[iFi audio]

Project started with scattered parts around my basement. German motor, Chinese plater/speed control box, British vintage SME tonearm. Plinth was originally made (MDF/Baltic ply sandwiched) for Lenco direct drive TT. Plans changed and all this crap was collecting dust. So, I decided to make something “cool” looking without any effort put in as far as performance is concerned. But it turned into a something else. I started sourcing our various brass, copper, aluminum parts. Magnets for platter suspension (yeah, it floats lol) and acrylic for tonearm boards. It took couple months to finish but I wasn’t really in a rush. It was interesting to play with different materials and see what it does. After completion, it took couple weeks to fine tune everything, make few adjustments here and there. And finally test it. It worked and it didn’t sound all that bad. Idea was to mass load plinth that holds both armboards. Float platter for minimal friction. And keep motor isolated on 25lbs solid brass base. Ironically, belt is made out of fishing line (went through a dozen of different kinds and makes before settling on the one that seemed appropriate). And I am ashamed to admit it but, I have even tried different dental floss........ including minty one as well. Lol
I use it more often than my Rega Planar 8 or Townshend Audio TT. That’s probably best complement that I can give it without sounding crazy. Lol
It was fun.

Thanks for this explanation. Both from afar and up close it looks like something costly, boutique and a deck only a passionate could pull off. Very nice stuff with that red color scheme and two tonearms. At our old place we had an old heavily modded Garrard. Now it's gathering dust, but after seeing your piece I'm tempted to ask my boss and have ours fixed on a rack and singing again.

 

[FYFL]

Thanks for this explanation. Both from afar and up close it looks like something costly, boutique and a deck only a passionate could pull off. Very nice stuff with that red color scheme and two tonearms. At our old place we had an old heavily modded Garrard. Now it's gathering dust, but after seeing your piece I'm tempted to ask my boss and have ours fixed on a rack and singing again.

That’s a great idea. Give it a new life. They’re awesome, reliable TT.
All you really need is a nice plinth with armboard. Even if you won’t use it all that much, it will become a conversation piece.
And that red TT wasn’t really expensive (spare parts from dealers). But time consuming since it took so many turns.
Cheers

 

[Skylab]

 

[Podster]

Dang Sky, every
time I see you 59 I miss and kick my own booty for letting my DP-47F go Then I go and see you signature and feel the exact same way about my old Pioneer SX-1050 Lovely

 

[iFi audio]

Opeth!

 

[Podster]

Opeth!

Yep and I recently got the 2 LP set and even Sky's photo does not do it justice! No offense Sky Opeth is my Prog Metal band for sure and if you like something to tickle your senses by all means get you a little Opeth

So let me put little taster on ya Everything sounds awesome in the RAH

 

[iFi audio]

Yep and I recently got the 2 LP set and even Sky's photo does not do it justice! No offense Sky Opeth is my Prog Metal band for sure and if you like something to tickle your senses by all means get you a little Opeth

So let me put little taster on ya Everything sounds awesome in the RAH

Thanks! So probably Ayreon is known to you:

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Probably premature, but I'm going to post it anyway, here is a Thorens TD 125 MKII I am restoring, note quite done yet, but nearly there.



So far, I dismantled, cleaned, and polished the original TP16 tonearm, cleaned and polished the platter, cleaned and dusted the interior, had a replica dust cover made in clear acrylic (the original was smoked and very scratched).

I have some new dust cover hinges on the way (they are broken), NOS Thorens replacement headshell is coming as well. The TP50 headshell the TT was sold with is not compatible with the tonearm.

I am rewiring the tonearm in Cardas litz 33AWG wire, the TT will be rewired for balanced operation with two 3-pin XLR outputs. I am designing and building a tube phono stage simultaneously that the TT will be paired with, the stage takes balanced inputs on the step-up transformer primary, single-ended output on the transformer secondary. This way, you get the noise-reduction benefits of balanced operation with a single-ended phono. The cart will be a MC Hana EL.

Have pics of me taking everything apart on my DIY thread, but I'll leave it at that for now! I'll post some final pics with the phono stage when they are both done, should be 2-3 weeks.

 

[iFi audio]

Probably premature, but I'm going to post it anyway, here is a Thorens TD 125 MKII I am restoring, note quite done yet, but nearly there.



So far, I dismantled, cleaned, and polished the original TP16 tonearm, cleaned and polished the platter, cleaned and dusted the interior, had a replica dust cover made in clear acrylic (the original was smoked and very scratched).

Looking good! Very nice work!

 

[Podster]

Probably premature, but I'm going to post it anyway, here is a Thorens TD 125 MKII I am restoring, note quite done yet, but nearly there.



So far, I dismantled, cleaned, and polished the original TP16 tonearm, cleaned and polished the platter, cleaned and dusted the interior, had a replica dust cover made in clear acrylic (the original was smoked and very scratched).

I have some new dust cover hinges on the way (they are broken), NOS Thorens replacement headshell is coming as well. The TP50 headshell the TT was sold with is not compatible with the tonearm.

I am rewiring the tonearm in Cardas litz 33AWG wire, the TT will be rewired for balanced operation with two 3-pin XLR outputs. I am designing and building a tube phono stage simultaneously that the TT will be paired with, the stage takes balanced inputs on the step-up transformer primary, single-ended output on the transformer secondary. This way, you get the noise-reduction benefits of balanced operation with a single-ended phono. The cart will be a MC Hana EL.

Have pics of me taking everything apart on my DIY thread, but I'll leave it at that for now! I'll post some final pics with the phono stage when they are both done, should be 2-3 weeks.

Looking good and reminds me (Especially the toggles) of my first Thoren's (While a poor Airman in Germany)! The TD-115

Had an old and even less expensive Technics SL-23 was my first table I bought myself. Ah the good old days

 

[L0rdGwyn]

@Podster thanks! Nice looking setup

Yesterday, I rewired the tonearm with Cardas 33AWG litz wire and rhodium clips, wired the turntable for balanced outputs, and polished up the platter. Threw an Ortofon MM cart on there to set it up, but it will soon be replaced with a MC Hana EL.

 

[Audio Addict]

Updated my phonostage to the Allnic H1202.

It is matched with my VPI table.

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Finished my phono stage today.

Power supply chassis interior.



Phono stage chassis interior, Lundahl LL9226XL MC step-up transformers, Miflex copper foil coupling and output caps.



Tubes are D3a and EF86, triode strapped and CCS loaded. Is is a hybrid design with a FET source follower output buffer.



Sounding very nice with the TD 125 MkII and Hana EL

 

[kid vic]

@L0rdGwyn I am pretty jealous of your skills! Keep up the great work!!

 

[Skylab]