analogsurviver
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2012
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The partial story of
The Sleeping Beauty
It is the Technics SL-DL 1 linear tracking direct drive turntable. A direct descendant of the SL-7, in normal footprint size, with which it does share most of its vital components, such as direct drive motor and pick up arm, which are identical for the two. SL-7 itself rectified many of the terminal teething troubles SL-10 is pleagued with, SL-DL 1 went yet few more steps in the right direction. It is perhaps the best sounding of the whole family of linear tables that derived from the original SL-10 - in stock, unmodified form. It is also the only one in the line without quartz speed regulation - it has strobe on the lower platter rim visible through usual mirror arangement. This feature makes it appealing to those who might want vary the speed for some reason , like musicians. And those who are haunted by the notion that direct drive hunts for speed all the time, especially with quartz control. The time constant with which SL-DL1 does it is very well chosen and it is absolutely nothing wrong with its speed once the whole thing stabilizes in temperature - it may run a bit slower or faster than dead zero speed selected for a half or so hour from the cold start, but a really small correction of the speed control potentiometer takes care of that.
This sample came off ebay and was from the start meant for one of my friends. It came packed astonishingly well - in fact better than original packaging.
dedicated mat between two newspapers
styrofoam pieces CUT TO SIZE in order to secure the position of the TT during transport preventing possibility of the demage to the maximum
TT wrapped into usual food film - preventing scratches, offering the last protection in unhappy possibility of the package is subjected to misture or rain.
The only thing I did not like about packaging - lid secured to the plinth with tape.
The way to SLOWLY peel off remove tape - if you are careful and lucky, there will be no residue or even paint removal that can happen.
SL-DL 1 without the dedficated mat
Lighting sources underneath the platter TT uses to establish what type of record is on the platter and automatically adjusts for speed and size of the record for 7, 10 and 12 inch records - it is manually adjustable for odd combinations, like 33 1/3 RPM single and 45 RPM maxi single
This particular sample was bought defective. Given my vast experience with these turntables, nothing to worry about. They are actually very tough to knock out for good.
The most common defect or failure is that the linear arm, built into the lid , does not move at all or hangs at some point or does not travel past certain point, making playback impossible. The culprit is always somewhere here
Here is motor that drives the larger pulley through the belt missing on this pic that drives the worm that drives the cogwheel that drives the thread line that actually drives the arm trolley. This belt can be torn, can become too loose, can get glued to either pulley, can get greasy - in short, it is the usual troublemaker. But in this case, motor that drives the arm mechanism in order to keep it parallel to the groove was dead - no motion at all, belt itself being OK. It is kind rare, but not impossible - the TT must have stood unused for real long time, during which the oil in the motor bearing must have dried, seizing the motion. This sample could be unlocked with finger force - but I can remember one that required pliers to do it . If it is that stuck, please use some rubber or leather around the brass pulley on the motor and pliers - you do not want to demage the pulley. If seizure occurs, I always oil the axle properly and let the motor run without the belt attached ( it runs at high speed in the outward direction only for the travel of the arm, which takes about 7 seconds, as at the end of the travel is switch that cuts the motor ) FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR - which should take care of the trouble in the forseeable future.
Here the belt in place on well oiled and run-in motor. You can see the remnants of the original yellowish grease 30 or so years old - it has to be cleaned off and replaced with fresh one.
Here the entire pick up arm drive system ( without the drive belt )
The Sleeping Beauty
It is the Technics SL-DL 1 linear tracking direct drive turntable. A direct descendant of the SL-7, in normal footprint size, with which it does share most of its vital components, such as direct drive motor and pick up arm, which are identical for the two. SL-7 itself rectified many of the terminal teething troubles SL-10 is pleagued with, SL-DL 1 went yet few more steps in the right direction. It is perhaps the best sounding of the whole family of linear tables that derived from the original SL-10 - in stock, unmodified form. It is also the only one in the line without quartz speed regulation - it has strobe on the lower platter rim visible through usual mirror arangement. This feature makes it appealing to those who might want vary the speed for some reason , like musicians. And those who are haunted by the notion that direct drive hunts for speed all the time, especially with quartz control. The time constant with which SL-DL1 does it is very well chosen and it is absolutely nothing wrong with its speed once the whole thing stabilizes in temperature - it may run a bit slower or faster than dead zero speed selected for a half or so hour from the cold start, but a really small correction of the speed control potentiometer takes care of that.
This sample came off ebay and was from the start meant for one of my friends. It came packed astonishingly well - in fact better than original packaging.
dedicated mat between two newspapers
styrofoam pieces CUT TO SIZE in order to secure the position of the TT during transport preventing possibility of the demage to the maximum
TT wrapped into usual food film - preventing scratches, offering the last protection in unhappy possibility of the package is subjected to misture or rain.
The only thing I did not like about packaging - lid secured to the plinth with tape.
The way to SLOWLY peel off remove tape - if you are careful and lucky, there will be no residue or even paint removal that can happen.
SL-DL 1 without the dedficated mat
Lighting sources underneath the platter TT uses to establish what type of record is on the platter and automatically adjusts for speed and size of the record for 7, 10 and 12 inch records - it is manually adjustable for odd combinations, like 33 1/3 RPM single and 45 RPM maxi single
This particular sample was bought defective. Given my vast experience with these turntables, nothing to worry about. They are actually very tough to knock out for good.
The most common defect or failure is that the linear arm, built into the lid , does not move at all or hangs at some point or does not travel past certain point, making playback impossible. The culprit is always somewhere here
Here is motor that drives the larger pulley through the belt missing on this pic that drives the worm that drives the cogwheel that drives the thread line that actually drives the arm trolley. This belt can be torn, can become too loose, can get glued to either pulley, can get greasy - in short, it is the usual troublemaker. But in this case, motor that drives the arm mechanism in order to keep it parallel to the groove was dead - no motion at all, belt itself being OK. It is kind rare, but not impossible - the TT must have stood unused for real long time, during which the oil in the motor bearing must have dried, seizing the motion. This sample could be unlocked with finger force - but I can remember one that required pliers to do it . If it is that stuck, please use some rubber or leather around the brass pulley on the motor and pliers - you do not want to demage the pulley. If seizure occurs, I always oil the axle properly and let the motor run without the belt attached ( it runs at high speed in the outward direction only for the travel of the arm, which takes about 7 seconds, as at the end of the travel is switch that cuts the motor ) FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR - which should take care of the trouble in the forseeable future.
Here the belt in place on well oiled and run-in motor. You can see the remnants of the original yellowish grease 30 or so years old - it has to be cleaned off and replaced with fresh one.
Here the entire pick up arm drive system ( without the drive belt )