The Mike New Technics Bearing

[RobbieGong]

I must be honest and say I have always wondered if this small plate can possibly strengthen the bottom of the deck, surely to do this it should be much bigger, maybe to the point of covering the entire bottom of the turntable. I also feel the fixing method is not precise enough to guarantee the surface the bearing is to be mounted to is level, way too much rests on the skill in spreading glue in an even way and any deviation from true would not be ideal.

I agree that the mounting holes for the original bearing isn't very strong and thus not ideal for anything mounted there, original bearing or Mike's but is the plate the best solution to this problem? I am not convinced it is but a better solution may be too difficult to implement without an entirely new bottom to the turntable and after that we are heading for a Monarch typed solution I feel; ie just use the electronics etc and replace the entire body of the deck.


Regards Neil

+1 Had similar thoughts and have never worried about having the base plate, but what do I know.

[Marco]

I must be honest and say I have always wondered if this small plate can possibly strengthen the bottom of the deck, surely to do this it should be much bigger, maybe to the point of covering the entire bottom of the turntable. I also feel the fixing method is not precise enough to guarantee the surface the bearing is to be mounted to is level, way too much rests on the skill in spreading glue in an even way and any deviation from true would not be ideal.

I agree that the mounting holes for the original bearing isn't very strong and thus not ideal for anything mounted there, original bearing or Mike's but is the plate the best solution to this problem? I am not convinced it is but a better solution may be too difficult to implement without an entirely new bottom to the turntable and after that we are heading for a Monarch typed solution I feel; ie just use the electronics etc and replace the entire body of the deck.

Fair points, Neil. However, as I'm sure you'll agree, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as it were...

In that respect, I'll be able to listen and compare the 'before & after' effects of fitting the base-plate. It will be the only new variable introduced into what I'm otherwise used to hearing from my T/T, so I'll soon know whether or not fitting it has resulted in a positive improvement or otherwise - and the results will be posted here

Marco.

[worrasf]

FWIW I also have not been tempted by the base plate as I couldn't get my mind around the "philosophy". I also didn't want my platter raised up 5mm purely from an aesthetic point of view. However, I did notice an audible improvement in bass control after I used the KAB support wax underneath the MN bearing so there must be something in it. It would also seem that there are variations in the depth of the OEM bearing well. Mine is shallow and the bolt heads of the MN base plate virtually bottom out - other wells are deeper with more clearance.
Steve

[chris@panteg]

Steve, do you remember the damping pad on the vantage bearing, its there for a reason!

[CageyH]

Fair points, Neil. However, as I'm sure you'll agree, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as it were...

In that respect, I'll be able to listen and compare the 'before & after' effects of fitting the base-plate. It will be the only new variable introduced into what I'm otherwise used to hearing from my T/T, so I'll soon know whether or not fitting it has resulted in a positive improvement or otherwise - and the results will be posted here

Marco.

And if you don't like it, you'll have one hell of a job taking it off, depending on what glue you use.

[Marco]

LOL!

I'm not expecting any issues...

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

Steve, do you remember the damping pad on the vantage bearing, its there for a reason!

That's interesting Chris

[worrasf]

Steve, do you remember the damping pad on the vantage bearing, its there for a reason!

Indeed it is Chris - although now I know that the Technics has variable bearing well depths I wonder whether it truly acts as a thrust plate support in all cases - the KAB wax on the other hand can adapt to varying bearing wells

[Mike_New]

Hi Neil,
Yes we have gone aroung this loop many times I feel in other threads.
The Bearing Base Plate can indeed be larger, I chose the size as being ideal to do the job it is designed to do. It speads the forces over a much wider area.
As for getting the BBP level this is not a problem, any inteligent fellow is not going to pour on a bucket load of epoxy but just enough to cover the surfac area of the BBP. If they follow my Instruction as many people have, they will have no problems .
The only problem is to ensure that when the base Plate is positioned and the bearing attached, that the three PCB corner holes line up when placed onto the bearing.

You observations re. designing and making a whole new chassis are maybe valid, but are you going to pay for one when it is available?
I generated a design about two years ago but few were interested in following it up cost wise.

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Neil,
Yes we have gone aroung this loop many times I feel in other threads.
The Bearing Base Plate can indeed be larger, I chose the size as being ideal to do the job it is designed to do. It speads the forces over a much wider area.
As for getting the BBP level this is not a problem, any inteligent fellow is not going to pour on a bucket load of epoxy but just enough to cover the surfac area of the BBP. If they follow my Instruction as many people have, they will have no problems .
The only problem is to ensure that when the base Plate is positioned and the bearing attached, that the three PCB corner holes line up when placed onto the bearing.

You observations re. designing and making a whole new chassis are maybe valid, but are you going to pay for one when it is available?
I generated a design about two years ago but few were interested in following it up cost wise.

I recall those Mike but my memory is a little hazy re the plate having any other purpose other than those I mentioned, so thank you for the clarification. Certainly the existing mounting arrangement in the Technics is poor and weak even for its own bearing. The engineering is bad (in the examples I have seen so far) as the threaded holes are of very poor quality, in fact with out care one could quite easily damage these and thus not be able to tighten the bearing in place.

I again vaguely recall discussion of replacement chassis/plinth but don't recall a price. If it were reasonable then perhaps I might. I am very impressed re the redesigns and new plinths some of the guys on here are coming up with and building.

I will be interested indeed to read your findings Marco.

Regards Neil