New Turntable Advice

Belt Drive or Idler Drives in my experiences have an End Sound that can't be returned to where one remains contented after having been demo'd the TT's in use with a Standalone Dedicated Speed Controller. 

The issue is Standalone Speed Controller Models can easily head North of £1500.

In context I can purchase 5 x JVDD  TT's for the cost of one Standalone Speed Controller and even a working but poorly model of DD will hold its own in Speed Control against a Standalone Speed Controller costing approx' 5 x the DD TT's cost. 

Additionally there are Speed Controllers that can be used with both Belt Drive Motors and Idler Drive Motors.

Improved VFM can be had from a certain design of Standalone Speed Controller if a Belt Drive Standalone Motor is used with an ID TT that has a flat finish side wall to a Platter.

A Belt can be added and a ID TT can become a BD TT, where both drives have a very accurate Speed Control. 

I have also witnessed a DD TT, with a Platter Coupled to another Platter using a Belt. 

Was the DD's Speed Accurcy transferred  to the Coupled TT? 

It does seem like a VFM method to get another Platter rotating to a point where Speed Accuracy is quite attractive. 

If the OP really wants to experience a very satisfactory JVDD TT, the Aurex SR 520 will give them  great initial experience for a very small outlay. This TT has a huge hunk of Copper for the Stator and has substantial material used for the Stator Bowl and Bearing Housing.

There are much much more expensive Brands Model of similar vintage that are a design failure in the Stator Interface and are not offering and rigidity when torque is applied.

When the Stator Bowl has flexion from torque energies being transferred, does one think a 0.2mm pressing tolerance is a concern 🤔😂, stop kidding oneself.

Another thing of interest is that the Aurex Spindle Interface with Bushes is extremely accurate, zero play can be detected.

A few modern materials brought in to be used with the Aurex and there is a substantial DD TT being put to use, leaving the Offer Topped Up.

I own a Quad of these TT's all imported and all arrived over a period of time, inclusive of Taxes, for not much more than £600, all in.

One of these will be offered with an SME IV to my Wife, for her SS systemwhen the home is renovated.

I would not sell her short in any way she has a great ear and owns more than half the Album Collection. 

I did check the Nakamichi out, If, like you, I had one restored everything working, I would work hard to get the best out of it.

however, I would not choose the Nakamichi Dragon CT, and I might politely say no thank you if someone offered to give me one.

this listing has links to the oem brochure and owners manual

https://skyfiaudio.com/products/nakamichi-dragon-ct-computing-vintage-turntable-legendary-and-rare-with-new-sumiko-cartridge?srsltid=AfmBOoqQ3q71w1gPuwYvVQ1jj7yIid1L3Lg3IIYzYrgoym0fBDo79MPP

there, I found the arm height is not adjustable, they originally supplied a kit of shims, and you need to carefully measure your cartridge height, and use the proper combination of shims as per their chart pg 8. I detest shims!!!!!

And previously I posted an excerpt from a review I read

this reviewer’s conclusion

"I have to be perfectly honest with you, I find my Yamaha GT-2000 better sounding, even after the centre search."

Keep in mind, I want easy use of alternate cartridges, either two arms on a larger plinth like the Luxman PD444, JVC PL-2 two arm plinth, a custom plinth,

or changeable arm wands on a compact unit like the Technics SP15 or 10 in their base with dust cover. It's a shame they don't offer that solution for a new SL-1300G

I'm not a fan of a separate glass platter that slides around on a sub platter, it moves too readily in this video (my instincts, solve a problem but introduce a different problem)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0UKRLYgEk8

and I find the Technics EPA-B500 tonearm base changable armtube side mounted sliding slot far more precise auto-alignment than a round tube with a round locking ring.

....................

I have never actually seen or heard a GT-2000, and never see a photo of one with two tonearms. That might be worth doing.

I checked the Sony and you are correct No azimuth adjustment. In fact I didn’t see it on the Nakamichi either.. Ok Im following your advice and I keep the $5.2K towards something else. Ill look for a Yamaha GT-2000, Techniques SP-15 or SP-10, Luxman PD444, JVC, while in Japan in a couple of weeks and listen to the DS Audio Optical cartridge system.  Michell Engineering GyroDec also.    

West Coast FL

I'll 'Beat the Drum' about the Aurex SR 510 not 520 as mistakenly referred to.  

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/auction/yahoo/input/n1190564152/

The SR 510 was made known to me via another forum. 

The Forum Member 'Shakti' is possibly one of a handful of individuals who has encountered an unusual wealth of Analogue Sources, that are supported by a Downstream System costing much more than a $100K.

Their having experienced an extensive range of Vintage and Modern TT's where TT's are exceeding $50K and Tonearms where these have approached $50K, along with Cartridges experienced, 

that must be up in the hundreds and ranging from $1K - $20K.

When an individual explains as a stock item inclusive of Tonearm the set up was very comfortably seated along side vintage models costing 30-40+ x more as a purchase. It would be foolish not to create similar, especially as it is very affordable. 

The same individual stated that with an improved Tonearm, they expected the TT set up to be a substantial performer. 

A man with no dog in the fight sharing their impression of a TT in relation to their vast experience, can't put a negative comment, apart from suggesting a change of Tonearm will be creating something quite special. 

This TT as stated, is rigid as a structure, which has substantial benefits for the mechanical operation of the TT.

Not all JVDD TT's have such a rigid structure and this is a much unwanted condition for a mechanical operation.

A non-rigid structure when speed checked using a Standalone Strobe, will show Speed fluctuations immediately. 

Combine non-rigid structure with a Spindle that is not a perfect fitting to bushes, especially if movement is detectable (very likely), and speed fluctuation detected will be very concerning.