that has recently been re-evaluated, rather poorly, in one of the mags?


Ah... Whilst the JBE is exactly what I meant and indeed the JBE shares the drive with at least one Micro Seiki model, that is not what is in the LAD afterall..

I've just had a look and the LAD looks much better with even a removable bearing thrust plate on the bottom. Still, I was correct in that the kit deck I have has the same internals as the LAD. Extensive electronics under there... rather more than I remember on the SL1200.

Mine's a GAJ924. I quite like the blue metal casing to be honest, even if mine's a bit worn. The kit deck is an angular, black metal affair but without suspension.