After almost "completely"upgrading my P2 TT with the easy plug-and-play gadgets, I can't help eyeing at the 18 mm chipboard plinth (2 kg) which is a little too thin and light for my liking. Finally, I decide to try on a more massive 2"(51 mm) fiberboard plinth.





Why fiberboard? Fiberboard is considered a better choice compared to chipboard as it has better anti-resonance property than chipboard. The new P3-24 TT plinth is also made of fiberboard of around 20 mm in thickness.

My DIY plinth is based on the following measurements:

Dimensions : 448.0 mm x 360.0mm x 51.0 mm
Diameter for main bearing housing : 18.0 mm
Diameter for tonearm hole: 25.0 mm (~1")
Diameter for pulley hole: 21.0 mm
Distance between main bearing and pulley (centre to centre) : 68.0 mm
Distance from main bearing to tonearm (centre to centre) : 222.0 mm

This new 2" (51 mm) plinth is about three times the mass (~6 kg) of the original chipboard plinth and it would help to reduce the vibration (main bearing, motor assembly and from the ground through the rubber feet etc) from reaching the record surface and the tonearm.



Top view with 18 mm diameter main bearing



Bottom view



It is not too difficult to transfer the main bearing and the RB250 tonearm from my old P2 plinth to fix onto the new fiberboard plinth. Since my motor assembly is already out-board *, I only need to align the pulley such that it is centrally located in the 20 mm diameter hole. Put back the ball bearing , add a few drops of (80w/90 hypoid gear) lubricating oil, aluminium sub-platter, silicon belt and the acrylic platter just takes me another couple of minutes! And now, the new turntable is ready to play my favorite records!

The result is a significant sonic improvement, less background noise, more details and clearer music/sound.

Try it out yourself and enjoy the permanent improvement with a small outlay ( around USD 100.00 in my case). The new TT also looks better with this thicker plinth, more like a traditional turntable-the vintage Thorens TD160 or Linn LP12.


* DIY out-board motor ( click to read more on......)



Acrylic Plinth click to read more on......)

















5 comments:

Pedro said...

Hi! What difference would there be if a heavy maritime plywood board was to be used instead of a fiberboard?

Michael Lim said...

Hi Pedro,

Please read my latest post on the marine birch ply plinth:http://lpturntables.blogspot.com/2012/06/giving-up-my-slim-look.html

Michael

MDF Board said...

I just really like working with wood made and am always looking for new techniques of doing it,Thanks for sharing the interesting piece of information.

MDF Board | Veneered MDF

Unknown said...

Hi,
Awesome post.I like it very much..
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Anonymous said...

Birch Plywood, Sveza Birch Plywood Plywood - Eximcorp is high quality light weight multi layered plywood panel made throughout from machine composed birch veneers and faced with a natural OSB - Oriental Strand Board, OSB Board, OSB Supplier

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