Rek-o-kut Turntable Recommendations

[Gus]

Hi!
I'm looking for to buy a rek-o-kut turntable for my record lathe project
but i'm not sure what model
or is it better to buy a stanton st-150?
any recommendation is welcome!
Regards!

[studiorp]

Depend from some technical considerations : for example the Rek o Kut TR-12H was a very good transcription turntable of 1950 years, idler drive with a strong histeresys synchro motor. Too the platter is well built, as many turntables of age.
The Stanton 150 is a modern direct drive quartz strobo control system turntable, 4.5 kg/cm ( or 5 ? ) of torque, very silent, high stability of speed . The only problem could be the wobble platter, as many dd dj turntable of today; while the Rek o Kut I believe that have a better stability and precision of platter.
So, at the end there two systems : idler or direct drive. Idler can have troubles with speed stability if the gum is hard after 50 or more years, otherwise can do rebuild from Terryrubber, for example.
Direct drive repeat is more stable ( 0.0... % flutter speed ) and no vibrations, so all advantage for you.

[Gus]

I'm a bit confused
personally what kind of turntable do you prefer as a record lathe?
rek-o-kut in a good condition or a direct drive such as stanton st-150?

is it good turntable for a record lathe?
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Rek-O-Kut-Rondine-Jr-L-34-Turntable-Audax-KT-12-Tonearm-Headshell-Maple-Base-/380698635388

I know i ask too much questions but i want to make a good buy

[uvoscillator]

I waste a lot of time with mine TR43, even with restored idlers it has lot of rumble.
I waste a lot of time with Vextax DD turntable
I waste a lot of time with modified SP-1210
So finally after year of trying, I've back to the first tip that I get here : Technics SP-10mk2
So if you don't want experimenting a lot and save some time, then waste a money like me )))

[Gus]

thank's for your reply uvoscillator
but my budget is between 800$-1000$ or 600-800 euros

[uvoscillator]

yep, I also waste my money by small portions, not in one time ))
ROK overheads are most lightweight, so with 1210 it can work, on stress, but works
but you need like new one, check platter twice to have no runout...

on cheap DD turntables platter usually fixed very poor ...

[Gus]

yep, I also waste my money by small portions, not in one time ))
ROK overheads are most lightweight, so with 1210 it can work, on stress, but works
but you need like new one, check platter twice to have no runout...

on cheap DD turntables platter usually fixed very poor ...

i forgot to mention that
my overhead is not ROK or Presto but Fairchild and i drive it by an external motor with variation controller and runs very smoothly that means i'm searching for a budget turntable only to cut and not to drive my overhead

[uvoscillator]

I see )
I think Technics 1210 must works than !

[Gus]

I see )
I think Technics 1210 must works than !

stanton st-150 maybe?

[Gus]

[quote="uvoscillator"]yep, I also waste my money by small portions, not in one time )
yeah i know here in greece we are saying ''cheapness eats your money"

but it's very difficult for me to spend 10.000-12.000$ for a turntable

[studiorp]

At the end better have a dd as Stanton 150.
Classic idler turntable is a waste of time and money.
I am agree with uvoscillator.
See my lathe for understand better :

Lathe before my work




Lathe after my modified

[Gus]

Hey studiorp thanks a lot for your reply and congrats for your lathe!
i'm one step before i order the st-150
may i ask you
what platter do you use for your lathe?
your reviews about this modification?
how it works?

At the end better have a dd as Stanton 150.
Classic idler turntable is a waste of time and money.
I am agree with uvoscillator.
See my lathe for understand better :

Lathe before my work




Lathe after my modified

[Gus]

Hey studiorp thanks a lot for your reply and congrats for your lathe!
it's very interesting project
i'm one step before i order the st-150
what platter do you use for your lathe?
your reviews about this modification?
do you use separate motor to drive the overhead?
how it works?

At the end better have a dd as Stanton 150.
Classic idler turntable is a waste of time and money.
I am agree with uvoscillator.
See my lathe for understand better :

Lathe before my work




Lathe after my modified

[studiorp]

The platter that you can see on photo 1 ( lathe not modified ) is original ; it's an iron cast built, very heavy and precise.
Then I have modified the same platter with strobe .
This motor works as a Technics motor, so controlled by a tacho frequency, so very stable and no flutters; 3.5 kg/cm of torque; 33, 45,78 rpm, 10,20,50% pitch control on each speed ( I can cut too 16 rpm ! ), so all electronic.
The overhead has drove in my system by the same dd motor, so below the platter on the spindle there is a pulley with an o-ring that goes on the other alu pulley that you can see on the photo 2. This reduce the speed for the overhead, that from 33 rpm for example goes to about 12 rpm; in this way unfortunately the pitch is fixed, no variable, in each case I can cut on a 12" for side 27 minutes max. The overhead originally was born for 78 rpm as many machines of 1940-50.
Naturally the sp-10 is the best turntable that exist in this world speaking about of motor, the sp10 mk II goes to 7 kg/cm if I am not in mistake, but it's high costly, as you know, so the best alternative for you is perhaps the Stanton 150 or similar.
About the external motor for drive the overhead and change the lpi number and so the time recording , I had thought some months ago to insert something in my lathe, but is a sin, because now all is silent and in fact this was my final target.

Can you post here some photos of your overhead ?

[Gus]

The platter that you can see on photo 1 ( lathe not modified ) is original ; it's an iron cast built, very heavy and precise.
Then I have modified the same platter with strobe .
This motor works as a Technics motor, so controlled by a tacho frequency, so very stable and no flutters; 3.5 kg/cm of torque; 33, 45,78 rpm, 10,20,50% pitch control on each speed ( I can cut too 16 rpm ! ), so all electronic.
The overhead has drove in my system by the same dd motor, so below the platter on the spindle there is a pulley with an o-ring that goes on the other alu pulley that you can see on the photo 2. This reduce the speed for the overhead, that from 33 rpm for example goes to about 12 rpm; in this way unfortunately the pitch is fixed, no variable, in each case I can cut on a 12" for side 27 minutes max. The overhead originally was born for 78 rpm as many machines of 1940-50.
Naturally the sp-10 is the best turntable that exist in this world speaking about of motor, the sp10 mk II goes to 7 kg/cm if I am not in mistake, but it's high costly, as you know, so the best alternative for you is perhaps the Stanton 150 or similar.
About the external motor for drive the overhead and change the lpi number and so the time recording , I had thought some months ago to insert something in my lathe, but is a sin, because now all is silent and in fact this was my final target.

Can you post here some photos of your overhead ?

Here is a short video of my experiments

finally overhead will be driven by a belt and pulleys

[Gus]

Naturally the sp-10 is the best turntable that exist in this world speaking about of motor, the sp10 mk II goes to 7 kg/cm if I am not in mistake

the sp-10 mkii have starting torque 6 kg/cm
http://audio-heritage.jp/TECHNICS/etc/sp-10mkii.html

technics-SP-10MK3 have starting torque 16 kg/cm

http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SP-10MK3.html

[Gus]

finally i bought a new Stanton ST-150
My first test was very promising
so, now it's time to start building a new plinth
Also i think the platter is not bad at all

[Gus]

here is a sound file of my experiments on cd material with Stanton ST-150

[Gus]

here is a video of embossing at 22,5 rpm (half speed mastering)
for one more time the ST-150 is very stable!
before start to building a new plinth i must to order some 12'' inch blanks to see how stable is the stanton.
More reviews coming soon.

[Jccc]

Hello. It looks like you are getting some good results from the Stanton turntable. I was wondering if you are having any issues with "wow and flutter"?