New Solid Aluminium Platter for the SL1200

[Hypnotoad]

I have been reading all this with great interest and if it were me considering buying one here is what I would do.

Listen to one with and one without, in other words take your regular platter along and swap it in and out on the same table that has the heavier one on it.

That's the only way to really decide, isn't it?

The price is pretty hefty so I would want to be sure before I parted with the money.

[Marco]

Hi John,

I guess Dale hits the nail on the head with these 2 statements
1
"During tests to determine final platter moment of inertia is has been shown that a heavier platter produced slower motor loop feedback control response to motor load demand whilst a lighter platter produced faster motor loop feedback control response to motor load demand"

2
"It has been shown that in an electronically commutated direct drive motor the twisting effect produced in the chassis due to the axial torsional vibration can be reduced to a low noise level by increasing the effective moment of inertia of the chassis not by increasing weight or hardness of the chassis material, turntable platter or spindle shaft"

Indeed. The first one is particularly relevant to this discussion and suggests a distinct problem with using a high-mass platter, which others and I had alluded to earlier.......

Therefore the jury is still out (big time) on this particular modification.

As for your comment:

This suggest that the bigger improvement in sound might come from the chassis

I've long suspected that far bigger sonic improvements than a new platter offers will come when Mike New (or someone else) designs a better chassis/plinth for the SL-1200/1210 than that which is currently used - something which provides even better isolation from the effects of the environment, so I look forward very much to that becoming available

Hey, what a breath of fresh air Dale is, though. Now why can't someone we know very well be as forthcoming with required technical information?

Dale, you'll fit in here just fine, me old son....

We look forward to reading more of your pearls of wisdom!

Marco.

[Marco]

Hi Phillip,

Listen to one with and one without, in other words take your regular platter along and swap it in and out on the same table that has the heavier one on it.

That's the only way to really decide, isn't it?

Erm, in a word: 'no'. Did you not read this I wrote earlier?

Basically, I'm looking for any objective evidence which proves beyond reasonable doubt that the extra mass of the new platter does not impact adversely on the speed stability of the SL-1200's drive system in the short, medium or long-term.

The reason I'm being so particular about this is quite simply because our ears would not immediately detect any minute variance in the speed stability of the drive system, but a stylus on a cartridge would.....

Therefore (if that were the case), through time this would manifest itself and translate to our ears as a blurring of the leading edges of notes, causing pitch and timing issues, and a perceived 'slowing down' of the music, even though objectively this may not show up on test apparatus, and through time, subsequent dissatisfaction of music reproduced - even if initially there were improvements sonically in other areas.

In effect, one could unconsciously succeed in eroding the very sonic characteristics which attracted us to the Technics in the first place.

Note in particular the bits in bold. In this instance, a subjective listening test is simply not enough!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

This new platter is £650 right?????

Bloody 'eck fella's, it's as bad as SME apparently charging £225 or so for a couple of phono sockets, a bit of bent metal and a screening can which fits decades worth of tonearms, so no R&D charges there.....

Apologies, I've already made my feelings on this plain enough and still think a Spacedeck with heavy kit (a graphite platter this one, plus a new arm-pod) and Wave Mechanic supply will be a musically better (or at least equal) sounding machine..

Prices:

AceSpace - £1200
Heavy Kit - £450
Wave Mechanic - £540 approx - re-generates the 50Hz waveform and gives speed adjustment too.

Total - £2190 AND IT'S ALL UK MADE!!!!!

So there!!!

I'll return to my slimy stone now and leave the rest to your bank balances...

I could be wrong here but as far as I know Notingham Analogue no longer exists. After a long illness Tom Fletcher is back but not as NA but as Fletcher Audio.

I know no more than that, so as you were discussing Technics stuff



Regards D S D L

[hifi_dave]

I could be wrong here but as far as I know Notingham Analogue no longer exists. After a long illness Tom Fletcher is back but not as NA but as Fletcher Audio.

I know no more than that, so as you were discussing Technics stuff



Regards D S D L

Nottingham Analogue not only 'exists' but is doing better than ever, especially with their export markets. Today, I ordered an Ace Space turntable which will be with me early next week.

Don't believe all you read on forums.

Tom Fletcher is now doing his own thing and I will have samples of his new products very soon.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

So what we *could* assume then, is that the existing platter is fine with the regulator and external supply fitted and the MN bearing may improve things by being quieter and better engineered. Adding a heavier platter to this mix may upset the servo balance and make it worse, yet drastically improving the plinth system (making it more solid, massier and more inert) may make things better as a mass-sink for the motor system...

That's kind of it in a nutshell, yeah!

Perhaps all that's needed is a perspex or acrylic top platter of some sort, with the tonearm mounting plates increased in thickness accordingly (and adding mass as a by-product)..

Someone actually suggested this to me the other day, and I think it's an excellent idea worthy of further investigation

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Nottingham Analogue not only 'exists' but is doing better than ever, especially with their export markets. Today, I ordered an Ace Space turntable which will be with me early next week.

Don't believe all you read on forums.

Tom Fletcher is now doing his own thing and I will have samples of his new products very soon.

I did qualify what I said as "I could be wrong here", but without Tom is it still NA? Thanks for the clarification about NA still being in existence.

I like NA TTs One of those foundational analogue experiences for me, was a NA Mentor Reference in Vinyl Tube Audio (now sadly gone), many, years ago in Fortress Road London.


Regards D S D L

[Marco]

Ahem..... This is one thread I'd like to keep strictly on-topic

Cheers!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Ahem..... This is one thread I'd like to keep strictly on-topic

Cheers!

Marco.

No problem ! I'll get my coat...........


Regards D S D L

[Marco]

Why thank you, Mr Dalek Daftee!



Marco.