The Most Beautiful and Ugliest Turntables

[Beobloke]

And I simply can't join in the 'B&O love-in', as those flimsy, tinny looking platters with plastic bits on them, I presume acting as a 'mat', and toy-town looking tonearms, are gross in the extreme, and the only reason I'd fish one out of a skip would be to give to Adam as a gift!

As you were

Marco.

Forgive him, lord, he knows not what he says!

In all seriousness, the platters aren’t flimsy and don’t ring like a bell, unlike certain turntables we know and love. The ‘plastic bits’ were indeed plastic on the early ones and acted as both record supports and size detectors - an optical sensor in the second arm beside the main arm ‘read’ them as they rotated and knew there was no record on the platter.

On the later models such as Jerry’s, the black bits are actually nextel paint but still serve as optical markings for the size detector.

As to the ‘toy’ arms, they are like this for a reason. The B&O MMC cartridges are very low mass designs that track at less than 1.5g and so need a similarly low mass arm. Stick one in a Gray and it would probably collapse!

[Marco]

Forgive him, lord, he knows not what he says!

In all seriousness, the platters aren’t flimsy and don’t ring like a bell, unlike certain turntables we know and love. The ‘plastic bits’ were indeed plastic on the early ones and acted as both record supports and size detectors - an optical sensor in the second arm beside the main arm ‘read’ them as they rotated and knew there was no record on the platter.

On the later models such as Jerry’s, the black bits are actually nextel paint but still serve as optical markings for the size detector.

As to the ‘toy’ arms, they are like this for a reason. The B&O MMC cartridges are very low mass designs that track at less than 1.5g and so need a similarly low mass arm. Stick one in a Gray and it would probably collapse!

Haha... Well, "flimsy" in comparison with the tank-like/industrial stuff I prefer! Have you seen the size of the platter and bearing, on the likes of a Gates CB-77? Plus, as I said, I like to see some visible 'girth' happening on top, platter-wise, regardless of what's going on underneath, not simply a thin strip of metal.

Yup, I know why the B&O arms were designed that way, due to their low-mass/high-compliance/low-VTF partnering cartridge approach. As you know, I favour the polar opposite, and equipment that ably demonstrates it. Different strokes for different folks!

Marco.

[Marco]

Watch up until around 20 secs and see... Yeah, man!!

Marco.

[Bigbird]

nice arm too, with the half black tube

The origin live conquerer i think?? Style and substance combined


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[Mike Reed]

If you're going to have a shiny/bling mat or platter, copper is just *so* much more attractive than gold!

Marco.

I agree with you on that, which, apart from the plinth shape, was what I liked about the Raven AC. However, I'm surprised to find you less than gruntled over that 301 plinth. To me, the grain and deep colour and look of solidity appeals; the shine can easily be reduced. No comment about the aesthetics of the coupling, though.

[Mike Reed]

nice arm too, with the half black tube

Looks very Origin live-ish.

Cancel that; it's been rumbled.

[Marco]

However, I'm surprised to find you less than gruntled over that 301 plinth. To me, the grain and deep colour and look of solidity appeals; the shine can easily be reduced.

Which plinth are you referring to, Mike - that shiny one with the cream 301 on it? If so, there's a LOT I don't like about that pic. Firstly, I hate cream-coloured 301s. For me, it's BBC 'Hammertone Grey' or nothing, as I like its rather sober, 'studio-control room', look.

Secondly, the plinth... Yes, the shine could be reduced, but why have it in the first place? It'd much rather a nice matt finish, which would still show up the grain. And I prefer square, to rounded edges. Thirdly, I hate strobe markings on Garrard platters (as for me it cheapens them), and lastly, I'm not a fan of that Pro-ject arm!

Apart from that, I guess it's ok

Marco.

[Marco]

This is much more my thing [still not perfect, as I'd lose the shine on the plinth and give it squarer edges], and I wouldn't have chosen that arm:



I'd have popped on a Gray Research broadcast arm (as shown below), which would both work better, aesthetically, and for me, sonically (with the right cartridge).





If it'd fit, I suspect that a Denon DL-103 would sound great with it! Or perhaps a DL-107:



Marco.

[RobbieGong]

This is much more my thing [still not perfect, as I'd lose the shine on the plinth and have squarer edges], and I wouldn't have chosen that arm:



I'd have popped on a Gray Research broadcast arm (as shown below), which would both work better, aesthetically, and for me, sonically (with the right cartridge).



If it'd fit, I suspect that a Denon DL-103 would sound great with it!

Marco.

Agree with you on the 301 in that Hammeright Grey - looks great and right. The plinth as you say is probs too shiny / glossy given the choice.

The Gray Research broadcast arm I guess is mechanically a very good piece of engineering / kit. (I dont know anything about it though)

Looks wise it does nothing for me at all, just too far on the industrial side in appearance like something from an old tool kit.

That said, I see where you're coming from in terms of a physical (and sonic) match for the 301's Hammerite look.

The combination would probably be complimentary / work looks (and sound) wise

[Marco]

Looks wise it does nothing for me at all, just too far on the industrial side in appearance like something from an old tool kit.

Wot? That's all part of its 'charm'!

Trust me, it sounds great with a nice fat conical-tipped low-compliance cartridge, tracking at 2.5g+. Bass to die for. Boogie on down, BABEEEE....

Marco.