Mounting a Triplanar or similar on an SP10

Lets see, if you are using a Technics SP10 MK I or MK II the turntable usually came standard with the EPA 100 or EPA 500 tonearm. Both are have the following specifications:

Mounting hole diameter: 62 mm
Effective length: 250 mm
Mounting distance: 235 mm or 9.5 inches
Overhang: 15 mm

Now the Triplanar:

• Effective length: 250 mm
• Pivot-to-spindle distance: 233.5 mm or 9.19 inches
• Overhang: 16.5mm

Seems like it can be mounted, easily, and new arm mounts are available.

Regards.

Music at work, That's kind of what I thought, until I took my Triplanar up to the SP10 and started to try to locate the holes I need to drill. The problem arises due to the aforementioned offset between the mounting flange of a Triplanar and the actual vertical pivot point. (Look at a photo of a Triplanar, if you don't have one handy.) If you can picture it in your mind, the Triplanar must be rotated clockwise to a final point that is at a fairly severe angle with respect to the SP10 chassis, in order to bring the vertical pivot point inward such that the pivot to spindle distance is the desired 233.5mm. After I posted, I began to think about this and realized this is a Triplanar-specific issue (applicable also to a few other tonearms that are similarly constructed) and has nothing much to do with the SP10 Mk2 per se. But with the SP10/Triplanar combo, one must place the mounting flange adjacent to the thinnest part of the SP10 chassis (in the horizontal plane). If you go forward (toward the front of the deck) or rearward from there, the SP10 chassis gets in the way, and the desired pivot to spindle distance is unobtainable (with the Triplanar). This will be the 4th turntable on which I've mounted my Triplanar, but it will take some ingenuity.

@lewm,
Exhuming an old thread: did you ever succeed in mounting your Triplanar to the SP10? With the new SP10R coming to market, I'm weighing the possibility of making the move and having a plinth made for it. That is, if it will accommodate my Triplanar. 

Thanks,Bill

Aftermarket plinths can accommodate any tonearm if you request beforehand. I custom ordered a SP-10R plinth with separate arm pod for my Reed tonearm.

https://www.acoustand.co.uk/collections/acoustand-technics-sp10-series-plinths/products/acoustand-technics-sp10r-plinth-system-new-for-2018

mikelakers, I’ve actually been emailing with Lee at Acoustand for the past several days as we try to determine whether his plinth will handle a Triplanar. He has never made an armboard for this arm.

Well, I’ve possibly answered my own question. Here’s an example of a successful mounting, near the bottom of the page:
https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=60342
So, it apparently can be done, though whether on an Acoustand plinth remains to be seen.

Bill

If you use the hole pattern and the mounting distance above, Lee can certainly make it happen. He's a very knowledgeable guy when it comes to the turntable, especially Technics.

 To answer the question directed at me, no, I never mounted my triplanar on my SP 10 Mark III, even though my plinth is custom built out of slate. What I did do was to purchase a Reed 2A tonearm that is 10.5 inches in effective length. The added length solves the problem I described in my original post. If I were doing the same thing now, I would consider the purchase of a 12 inch Triplanar. (This thread is 9 years old.) Keep in mind that this issue only pertains to tonearms where the VTA adjuster is on the spindle side of the pivot point. There really is no problem with conventional 9 to 10 inch tonearms.

Thanks.

We had a 12" Triplanar on the SP10 MkIII at RMAF about two years ago. We might have something like that this year too.

Yes, it is that square framework for the SP-10 series that causes problems, not the arm per say or the plinth.  VPI arms are another problem where even their 10" version is an awkward fit for reasons explained by Lew.