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Idler wheel drive vs Belt

I noticed in the last day a frenzied bidding on an EMT 930 (plus arm/cartridge, etc) that went for $6.5Gs. Lots of money for a vintage kit. I also read some laudatory comments on the venerable Garrard 301 with boutique plinths. Anybody out there have experience with such, and can comment on whether I should abandon my purchase of a Teres and go for a 'transcription' turntable like Garrard 501 (with Schroeder DPM). Those vintage designs have lots of torque as they were used in radio stations, but don't seem to have close tolerance bearings or heavy platters. Yet some have thrown some serious positive comments on these vintage solutions. Is the magic real, and what contributes to it?
(I am not going to blow $6G on an EMT930 any day soon).
divo

Showing 11 responses by tbg

tbg
5,263 posts
 
Having had the Dual, the Garrard 301, the Technics SP10, various Linn LP12s, the Forsell, the Walker, the Loricraft/Garrard 501 with the Schroeder, and once again a Garrard 301, I will say there is nothing like a rim drive. I say this although I happily gave up on my first Garrard 301 long ago. There is a magic to the dynamics of such tables.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I agree, but additionally I think the mounting plinth is quite important. I have heard the Shindo Labs 301 versus other Garrard 301s. There is little to say, other than the Shindo sounds far superior. I grant that there are many other improvements in the Shindo, but I suspect the plinth is central to its sound.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Divo and C---, see the 6Moons project on the Garrard 301 refurbishing.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Maybe at $73,000 but even then I doubt it.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
It makes a great difference if it is Euros, Pounds, or dollars. Pounds would be about twice as much for US buyers, and Euros about 40 percent more.

These mods would have to have a very substantial effect to have the SP10 competitive with the top tables.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I cannot imagine that there is this enamorment with the SP10. When I had one, the Linn LP12 killed it. It was pretty and big.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
This suggests that there have been some major improvements. Do you know what they are?
tbg
5,263 posts
 
C123666, It had a polished volcanic rock plinth. I did not know they came any other way. This was nearly 30 years ago.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I just found a picture of it. It was obsidian. I recall it being bigger than the unit shown, but maybe that was because it was so long ago. I think I had the 205 arm not the 100 shown at http://www.xs4all.nl/~rabruil/sp10page.html
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Flyingred, you guys have brought the SP10 out of my memories of 30 years ago. I don't know why I am even interested, given that I have the Shindo Labs 301. I would love to hear the SP10 set up as you would have it.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Shindo will take Garrard 301 and do mods on it. Checkout shindolabs.com for information. I bought the entire package which includes the totally modified 301, a modified Ortofon 12" tonearm, and a modified Ortofon SPU cartridge, which I have yet to get. There may be provisions for other arms, but I don't know anything about this. Even using a headshell with another cartridge would mean greater error in tracking angle. All of this is unimportant once you have heard it.

Originally, I intended to do just what you have done, namely to get a nice Garrard 301 and enjoy it.
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