The Mike New Technics Bearing

[Marco]

What does this bearing reinforcement plate look like? I've done a search but can't seem to find any pictures.

Hi Mark,

All is revealed here: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...ing-Base-Plate

We meant to take pics of mine being fitted, but Anthony forgot to get his camera out before everything was assembled again. The main advantage of fitting the bearing base-plate is as Mike says:

"The Bearing Base Plate serves to greatly strengthen the area of the chassis where the Bearing is located.
Also it offers a flat surface over the whole area of the Bearing flange which provides improved rigidity.
The long 1/8" Allen head Whit bolts also allow for greater clamping force of the Bearing to the Plate.
In all the Base Plate provides a much improved support for the bearing and Platter."

...and the sonic improvements are easily heard!

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

Hi Mark,

All is revealed here: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...ing-Base-Plate

We meant to take pics of mine being fitted, but Anthony forgot to get his camera out before everything was assembled again. The main advantage of fitting the bearing base-plate is as Mike says:

"The Bearing Base Plate serves to greatly strengthen the area of the chassis where the Bearing is located.
Also it offers a flat surface over the whole area of the Bearing flange which provides improved rigidity.
The long 1/8" Allen head Whit bolts also allow for greater clamping force of the Bearing to the Plate.
In all the Base Plate provides a much improved support for the bearing and Platter."

...and the sonic improvements are easily heard!

Marco.

Cheers for link Marco - BTW, Is Dave on hols as I've not had a reply to an enquiry about ordering the base plate ?

[Mike_New]

hi Folks,
I have had an enquiry asking if the Bearing Base Plate can be fitted to the standrd bearing.
The simple answer is yes it can, as the pitch circle and position of the holes are the same.
However the very loose fit of the standard bearing and the not-much-improved fit of all the other lessor attemps at modifications, would not really result in very much, if any, improvement of the sonic reproduction. It would be better to save up and buy my bearing first, then consider if you want to get BBP.

[Marco]

Hi Kevin,

I really don't see what benefit this base plate can have when using a lightweight platter such as the ETP or Funk?
For a heavier platter, yes maybe it has a benefit. Seeing how well the bearing is engineered, I really don't see the benefit.

Hopefully, that has now been explained (summarised in post #871). In order to help you understand, take the platter temporarily out of the equation...

Essentially, if you dismantle an SL-1200/1210, and observe the standard bearing/chassis interface, you'll see that it is less than ideal from the perspective of optimising mechanical integrity. That is because, with no base-plate fitted, the bearing (stock or Mike New) is only being supported on three threaded 'raised dimples', which when the bearing is screwed down onto, do not allow it to make full (flush) contact with the chassis. Obviously, in that scenario, the bearing is being rather poorly supported.

It's a fundamental weak point in the design of the Technics that must be addressed in order for the T/T to perform at its maximum potential. Rest assured that without it, the MN bearing is incapable of functioning optimally. I'd say that fitting the BBP gave me almost as much of a sonic improvement as fitting the MN bearing itself, as the former simply allows the latter to perform at its maximum capability - and so the cumulative effect, sonically, of using both is superb.

The bearing base-plate Mike has designed fundamentally solves the aforementioned problem by providing a superior platform for supporting the MN bearing, thus allowing for a much more rigid coupling of the bearing to the T/T chassis. Therefore, once you grasp that fact, it's very easy to understand the efficacy of the bearing base-plate - and, as I've said, the sonic results are easily heard!

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

Any chance someone might be able to tell me if Dave (MCRU) is about ? I've asked and not had a response ? sorry if I sound a little frustrated but I am. Any response to my question would be much appreciated.

[Marco]

He should be around, dude. Have you sent him an email directly to: sales@mains-cables-r-us.co.uk ?

If not, give him a bell on: 01484 480086 or 07908 056978

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

A big Bless Marco, Very much appreciated

[CageyH]

Hi Kevin,



Hopefully, that has now been explained (summarised in post #871). In order to help you understand, take the platter temporarily out of the equation...

Essentially, if you dismantle an SL-1200/1210, and observe the standard bearing/chassis interface, you'll see that it is less than ideal from the perspective of optimising mechanical integrity. That is because, with no base-plate fitted, the bearing (stock or Mike New) is only being supported on three threaded 'raised dimples', which when the bearing is screwed down onto, do not allow it to make full (flush) contact with the chassis. Obviously, in that scenario, the bearing is being rather poorly supported.

It's a fundamental weak point in the design of the Technics that must be addressed in order for the T/T to perform at its maximum potential. Rest assured that without it, the MN bearing is incapable of functioning optimally. I'd say that fitting the BBP gave me almost as much of a sonic improvement as fitting the MN bearing itself, as the former simply allows the latter to perform at its maximum capability - and so the cumulative effect, sonically, of using both is superb.

The bearing base-plate Mike has designed fundamentally solves the aforementioned problem by providing a superior platform for supporting the MN bearing, thus allowing for a much more rigid coupling of the bearing to the T/T chassis. Therefore, once you grasp that fact, it's very easy to understand the efficacy of the bearing base-plate - and, as I've said, the sonic results are easily heard!

Marco.

Marco,

I am just surprised that using such a light platter warrants use of a base plate. I can understand it for the heavyweight platters. When I look at the bearing mount, I don't think that it will move under the forces of a 1.4 kg platter revolving around it so for me, it's interesting to know that it makes a big difference, and not a subtle one. Having seen someone do a 360 hand-spin on a standard bearing without breaking the deck, I would hardly call it a weak point. The only issue for me is the increase of 6mm of the platter surface. That's a lot of VTA to take up, which I don't think the stock Technics base will account for.

[YNWaN]

Marco, I don't know why you don't just dump the old plinth altogether as I would expect that to give even greater benefit. Who is the member (awkward by design?) who did the veneered concrete plinth - he could probably make you one.

[chris@panteg]

It really does make more sense to just trade up to a nicely fettled SP10 or something else as good.