Hey gLENN, Bean a furmur wIZKONCINIT. it wuz grate 2 git a repli foum sumune dat cumz frum da same part of da kuntre. It iz fine to no dere iz anuther guy frum da Milkakee area dt belongz to da audiogun netwerk. Maybe we eben went 2 skool 2gedder. I gaduaded in 1960 frum hi skool, bay vew. I gunna beez up der dis weak end fir 4 daze, mabee we can git 2gedder an spin sum disks. I lub 2 hear tables wit mdf beringz, sunz lik you got dem.

I kepz wurken on da macheen en 1 day it will be dun. by da way I got a hot tip on replacmnt needles. KATSUZ, day last abut 10 hurz but u kan gro dem tings at hom fur nxt to nuttin.Snd ne yur dres end I kan snd a fue 2 u for fre.

plz repli agin az it wus fon to reed yur head toghtz. It sure wuz grate 2 her frum en ol frend.

thaks, Ken

kftool April 16, 2007 20:11

Well, what can i say except,it must sound faboulous!!!!!!!!
it is truely over the top, but bulid this sort of beast and
you never want another turntable!!!!!!!

Also the detail retrevial must be something else, I suspect
that a quite average cartridge would sound amazing!!!!

this makes it actually cheap to run re stylii well the three
tonearms give endless possibilities

I have a humble systemdeck 2 the oil rig, i have partially
completed a refurbished TT with a "heavier platter" on a sandwich MDF Base,(inspired a bit by Roger Waters!!)

i just have to get the parts together; as a very rough
mock up with a poor speed controlled DC motor it ate
my systemdeck for smoothness base and depth.

well everyone should have a go at whatever lever they can
second hand vinyl is so cheap and the sound so good!!

Best whishes
Glenn Stewart

fantasia April 14, 2007 01:43

I chose to use 3- double motor - flywheel drive units to deliver power to a much lighter platter than yours. My thought was that when the system was up to speed, the spyder wire drive belts from the motor pods to the table would deliver noise free, constant power to the platter.

One of my best friends and member of my audio group recently purchased a Kuzma Stabi XL with Kuzma Air Line arm. It sits on the same stand as his Walker Proscenium, (which is identical to mine).

The Kuzma uses two motors and belts to drive the platter and the sound is extraordinary. I rate these two tables VERY close, regardless of differences in drive systems and design.

So, if your motors work, they work. I have no predisposed ideas as to one method being better than another, I just go by sound.

I realize you say what you mean. When one man does all the thinking, mistakes of omission are the result. I appreciate your constructive criticism.

I hope your not confusing my post with another, I have no criticism and would not have unless I had first hand experience. I'm just amazed at the hard work you've put in. I know how hard it is to create things from scratch. I've been a hands on guy since pre teen years when I worked on my bicycle and motorcycles to throw a paper route.

I have great respect for DIY people, they keep this business alive. All the great stuff that represents high end at CES is little guys that not so long ago had a dream that came true.

My Aesthetix pre and phono, Walker table, Purist cables, custom tube crossover and equipment stands are from guys that were DIY and began building stereo equipment they believed in. All I can say is "bless them,"

albertporter November 01, 2006 23:42

Albert,

Your Walker uses a single motor drive to power a heavy lead platter. It does use a wide drive belt that will be more efficient at delivering the power to the platter than a string, rubber or mono filament. It seems as though when the platter is up to speed, it will not be affected by the cogging of a motor stator whose mass is miniscule in comparison to the platter.

I chose to use 3- double motor - flywheel drive units to deliver power to a much lighter platter than yours. My thought was that when the system was up to speed, the spyder wire drive belts from the motor pods to the table would deliver noise free, constant power to the platter.

Presenting a question such as this to a tt mfg would only open the door to criticism, after all , they aren't only audiophyles, but businessmen who need to stay in business. If they fail in their endeavour, the status of the industry will stagnate.

It's obvious to "gonners " that there are few people that have your audio miles. Owning a Walker is statement enough, however, if there was only one table to play an LP, we'd have no choices.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I hope mine tastes good. This last sentence wasn't meant to coax a positive opinion, I realize you say what you mean. When one man does all the thinking, mistakes of omission are the result. I appreciate you constructive criticism.

regards, Ken

kftool November 01, 2006 17:22

700 pounds huh? At least you won't have to insure it, no one could pick it up to steal it.

A very serious effort on your part, congratulations on what appears to be an excellent job.

albertporter October 31, 2006 21:01

Albert,

My computer IQ is about minus 10 below plant life. I finked out last nite trying to post some good pictures , but an email from Audiogon told me a server error ocurred and I'd have to start over. I'm doing that tonight.

This is a one of a kind project. When finished, it should weigh around 700 Lbs on the stand. There will be lifting slots built into the stand so I can move it with my engine hoist. I doubt it will be going out of the house.

Regarding the 3 arms; I bought the Tri Plainer a year and a half ago, installed the Shelter 90 X 3 months ago, had a resonance problem and listened to it for about 20 minutes and that was that. The Dynavector only came out of the box to lay out the pedestal for the table I'm building. The My Sonic Labs Eminent cartridge I thought I'd use it with is on top of the piano. The Kuzma, out only for measurements, will be used with the Koetsu Jade that will be here in a few weeks.

It has been many years since I heard vinyl in my system, but I can wait, since I love the journey as much as the destination.

I hope to be able to offer an opinion after Christmas.

Thanks, Ken

kftool October 31, 2006 16:02

I like it! I'll be looking for more photo's. I hope to hear this someday, maybe at an audio show.

Is the Kuzma is the best of the three arms, or have you listened enough to have an opinion?

albertporter October 31, 2006 11:48

Guys,

Last nite I posted some great new pictures,BUT, I guess I didn't hit the right button. I probably need to go back to Audiogon posting school. I'll fix it tonight. Thanks for looking.

Ken.

kftool October 31, 2006 06:59

Super stuff.

A thought... since you can't at the moment use a metal platter (I would agree with your opinion on that -- and with the thought that ultimately certain drawbacks happen for the best!): Calibrate the rotational mass so that it works well with and without vacuum.

Oh yes, and please keep on posting on progress!

gregm October 31, 2006 02:47

System edited: The fun continues, I hope you'll enjoy my journey. Thanks ,Ken

kftool October 30, 2006 19:43

System edited: The fun continues, I hope you'll enjoy my journey. Thanks ,Ken

kftool October 30, 2006 19:41

Ken-
What can I say? I would love to listen to that in your system!
beautiful work. Congratulations!

slipknot1 October 28, 2006 10:56

Hi Ken
Looks really really nice. I will be watching as you post more pictures.
Take care.
Mike

rugyboogie October 28, 2006 07:06

Darkmoebius,

The VPI units do use 2 low power drive units, however, once the 15 lb flywheel is up to speed, it then becomes the drive unit. The rubber belts connecting the motors to the flywheel filter out the cogging inherent in pm motors. I will be using 20 lb test Spyder wire to transfer the power from the 3 - 15 lb flywheels to the 15 lb Sota platter. Since there will be no stretching effect of a rubber drive belt , the power from the flywheels should be consistent. There will be platforms for the 3 drive units that will employ a vernier tensioning device to control the power delivered to the platter. That is a total of 60 lbs of rotational mass filtering out the cogging effect of 6- 7 watt synchronous motors. I can only theorize that it will all work.

It will be Christmas before I'll know if this all works. If it doesn't, it won't matter, I'll just lie to myself.

Please check back from time to time, as I'll be posting new photos every 4 or 5 days as the project progresses.

regards, Ken

kftool October 24, 2006 18:30

Slipknot1

Joe, thanks for your input on shelves, as I need to decide on the platform this thing will sit on. I'm checking out the sources for Jatoba you mentioned.

I was hoping that the step by step shots of a DIY project wouldn't bore "gonners." I hope I can hold your interest. I appreciate your reply, as it encourages me to share the fun of building an idea.

Thanks, Ken

kftool October 24, 2006 18:09

Hi Aaron,

When I was around 25 years old, I was a modelmaker at a display company. The first thing I learned was to mock-up your idea to see how it looked. After that the mind starts to visualize changes that will improve your first idea. That has stuck with me to this day.

The first thought was to build a vacuum platter using 1 1/2 inch, 304 stainless steel. Drive it with 2 motor pods, each using 3 Hurst motors, driving a 10 lb intermediate flywheel. Rubber belts would transfer the torque to the flywheel, with the rotational inertia of the flywheel filtering out the cogging. Well, things change when you begin to think.

At that time I had planned to incorporate 2 tonearms. That thought went to 3 after I read about the Kuzma and Rockport arms.

The platter is sourced from my friends at Sota. I doubt that I would ever have a non vacuum platter under any conditions and I prefer a metal platter because of the density and rotational energy it possesses, just a personal opinion.

I had planned on building the platter, however the local cnc based machine shop was sold to a bean counter, nuff said. I feel that everything happens for the best, and the course I'm on now makes me feel much happier.

I'm keeping a digital log of every step in this project. If you wish, send me your address and I'll ups a dvd of probably 5 or 600 shots of the project when it's done, hopefully by Christmas.

Aaron, I thank you for the first posting to my virtual system, I owe you my first born.

regards, Ken

kftool October 24, 2006 17:59

Ken-
That is way cool! Thanks for providing us with such great photos of the process as well. I look forward to seeing the completed project and reading about how it sounds.

slipknot1 October 24, 2006 12:54

The 3 VPI dual-motor flywheel drive units is an interesting approach. What is your reasoning for the ultra low power drive units?

Seems to be the exact opposite of how Voyd used 3 high-torgue motors to increase the rotational mass of the platter for greater speed stability.

Anyway, I applaud your dedication and planning. Seems to be a mjor undertaking. Wish I had the skills(and workshop) to do it.

darkmoebius October 24, 2006 12:13

Hi Ken,

A most impressive design and I am sure that the execution will be first class as well. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the final product along with analyses of the strengths, weaknesses and/or differences between your various tonearms and cartridges. May I ask how you built or sourced the vacuum platter? It looks quite similar to the platter on my Basis 2800 vacuum turntable. Very nice indeed.

Enjoy that extensive vinyl collection,
Aaron

drajreynolds October 24, 2006 02:44