Does Plinth Material Matter?

[ClayTune]

Hey,

I am ALMOST in the market for somewhat of an upgrade to my Numark turntable, even though that one is still like new and has no issues.

I have been doing a lot of research and might have honed in on a belt driven table that has a specialized speed motor and a wooden plinth.

What I wanted to ask you guys was, in your varied opinions, how important is the plinth materials with regard to sound resonance?

The table I am highly considering also has an acrylic platter and isolation legs.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Plinth material is one of many design choices that need to be made to make a good table. No one material is best for all tables.

In the case of a chunk of wood you want thicker, heavier or well braced, just like in speakers. Not something that will act like a drum. Part if the reason Thorens used a thicker base and bottom cover on the TD-169 Super vs the standard 160.

 

[Andre Garcia]

This is a very wide discusion topic because will depend of your design.
A TT where the motor, plater and tonearm are installed in the same surface need more attention to materials and structure.
A TT where the plater, motor and tonearm are saparated the material used play a role, but less than the previous configuration.
IMO if are you going to make one, make it belt drive whith a independen (separated) motor.
Andre.

 

[ClayTune]

This is a very wide discusion topic because will depend of your design.
A TT where the motor, plater and tonearm are installed in the same surface need more attention to materials and structure.
A TT where the plater, motor and tonearm are saparated the material used play a role, but less than the previous configuration.
IMO if are you going to make one, make it belt drive whith a independen (separated) motor.
Andre.

Well, I am highly considering the Fluance RT85 table.

 

[cafe latte]

Best plinths are sandwich of materials. Energy can not be created or destroyed just converted to another form. Various layers of different material all behave differently and more energy of different frequencies will be list harmlessly as heat.
Chris

 

[Ken Boyd]

At the price level the OP is interested in, not a lot of concerns are being put in optimum plinth designs. More likely just customer appearance.

 

[Tiver]

Everything matters and nothing matters (or very little). I sound like a dick saying that, but my point is that systems are interdependent. Resonance and subsonics and other unwanted noises will only be revealed when the system has the transparency to do so. It's kind of a weakest link scenario. Rumble, as an example may not be noticeable if it is masked by other noise in the system. These concerns are brought up in may forms, from stylus shape, cantilever material, tonearm, interconnects, electronics in the rig, loudspeakers, and room acoustics. I am sure there are other thing to mention.

Bottom line is the same as the first thing I said. It will depend much upon what the system is capable of.

 

[ripblade]

Considering everything rests on the plinth I'd say it's quite important what it's made of. It's no wonder plinthless designs are becoming more popular again.

That said, there's not much choice on offer in the OP's price range. The Fluance is highly recommended within.

 

[Billy Oxygen]

I suspended a laminated 1/2 mdf shelf I salvaged across the top of a very light display table that supports the shelf at t two edges. this was just going to be a temp set up for the RT 85, basically a level spot to test the turntable out till i found something else. Well it turns out to my surprise I do not need anything else no rumble, no noise, very quiet. I did not expect vinyl to sound so good. My conclusion; it is a fine plinth.