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In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: Tritium Turntables
Post Subject: GotchaPosted by mem916 on: 11/30/2011
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OK, I understand now when you talk about suspension and will translate to "bearing".  I don't know if it needs to be the turntable or the stand but something needs to be responsible for isolation.  I have heard good things about the vibraplane and would certainly use one if I didn't have isolation built into my turntable already and a good stand.

No I didn't meant to imply that I adjust the vacuum level for each record, only that "more is better".  My compressor wore out and was not producing as much suction as it did when it was new.  I ordered the rebuild kit from the manufacturer and sure enough it sounded better to me after rebuilding.  To confirm I reduced the vacuum and it sounded worse, so I cranked it back up and left it that way.  I'm not big on doing any adjustments for each record I play.  I only fiddle with things when there is an obvious problem that needs to be solved or I am curious.  I don't play many warped records either.  I think the improvement in sound comes from reducing resonances in the vinyl by making a very firm (on the order of 500 kgs of force) bond between the LP and the dead platter.  It is very noticeable when I thump the record with my fingernail.  With the vacuum on it sounds like I am thumping a block of lead. Of course I have no clamp so when the vacuum is off it is much looser than a table that at least has a clamp.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
 mem916 wrote:
Oh, by suspension, I meant the tuned spring suspension that the versa (and many other 'tables) use to isolate the plinth platter, and arm from vibrations coming up through the floor and the stand. I don't think of a platter bearing as providing any sort of vibration isolation so I don't think of it as a suspension. 
  
I see, we did misunderstand each other.  By suspension I meant, and always mean the way how platter is handing in its position: ball bearing, air, magnetic, liquid, superconductor antigravity, unobtainium … etc. I never pay attention to suspension of plinth and isolate it from floor and I feel that this is not TT duty, at least not a part of high-end turntables.  I do not insist that my definition of “suspension” is accurate but this is how I use it for years: for me suspension is how platter is suspended, not plinth.  
 mem916 wrote:
In general I was pointing out the many differences between the two record players. I know vacuum hold-down has some controversy.  Naturally the manufacturers that offer it will say it is great and the ones that don't will say it is terrible.  For my versa 1.2 I can easily adjust the amount of vacuum applied and the more I apply the better it sounds.   By "negative curve" I guess you mean the platter is slightly dished?  The Well Tempered turntable used that design.  It does work well, but not as good as vacuum in my experience.

I had the vacuum hold-down, Micro Seiki RX- 1500FVG. The hold-down worked great but I did not really felt any need for it. I hardly ever use warped records. I feel that the benefit of vacuum hold-down is to establish with a uniform bund between platter and record. The fanny part is that the leaves of vacuum hold-down act as gaskets between the uniform bund. Anyhow, I was not too wild about is and I found it was not too practical, even on Micro the vacuum hold-down was made in the most friendly way I even seen. Adjusting the amount of vacuum applied to get better sounds? Well, do you do it for each record? There are half of hundreds of records type, different thinness, mass, flexibility est. Do you set own depth of vacuum for each record you play? I do not adjust VTA when I play different record thinness. I assure you that move VTA from Dynaflex to 180g and I assure you that the sonic difference in VTA 100x time more than changing the depth of vacuum. Sure, I would not argue and it you see the improvement (not difference but improvement) than it certainly a way to go for you but it appears too anal retentive for me, at least in context of dally use. The changing pressure I feed my Vibroplane and to change the Vibroplane height also makes some difference in sound. However, I recognize those differences as something that is well beyond of my interest 

The Cat

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