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Anyone remember the lateral tracking Bang and Olufsen record player from the 80’s??

I remember going to my local HiFi Buys in the 80’s, and they were demoing a Bang and Olufsen laterally tracking record player. The stylist arm was straight, and followed the record grooves, moving left to right. He started banging hard with his fist on it, and the needle refused to jump!! I was REALLY impressed! I also wonder why there are not any lateral tracking LP players today? It made sense, the needle was always tracking straight In the groove, as it played the LP. Not curving slightly as it gets past the middle of playing the LP, as conventional record players have the stylist arm on a corner. So, the needle slightly turns inward as the record plays. No idea how he was able to bang on it while it was playing, and the needle didn’t skip. I was truly impressed! Maybe they do make players like this still, I’ve just not seen them. B&O really made/makes some really cool stuff!! And great designs. IMO.
  Another audio product for the 80’s that blew me away was the: Nakamitchi Dragon cassette player!! WOW! What a stunning design! Wish I’d bought one back in the day!! Of course, try to find an audio cassette to play in it today! My sister’s teenagers had no idea what a cassette was, when I showed them one. I think very young kids today won’t recognize a CD disk! Forget about LP’s or 45’s.   Any of you remember a stunning audio piece, from the past, that blew you away? I was also thinking of reel to reel audio players as well. Man, they sounded SO good!! SO expensive today!   Thank god for music! Can’t watch the news without my BP spiking! And so little to do, everyone scared to meet in person. Too much free-time. Music keeps me sane. Crazy times we live in!
savroof
crustycoot
589 posts
 
In 1971 I got a Rabco ST4 belt drive with a cheaper version of Henry Rabinow’s LT tonearm. Clamshell dustcover, sprung motorboard, with an ADC XLM. That was used with a Quad 33 and PAS3 for a few years until it developed a worn out nylon guide that was critical to its LT arm, that no one could fix. Later I had an HK ST7 with a Denon DL103S operating on the same principle...Today, in addition to my WTT I have a Revox B795 That I rarely use, but I still love LT in theory. The downfall has always been the complexity of maintaining tangency. Anyone try the Clearaudio TT5?
whiteknee
40 posts
 
I still have my Beogram TX linear tracking TT purchased in 1984 with MMC2 cartridge.  Never had any mechanical issues with it during the 20 years of heavy use.  I put it away in the early 2000s to focus on digital.  When I pulled it out of storage 2 years ago it still worked fine but the hinge covering the tonearm was faulty so I took the unit to my local B&O store and they serviced the mechanicals and repaired the hinge. Looks and works good as new.  As previously mentioned Soundsmith handles all B&O cartridges so I may upgrade just to see what kind of sound quality is possible.  I haven't put together my analog listening room yet but plan to augment the TX with either a Rega P6, VPI Prime Scout or Technics SL1200GR.  I'm retiring at the end of 2020 so should have more time to audition these TTs as long as Covid is under control.  https://sound-smith.com/bo-cartridges
elliottbnewcombjr
5,108 posts
 
glupson

terrific TT, my Vertical version is belt drive, yours is Quartz Locked Direct Drive. Glancing at the manual available here

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/mitsubishi/lt-30.shtml

it has a full complement of fine adjustments

here is 2 belt kit on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MITSUBISHI-LT-30-BELT-Kit-2-belts/123886275552?hash=item1cd8328be0:g:4aUAAOSwVLZdBsMI

Like old tape recorders, the old belts turn into nasty rubbery glue. I strongly suspect if you remove the cover, clean the gunk out, clean the rail the arm moves on, lube and install new belts, you will have it working again.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,108 posts
 
this one just came up for sale, seems a beauty, ready to go, good price, anyone would need to find what seller wants for shipping

https://www.vintageaudioexchange.com/product/mitsubishi-turntable-model-lt-5v
mwinkc
343 posts
 
I bought a B&O 2402 tt (not tangential) around 1980 to go with my Nakamichi 530 receiver and Magneplaner SMG's. It was a good tt, but the hinges were a common, regular fail-point and the bronze bushings in the tonearm lifter would bind up, causing the tonearm to take too long to lift. On an automatic tt, this is bad...as when the side was finished, the tonearm would drag across the disk to home position, and the lift up....making the last track a bit stressful as you prepare to dash to the tt and manually stop it before the dredded zzzzzzip at the end. Taking the lifter apart, cleaning and lubricating it became a breeze after doing it a few times. The B&O dealer charged me $150 to do it the first time...calling it "recharging the dampening system".
In early the 2000's I sold it and got the tangential TX2 turntable. It's been flawless, only requiring a new belt every once in a while. When the mmc3 cartridge wore out, it was easy to upgrade to a Soundsmith smmc2. The suspension was amazing...my two very large dogs could be wrestling a few feet from my audio cabinet and the TX2 would never skip.
The fully mechanized nature or the tonearm made it somewhat of a pain to check stylus pressure or even clean the stylus.
Still have it and still have the identical spare I picked up and never needed. They work fine but a Technics took over the #1 spot a couple years ago.
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