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Linear tracking - a myth debunked?

sloober said:
Cool. I'm going to get it in the AM. I have a Mission TT now, but was always intrigued by the linear arm TTs. Most look pretty cheap, this one looks good. Hope the cart is OK. :music:
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The manuals are available from HK. I also have a service manual for the ST-7. I think it sold for around $350 back in 1976.
 
I just looked at the manual. Hope it has the parts used to install and align a new cart. He says it's all there, and has the lid, so we will see. Should be interesting. I guess for that price, I can do the best I can to make it work.
 
I recently replaced my Dual CS 1268 with a B&O 4004 linear tracker. While the Dual sits on the workbench awaiting its fate, I have been enjoying the B&O, which is so much easier to use: just press the START switch. The only adjustment to worry about is the VTF, set at 1.0 grams. The B&O brings out the music, not the noise. It was well worth the purchase + repair costs.
 
I'm the guy who needs automatic. I don't want to find I've cut out the center of my LP after two days. The mechanism of a LT for cueing and return is already there, no more complicated than it already is. The cue/return mechanism on a fixed tonearm? :yikes: No thanks. I'll leave the manuals to the guys that have the time (or the short term memory) to sit there. As for the PL-L1, sorry, Rob. If it's going to take 1 or 2k, It'll have to stay on my :drool: list
 
I'm with you on the automatic TTs and not only for lifting the arm at the end but also for putting the stylus in the lead-in groove. Even with the damped arm on the Rega when I line it up and lower the cueing lever it sometimes drifts a bit on the way down. The PX-2 does it all, even shuts down the platter motor. I was keeping the PX-3 for parts but after finding those three NOS optical devices in that box of Yamaha parts I really don't need it.
 
Picked her up today. When I first got it home, I thought it was gold anodized aluminum, was smoke film. I took the case apart and cleaned it all up. Looks like I need to adjust the mechanism that moves the are across the slider. Shaft is spinning and the rubber wheel is contacting and turning, but it refuses to advance the arm. Still looks great and sounds great as well. John
 
Always wondered what the HK/Rabcos were like (like I need another linear:smoke:) Keep us posted. I gotta go put my PX-101 back together.
 
This thing is friggin cool. After a lube and some tweaking, it tracks great. Really amazing. One thing I find funny, is they it has no LEDs. 3 indicators for stop and speeds, are bulbs. There is a light that senses when the record is over. I am going to take some pictures and start a new thread. John
 
thedelihaus said:
My concern withthe linear trackers was the complexity of them.

This fed fears of malfunction- which I've seen on some.
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3273083901_6b8685b6dc_b.jpg


I think good linear trackers are not all that complex, and track better than anything I have ever tried.

Take the beogram 8000 pictured above. The arm mechanism rides on a screw that is belt driven. There is a bit of float in the arm itself, and when it moves in enough, the whole assembly shifts over. Its a screw drive and thats it. The secondary arm is B&O gadgetry and there to sense what size the record is and drop the tonearm in the right place with the right speed.

It has tracked records that would continuously skip on my pivot arm turntables (dual 510, Marantz 6300 and 6370q). The suspension on it is top notch, and its fully automatic. I can press play and it will do its thing. I work on audio equipment while listening to music...I sometimes am in the middle of something when a record ends.

As far as the direct drive system. It doesnt use a brushless motor with steps as most DD turntables do. Those steps are what introduce rumble. This one has a non changing magnetic field that pulls on the platter at a tangent. There is no resistance from the motor, so it can technically spin for minutes if you stop the record as it has high quality bearings. Thats why B&O installed an electric brake that stops the platter when you hit stop.

I dunno, im a linear tracker believer... I can never afford the 10K+ dollar systems some people have, so maybe im blissfully ignorant :smoke:
 
HI,
I'm a linear tracker believer too. But I must disagree with your assesment of the 8000's complexity. You gave a very superficial description. In truth, the mechanical part is pretty straight forward. But the means by wihich the arm angle is detected is quite complex. It uses mirrors and lenses and complicated servo electronics to figure out when to move the arm. It is very precise and complicated. You will find this is truth when you have to have it repaired. Fortunately, it is very reliable.

Also, the second arm is used as an input to the control electronics. If it fails, you are out of luck.

The B&O linear trackers are some of the most complex turntables ever marketed. Be not fooled.

Also, some of the best.

By the way, I think your 8000 is wonderful. How are you doing for cartridges??

Sparky
 
Karma16 said:
HI,
I'm a linear tracker believer too. But I must disagree with your assesment of the 8000's complexity. You gave a very superficial description. In truth, the mechanical part is pretty straight forward. But the means by wihich the arm angle is detected is quite complex. It uses mirrors and lenses and complicated servo electronics to figure out when to move the arm. It is very precise and complicated. You will find this is truth when you have to have it repaired. Fortunately, it is very reliable.

Also, the second arm is used as an input to the control electronics. If it fails, you are out of luck.

The B&O linear trackers are some of the most complex turntables ever marketed. Be not fooled.

Also, some of the best.

By the way, I think your 8000 is wonderful. How are you doing for cartridges??

Sparky
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Fortunately the B&O turntables usually suffer common problems that have solutions. I will eventually re-cap mine, but none of the optics and sensing circuitry in the arm needed attention. After sitting for 20 years, it fired up and was as good as new.

I need to repair it, I am fully prepared, this table is more than worth fixing. I may find a parts unit just in case.

http://www.sound-smith.com/cartridges/boall.html

I got the smmc20 en, and while it seems expensive, isn't that what you pay for an average cartridge? The specs are up there with some of the better units, and the lack of replacement stylus just means its more optimized as a cartridge....everything is in tune.

I may go this route with my 4004
http://www.aminaaudio.com/phono.html

3264198956_37894c5170_b.jpg
 
secondslc said:
Fortunately the B&O turntables usually suffer common problems that have solutions. I will eventually re-cap mine, but none of the optics and sensing circuitry in the arm needed attention. After sitting for 20 years, it fired up and was as good as new.

I need to repair it, I am fully prepared, this table is more than worth fixing. I may find a parts unit just in case.

http://www.sound-smith.com/cartridges/boall.html

I got the smmc20 en, and while it seems expensive, isn't that what you pay for an average cartridge? The specs are up there with some of the better units, and the lack of replacement stylus just means its more optimized as a cartridge....everything is in tune.

I may go this route with my 4004
http://www.aminaaudio.com/phono.html

3264198956_37894c5170_b.jpg
Click to expand...

Very fine automatic linear tracker you got there.
Congratulation.

Is it possible for you to choose other cartridges than B&O?

"dolph"
 
love my linear tracking mcs/jcpenny close and play I have other tt's but I always seem to come back to this little thing it plays so well even on warped records its pretty neat. I guess what I really like about it is the simplicity of it just close and play!!
 
Good discussion on the B&O tables. I've always wanted one (or more). The looks on their gear have always appealed to me, but so far I haven't had one cross my path that didn't need a lot of work I didn't think I could do. Nice to hear a lot of positive stories about them.
 
All this talk of linear trackers makes me want to show off my thrift find Pioneer PL-L1000 ($39) sporting a new Shure M97xE. The table is near mint with the exception of a warped queing rail.

70salesguy how about a picture of that Garrard Zero 100, I've never seen one?
 
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That Pioneer is really nice! Hadn't seen one before. I assume the jog wheel at front right is for cueing the stylus laterally. If so, that's a great idea on the linears.
 
niklasthedol said:
Very fine automatic linear tracker you got there.
Congratulation.

Is it possible for you to choose other cartridges than B&O?

"dolph"
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You can modify the arm to accept a p-mount cartridge, but the sound-smith cartridges are very very very nice indeed, and I feel it would not be an upgrade to go with any other cartridge.
 
Here is a picture of my linear tracker:
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This is a Linn LP-12 with an Eminent technology II (air bearing) tonearm mounted on it. When going with linear tracking arms, ari-bearing is IMO the best design choice. Mine has been running perfectly for nearly 20 years.
 
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