I’ve just completed an on-site installation, commission and set-up of a Luxman PD-171A turntable + Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge in a Luxman super-system. My friend Kent previously owned Douglas Hi-Fi, one of the last few proper hi-fi stores in Perth. Douglas Hi-Fi supplied some elements of the system you see in these images, including the […]
This is the second JVC QL-F4 direct-drive turntable with speed control issues I’ve repaired recently. Come with me as I resolve the problem. The JVC QL-F4 is a great direct-drive deck, perfect for someone stepping up from a belt-drive or lower-tier DD. They actually have stellar wow and flutter figures, really low for an affordable
In this video, I explain some considerations when correctly setting up a turntable like the legendary Kenwood KD-600. This particular KD-600 came to me very poorly set-up. The deck’s owner received some very bad advice from, of all people, Ortofon! I’m a big fan of Ortofon cartridges, but clearly not everyone there knows what they
The beautiful and elegant Luxman PD-264 direct-drive turntable is delightfully different, in the way Luxman gear often is and would make a wonderful first ‘proper’ turntable. The Luxman PD-264 is a deck you see often here in Australia. Sold at an affordable price, in a competitive market and when Luxman was a heavy hitter, there
Given the renewed interest in turntables, especially quality decks, I wanted to share some details about servicing the legendary Kenwood KD-600. The Kenwood KD-600 / 650 is a classic direct drive turntable from the late ’70s. The KD-600 is a superb deck, for a number of technical reasons: 20 pole, 30 slot brushless motor, synthetic concrete-composite
I recently serviced a Sony PS-1150 belt drive turntable and want to discuss why I service the spindle bearings on turntables. The spindle bearing is the central bearing about which the platter turns, rotating the record. This bearing can be anything from a basic narrow steel spindle, to an elaborate bearing with massive stainless steel
Kenwood’s legendary KD-500/KD-550 direct-drive turntables are classics from an era when things were built to last. Indeed, if decks like the KD-500/KD-550 with this level of custom engineering were manufactured now, they would cost many, many thousands of dollars. The Technics SL-1200 is a classic example – it’s recently been reissued and costs thousands. This
