Record player base

[staffie]

Good day all,

My brother is into LP records and He has just asked me to build him a base for his record player. I have a plan with dimensions and he has given me all the components, i.e floating motor arm, turntable, lift and tilt mechanism etc.

The question really is what wood would you recommend the base be built from. Its basically a rectangular box with a top on which the components are mounted, some above others below and that is covered with a perspex top.

I have read that the base should have and absolute minimum of vibration as this affects the records and the sound reproduction.

Any views or advise would also be appreciated.

regards
Jock

[dirtydeeds]

im making one of ash faced mdf and poplar (its all going to be ebonised, method not as yet decided) for a christmas present

the mdf gives it weight, if records are stored in the bottom this will add weight

[engineerone]

would have thought as has been said mdf.

think about how the good quality speaker cabinets are often made of mdf for the basic box, because it does not vibrate as much, and is easier to dampen.

good luck

paul

[robo]

As an Analogue Addict - reading the above has made me cringed.

If your brother is not bothered about the sound that emanates from the system then fair enough just make a nice box for it to sit in? But manufactures of high quality turntables spend enormous amounts of effort in their designs, which includes motors, arms, suspension, PSU, isolation and the "box" that supports it all. They all have an effect on the sound. Also the type of turntable and it's suspension system dictates the type of "box".

All turntables however made have to be properly supported and isolated from vibrations and kept away as far as possible from other electrical components. The best way apart from a piled foundation (which some people have done!!) is to use a metal turntable shelf fastened to a solid wall or spiked through to a concrete floor. Sitting them on a sideboard etc. is a big No No.

Buy HiFi World or HiFi News to see some examples.

Rod

[staffie]

Thanks everyone for your replies,

I have spent a few hours on a few audio enthusiast boards, and the following materials were mentioned; perspex, Glass, Stainless Steel, Granite, Brass, Copper.

The wood that was mentioned was: Beech, Native Black Walnut, Red and White Oak, Cherry and Olivewood, Bubinga, cocobola, Cherry.

Also MDF, plywood, chipboard and laminated products were used.

I found some really great designs so am rethinking the box idea, will post progress if there is interest

[robo]

Hi staffie - what make of turntable are you dealing with?

If it's a Thorens or Garrard, there are a lot of designs out there for them and even some people who make new bases which you might get some ideas from?

R.

[mignal]

MDF is considered pretty poor for this type of application. Birch ply is often sandwiched (high mass plinths) for both the Garrard and Thorens idler drives. Lots of different types of hardwoods have been used. What is the turntable?

[sooty]

I made a plinth for a Mitchell Reference Electronic some years ago when I was well into Hi-Fi I used a piece of Tuffnel or Tuffnol 1" thick cant remember exactly what it is called They use it as an isolator in electrical switch boxes.
It worked very well

[staffie]

Appologies for the delay responding but the player is not quite in the league of the "Thorens or Garrard", I turned the components over a few times to check but no known brands on them. Except for the tone arm which is is a Fairchild model 280 with a AR 254 pickup. (Paperwork in the box)

The motor is a floating motor suspended on a rubber band below the existing table, with a drivebelt above the table connecting it to the turntable, the turntable base is a triangular metal insert with a hollow column in which a single ball bearing sits that the turntable shaft turns on. The hollow column also has a bearing at the top which fits the shaft snugly. The turntable itself is made from slate and is about 3/4 inch thick. spins beautifully.

The only other component is a surface mounted on / off switch.

I will try to find out the exact details of the motor and turntable tonight from my brother if he still has the paperwork.

Thanks to everyone for the comments so far.

Jock

[Scrit]

staffie said:

The wood that was mentioned was: Beech, Native Black Walnut, Red and White Oak, Cherry and Olive wood, Bubinga, Cocobola and Cherry.

Also MDF, plywood, chipboard and laminated products were used.

Native black walnut? Must be American, then, as black walnut is a species native to North America. Their beech is also a different wood to ours as well, and red or white oak are also American. In any case MR-MDF (the green stuff) whilst not normally available off the shelf pre-veneered is as dense as most mediumto dense hardwoods.

Scrit

[Lord Nibbo]

Your description sounds very much like my Rega HERE is a link to the Rega p3, it's a resin base.

You say your turntable is slate, are you sure?

[staffie]

Thanks Your lordship its very similar, except that someone had built the base into a veneered mdf box. Hence the original question as to what wood to use, and yes Scrit the woods I mentioned all come off an american website so they are all probably the american species.

I had a good look at the turntable and the "slate" plate is attached to the original base by 4 screws. Took the screws out and lifted the disc off and it sure looks and feels like slate, even scratches like slate. I now think that it is not part of the original, am going to try to fill the screw holes in the original base as the mat will cover this. Will have to shorten the pin as well.

Having looked around am going to try using a 4 inch thick slab of cherry edged in beech for contrast. hollow out for the motor housing, tone arm base and turntable and attach a set of Clearlight Audio RDC (Resonance Dampening Compound ) Cones to the bottom. Should be solid and vibration free, and just for good measure sould great

Thats me busy for the next month or six, Progress pictures will be posted as we go.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Jock