How to build an idler project.....or why the Dark side is faster....more seductive.....(Yoda)

Posted by tubesforever (M) on August 12, 2006 at 08:08:30

In Reply to: Ping tubesforever posted by texanater on August 12, 2006 at 07:06:19:

Actually I took my early cues from JD, 4yanx, Mosin, Olly, FredJ and others. I think there are a least a couple dozen of us here at the vinyl asylum who are now idler converts.

Here is how I went through the initial idler design process.

First JD and several other asylum inmates are great at posting some of the finest vintage turntables you are likely to see. Many of these incorporate very elaborate custom plinths. They grab these from a number of outstanding websites where you can view hundreds of different vintage tables utilizing modern custom plinths. Just pick a plinth design that works with your decor.

Now you need a drive. Thorens, Garrard, Lenco/Goldring, EMT, Rek O Kut and other manufacturers built nice idler drive tables back in the 60's. Being in Reno, I really wanted to spare myself conversion from 220V 50-hz power supplies so I looked for models that were already functional at 120V 60-hz.

FredJ recommended I try a Rek O Kut model since these are still affordable compared to the Garrard 301 and 401 idlers. Rek O Kut is a New York company, it may still even exist. Their 60's idler designs are very simple and very straight forward from an engineering perspective. I like this since complexity can lead to difficult to solve repairs when it comes to antique audio gear.

I lucked out and bought an LP 743 for just 25 dollars and 25 in shipping. A week later I purchased a Rondine Rek O Kut B12GH model with a respectable tonearm for 175.00 plus 25 dollars in shipping.

As luck has it, the Rondine B12GH has the incredible Pabst three phase hysteresis motor. This is the motor that Mark Kelly considers the closest competitor to the mega buck DC motors for turntables some of which sell for big bucks.

Mosin and Ray O Vac also use and recommend this motor. I think all three are on to something. If you can find a Rondine Rek O Kut B12GH buy it. I think you would be very happy. (Be patient, they come up on ebay if you have the time and patience.)

When it comes to vinyl playback, speed accuracy is everything. The Pabst motor is so good I could swear I was listening at a recording studio on their professional master tape drives.

I followed JD's 301 project by building a constrained dampened layer plinth from Baltic birch plywood. You can find vendors on ebay that will cut this and ship it to your home. I use the 1/2 inch variety which has 9 layers of birch per half inch. This stuff just soaks up resonance. It is fabulous. JD used hyde glue to adhere the layers. I opted for Gorrilla glue which you can buy at Home Depot or Lowes. Both require clamping so I hope your shop is equipted with a variety of clamps.

My last plinth utilized a boxed frame design of solid 3/4 inch flamed curly maple. I also purchased this material from ebay but the wood was extremely rough, and I spent 4 weekends working with belt sanders and long boards to get it to dimensional lumber specifications. The raw wood cost me less than 75 dollars shipped to Reno.

I have found that high mass is necessary for the best Idler sound from the Rek O Kut models. This is the limit of my idler project experience.

I assure you that you can count on me and the other plinth and DIY guys here to help you with your project.

If I had a 1000 dollar budget, I would buy a Garrard 401 and convert it to 120V 60-hz operation and build a cld plinth to support 2 tonearms. One for mono and the other for stereo.

With my 300 dollar budget I purchased a Rek O Kut Rondine and I could not be happier.

Send me your address to jim_howard_pdx@yahoo.com and I will send you a CDR of the Rondine table, Empire 980 tonearm, Denon DL 103R with a Jolida JD9A phono section running Mullard style 12AX7's. If you like what you hear then the project will be well worth the small investment of time and money.

I hope other plinth idler guys will chime in on this one. The more information you soak in now, the better your fun factor will be as you plunge straight into the Dark side. It really is more seductive!

Idlers rule!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Ping tubesforever - texanater 07:06:19 08/12/06 (22)

DUAL? and cart question - texanater 15:50:05 08/12/06 (3)

About Duality and cartridges..... - tubesforever 18:36:35 08/12/06 (2)

Re: About Duality and cartridges..... - texanater 18:51:51 08/12/06 (1)

The Jolida JD9A I bought has superb gain and runs mc of all ranges. - tubesforever 19:37:53 08/12/06 (0)

Re: Ping - J.D. 14:44:19 08/12/06 (4)

Re: Ping - mosin 15:41:37 08/12/06 (3)

c'mon, give us names - OMalley 18:00:11 08/12/06 (2)

Well ... - mosin 18:58:10 08/12/06 (1)

I am sure I know what you mean - OMalley 19:52:20 08/12/06 (0)

How to build an idler project.....or why the Dark side is faster....more seductive.....(Yoda) - tubesforever 08:08:30 08/12/06 (10)

Uh, "faster and more seductive the Dark Side is!!!" - HenryH 09:24:43 08/12/06 (2)

That was a Tubes test....and Henry WON! - tubesforever 10:16:52 08/12/06 (1)

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate. It's all good. /nt\ - HenryH 10:43:23 08/12/06 (0)

CDR question - valvesonly 09:02:00 08/12/06 (1)

The CDR will faithfully reproduce what my vinyl front end would sound like connected to your system. - tubesforever 10:21:35 08/12/06 (0)

I wouldn't call me an idler convert. - mosin 08:34:04 08/12/06 (4)

I can spare a few hundred bucks and some elbo grease... - texanater 09:27:17 08/12/06 (2)

In many ways my projects have been pretty much snap tight model building.... - tubesforever 10:30:07 08/12/06 (1)

Re: In many ways my projects have been pretty much snap tight model building.... - texanater 11:00:27 08/12/06 (0)

I cannot wait to see and hear about your Lenco....and some additional musings.... - tubesforever 08:56:54 08/12/06 (0)

Until tubes shows up- check out this thread - www.records 07:30:17 08/12/06 (1)

Re: Until tubes shows up- check out this thread - JimL 10:48:15 08/12/06 (0)

Follow Ups

How to build an idler project.....or why the Dark side is faster....more seductive.....(Yoda) - tubesforever 08:08:30 08/12/06 (10)

Uh, "faster and more seductive the Dark Side is!!!" - HenryH 09:24:43 08/12/06 (2)

That was a Tubes test....and Henry WON! - tubesforever 10:16:52 08/12/06 (1)

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate. It's all good. /nt\ - HenryH 10:43:23 08/12/06 (0)

CDR question - valvesonly 09:02:00 08/12/06 (1)

The CDR will faithfully reproduce what my vinyl front end would sound like connected to your system. - tubesforever 10:21:35 08/12/06 (0)

I wouldn't call me an idler convert. - mosin 08:34:04 08/12/06 (4)

I can spare a few hundred bucks and some elbo grease... - texanater 09:27:17 08/12/06 (2)

In many ways my projects have been pretty much snap tight model building.... - tubesforever 10:30:07 08/12/06 (1)

Re: In many ways my projects have been pretty much snap tight model building.... - texanater 11:00:27 08/12/06 (0)

I cannot wait to see and hear about your Lenco....and some additional musings.... - tubesforever 08:56:54 08/12/06 (0)

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