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"Real" Stand Alone Motor DIY SAMA for VPI HW-19

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creativepart

There have been many posts here from people that have bought a $400 SAMA (Stand Alone Motor Assembly) from VPI for their VPI HW-19 TT and have been pleased with the results. And, almost as many posts from people doing all sorts of things to decouple the HW-19 plinth from the base of the TT. (Since, in stock form, the motor is physically attached to the base of the turntable, if you use some method to support the plinth away from the base then you should get all the same anti-motor noise benefits as buying a SAMA from VPI.)
I did this myself a few years ago and posted photos and instructions how I used some plumbing bits to create a 3 pointed stand to hold the plinth of my HW-19 MKIII just the right height above the table so that the motor powered everything just right without the motor/base assembly being coupled to the plinth in any way.
However, I hadn't heard of anyone trying to make a DIY assembly to actually take motor off of the turntable base and build a true DIY Stand Alone Motor Assembly. I wondered if there wouldn't be some benefit with the heavy plinth mounted on the sturdy base as VPI intended.
So, this weekend I decided to build one.
As you can see, a trip to Home Depot and $8 worth of parts later I did it. A true DIY SAMA. It works fine. I'm not sure there are any benefits of doing it this way over doing it the old "decouple the plinth" way. But I'm still giving it a listen test.
This does remove virtually 100% of any vibration from the base/plinth of a HW-19 just like a real $400 SAMA.
Paul Green

Follow Ups:

Re: "Real" Stand Alone Motor DIY SAMA for VPI HW-19 - Stephen Murphy 19:32:04 09/10/06 (10)
That is pretty cool! Is the pipe filled with someting like shot? What did you use on the bottom to make it sticky so it won't slide around?
I have never seen a real SAMA but I would imagine they have to be pretty darn steady so as not to introduce wobbling or speed instability which may be worse than the motor vibration they were intended to fix. Thanks for sharing and the nice photo. You've got me thinking again.
- Heavy pipe only so far - creativepart 20:54:54 09/10/06 (1)
  I plan to go to a sporting goods store to get some lead shot to fill the pipe. So far, it's empty. But the thing weighs a few pounds as is and with the closed cell foam on the bottom it doesn't move at all even at start up. But, I'm with you, it should be heavy, so I'll get some lead for it.
  It is a tad too tall, so I had to put those big washers on the sorbothan pucks to raise the plinth a bit.
  I may buy a real SAMA anyway because while I like saving money, I also like things done the right way. And it works well to remove the motor from the base.
  Thanks
  Paul
  - instead of the washers - trav 19:11:04 09/11/06 (0)
    try resting the plinth on some pvc couplers. I've got the plinth of my Jr. sitting on 3 (2 front, 1 back) with a layer of felt between the pvc and plinth. Lowered the noise floor, tightened the bass, etc. for under $5. Worth a try and you gain some plinth height.
- Here's a photo of a "real" SAMA - kavakidd 19:59:05 09/10/06 (7)
  from my gallery. On a sandbox and further isolated with a Black Diamond Racing "Shelf"
  
  "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
  - SAMA (Open in New Window)
  - Link doesn't work -- must be a contributor it says (nt) - creativepart 20:49:00 09/10/06 (6)
    nt
    - Try this - kavakidd 22:03:13 09/10/06 (0)
      "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
    - You should only need to be registered - kavakidd 21:58:56 09/10/06 (4)
      AFAIK
      
      "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
      - Nope, it says.... - creativepart 10:00:41 09/11/06 (3)
        
        In Reply to: You should only need to be registered posted by kavakidd on September 10, 2006 at 21:58:56:
        
        The Audio Asylum Inmate Image Gallery is available to contributing members only.
        
        Wow - I'm surprised - anyway, it is posted above under - kavakidd 10:56:40 09/11/06 (2)
        
        In Reply to: Nope, it says.... posted by creativepart on September 11, 2006 at 10:00:41:
        
        "try this". Does that work?
        
        "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
        
        Yes, works fine. Thanks but - creativepart 12:19:01 09/11/06 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Wow - I'm surprised - anyway, it is posted above under posted by kavakidd on September 11, 2006 at 10:56:40:
        
        It doesn't look like the SAMAs I've seen for sale on Audiogon. Most of them were dark wood looking things. Not round but not exactly square either. More angled to fit into the corner of the table better.
        They could have been metal with black textured paint on them, I'm not sure what they were made of.
        It's good to see one though.
        Thanks
        Paul
        
        I did have to relieve the - kavakidd 16:25:09 09/11/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Yes, works fine. Thanks but posted by creativepart on September 11, 2006 at 12:19:01:
        
        corner brace a bit to make it fit without touching the wood. But - what you see is what they sold for quite a few years as their SAMA for the HW-19. It is quite heavy and solid.
        
        "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
Re: "Real" Stand Alone Motor DIY SAMA for VPI HW-19 - Ray-o-Stat 18:59:18 09/10/06 (0)
Hello,
I did this about 8 years ago. I actually took the entire table "outboard", raised the plinth onto struts, made a new top plate for the base, and converted the 19's base into a lead-lined sand base with a cut-out decoupled top piece for the motor unit.
The motor unit I made suspended the motor and it never touched any foundation surfaces. I was successful in lowering the noisefloor of the 19 and improving its bass tuning and resolution. You may want to do some listening tests with the motor suspended and isolated. You may like it :-)
If I were doing the same project today there are a few things I would have done differently, but overall taking the motor out and away from the business end of the turntable really pays off.
Have fun with it and good luck!

Close to the Edge, down by the river....

-Ray

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