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What's the deal with idler turntables and do they have a place in modern HiFi?

After going through a complete overhaul of an AR XA I've been tempted to take a step further back in history and restore an old Rek-O-Kut idler turntable. Can't remember the particular model number from Craigslist, but it seems like it may be an interesting project and far more customizable than the XA, especially when it come to the tonearm. The one I'm looking at comes with the original tonearm, but my guess is that it's even more garbage than the stock XA 'arm and I'd certainly replace it!

However, I don't generally become invested in something if it doesn't pay off. So if the sound is going to be dreadful because it's an idler, then I'll steer clear. But if the sound is bitchin' then I'll jump on the opportunity!
128x128mjperry96

Showing 3 responses by richardkrebs

richardkrebs
418 posts
 
Hey Tom.

Who would have thought that music is about emotion, how it makes us feel!

As you say, some get tied up in he numbers, but the acid test is 'How does it make me feel?"

No emotion, no contest.

cheers. 
richardkrebs
418 posts
 
Dear All.
I suspect that the heavy/light platter debate will always have its disparate points of view.
 What we are  really talking about is low or high inertia platters and the matching of these to drives of sufficient torque, intimately coupled to the platter, to tightly control their speed. (Putting aside, for now, the high inertia, low torque design espoused by some. A completely different design path)
I agree that we don't have the tools, other than our ears, to measure the efficacy of these two design choices, but in my experience a high torque, high inertia drive trumps its opposite. 

richardkrebs
418 posts
 
Thom
Have you considered introducing a little series R Into the power supply and scoping the motor current draw to vicariously look at stylus drag as a function of motor current draw?

cheers 


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