New DIY turntable project

[garyroach]

So, i've decided to build my secound diy turntable. The first one was good and taught me alot. This one will have a 12kg, 2" thick aluminum platter with a maglev bearing. To spin the platter i'll use a Jasmin motor, both available from china. I have settled on a Dynavector xx2MkII cartridge. The plinch will be made from four layers of 3/4" baltic birch plywood. For the tone arm i was considering the SME 309 or the Jelco TK 850. I know the SME is twice the price of the Jelco. Is the SME really that much better? Am i crazy to put a $2K cartridge on a $1k tonearm like the Jelco. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[bbftx]

What bearing are you planning to use?
Cheers,
B B

 

[vinylkid58]

Am i crazy to put a $2K cartridge on a $1k tonearm like the Jelco.

The new series of Jelco arms look really nice. What cartridge are you using now?

jeff

 

[analog_sa]

IMHO the weakest part of your plan is the baltic birch plinth. To my ears BB alone sounds just dreadful as a plinth. Drilled through and as a part of a constrained layer it is somewhat improved but a lot of its inherent character remains. The 12kg alu platter is likely to also have a very strong sonic signature, unless it is also drilled or part of a sandwich - mine certainly has.

Sorry, can only offer negative experiences with parts similar to the ones you intend using. Never tried a maglev bearing, so no idea how this will contribute to the final sound.

 

[garyroach]

vinylkid58
, i'm currently using a Sumiko blue point #2 Cartridge.

 

[garyroach]

Here is a link to the platter, Super Sound Aluminum Platter+Tungsten steel Maglev bearing for Turntables | eBay

And this is the link to,the motor, Jasmine TM-R501 Turntable Motor turntable part High Torque Brushless DC Motor | eBay

 

[garyroach]

bbftx,
The ebay add states the bearing is a tungston steel maglev bearing.

 

[bbftx]

Hey Gigi,
That bearing looks pretty suspect. The arrow refers to a tiny button magnet and the model number for a free-standing motor. Doesn't make any sense. The bearing surface does not look like a precision set up.

Do you know anybody that has used this bearing? I see no reviews for it anywhere.
B B

 

[garyroach]

bbftx,
The button magnet is used with a hall effect sensor for motor speed feedback control. It is for there propiatary motor that i am not intending to use. And yes i do know someone that has used this motor/platter bearing setup. His name is Troles Gravison of Denmark. He is a very prominent speaker designer employed by Jantzen Audio. Ckeck out his DIY site. I have built one of the speaker kits he designed. The Jensen 1071.

 

[garyroach]

Here is a link of the turntable i am basing my build after.
MagLev

 

[garyroach]

gigigirl,
I ckecked out the Temaad tonearms. Except for there lowest priced model, The Wizard there other models aer more expensive then the Jelco at $1,015 on ebay.

 

[bbftx]

yes i do know someone that has used this motor/platter bearing setup. His name is Troles Gravison of Denmark. He is a very prominent speaker designer employed by Jantzen Audio. Ckeck out his DIY site. I have built one of the speaker kits he designed. The Jensen 1071.

Thanks, Gary, Troels' Mag-Lev build is intriguing --- I really enjoyed reading and seeing what he's done. I love dual arm setups.

Now I'll have to check out all his speaker projects....
Cheers,
B B

 

[hottattoo]

Here is some cool plinth material called Diamondwood. You can get a slab in many different colors / camo patterns and Is 2" thick x 16" wide x 27' long. This material is compressed plywood and epoxy and is hard, tough, dense, and cool looking. Good luck.

Dymondwood Handle Material