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Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

I have just acquired a 32 year old JVC/Victor TT-101 DD turntable after having its lesser brother, the TT-81 for the last year.
TT-101
This is one of the great DD designs made at a time when the giant Japanese electronics companies like Technics, Denon, JVC/Victor and Pioneer could pour millions of dollars into 'flagship' models to 'enhance' their lower range models which often sold in the millions.
Because of their complexity however.......if they malfunction.....parts are 'unobtanium'....and they often cannot be repaired.
halcro
rwwear
2,692 posts
 
My thoughts were if the P3'a are still under warranty there must still be parts for them. But I could be wrong about that.
Japan does have a great postal system though. I once ordered a guitar from Japan and got it in three days in great shape.
jpjones3318's avatar
jpjones3318
117 posts
 
lewm
02-16-2016 8:05pm
One of us...

I just ordered my replacement feaux MN6042 from JP. Since my Mk3 is working perfectly, Bill Thalmann advised me to just keep it for a spare, but it's tempting to wonder whether the Mk3 could perform even better with JP's PCB replacing the stock MN6042.


If your stock chip exhibits the same clock fluctuation as all the samples I've measured, it is an improvement.  
harold-not-the-barrel
799 posts
 
Japanese are usually very serious about what they are doing, both in business, technology & arts. They also are very polite and very honest in business IME. They have passion for perfection, for example HQ audio gear and records (both analog and digital). I have tens of used Japan pressings vinyl albums and they all are practically like new, nearly all ordered from Japan. Never had any kind of issues with Japanese sellers, they also ship very quick.
lewm
6,770 posts
 
Thanks, JP, for your comment.  I guess the question is whether the superior performance of your chip would be audible, compared to the OEM MN6042 in my MK3.  I doubt we can ever know that, if the difference would be subtle, as I imagine it would be. Because one's aural memory is not trustworthy in matters such as this, where my Mk3 would be out of use for weeks until Bill would find time to make the change.  On the other hand, this means I need two of your PCBs, one to install now and one for that rainy day.
fleib
1,124 posts
 

Halcro,  Not sure if you heard, Jico has discontinued the SAS stylus.

Apparently they can no longer source the diamonds.  The SAS was identical to the microridge and looks the same as an AT microline.

Don't know if anyone noticed, but AT has been phasing out the ML tip in favor of an LT.  The source was probably Namiki.

Jico has plans to reintroduce the SAS.

Regards,

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