Luxman PD-264 Loose Arm Mount

[pluske]

Hello AK,
Just got my hands on what I thought would be an upgrade to my first table, a DP-300F.

It’s beautiful, it sounds good, but I am concerned that this tonearm mount seems like it’s broken or janky. There’s a surprising amount of plastic in the pivot and it allows for a lot of movement.

can anyone who owns this table tell me if this is normal? And in principle, is this a problem? I’ve linked a little video.

 

[pluske]

Here’s a photo of the mounting. At first I thought it’s bent because the counter weight is not directly in line with the rest of the tone arm, but looking at close photos of other PD-264s it appears intentional. Weird.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

That turntable and its tonearm are poorly engineered and junk.

I will do you a huge favor and come take it off your hands.

 

[pluske]

I mean, it’s nice to hear people respect these because I got a little worried that their bottom of the line was riding the coattails of the better products.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

It's a GREAT turntable and I will be looking to replace my E.A.T. C-Major with one of their good newer ones sometime in the distant future. I do want to get away from the non-SME style tonearm because I like being able to quickly change cartridges without having to align it, just set the tracking height and force.

 

[BillWojo]

Looks like it has knife edge bearings instead of pivot type bearings. Knife edge bearings just sit on a sharp edge to pivot so they will have up/down play at the pivot point.
Somebody that has one of these arms can clue you in better.
Also check the specs in the database over at Vinyl Engine, they may even have the manual for it.

BillWojo

 

[pluske]

Looks like it has knife edge bearings instead of pivot type bearings. Knife edge bearings just sit on a sharp edge to pivot so they will have up/down play at the pivot point.
Somebody that has one of these arms can clue you in better.
Also check the specs in the database over at Vinyl Engine, they may even have the manual for it.

BillWojo

Thanks! What’s surprising is that the base also has some vertical play, not just the bearing.
I downloaded the service manual already, other than a blow up diagram there wasn’t much in there. I was thinking to dissemble it a little and see if there is something loose but I do not trust myself to do it, if it plays it plays.

@Ken Mitchell the fact that the head shell is not removable is a HUGE pain in the ass. I already tore one of the very tiny arm cables changing carts, going to try to solder it back onto the lead now.

 

[jblnut]

That play is normal because of the knife edge bearings. The bigger issue with these is going to be feedback. I could never get mine isolated enough to even get moderate volume in my room. It made some killer needle drops though....

Jblnut

 

[pluske]

Interesting be got no feedback at all and I’ve got the cover down. But then I’m in an apartment building and can’t go very loud at all.

the only issue so far is that the arm lift mechanism can trigger too early on longer playing sides. But I’ve bent the little pin a bit and that’s that.

the Grado definitely hums on this when it’s close to the spindle :’(

 

[Ken Mitchell]

I have a Grado M+ (mono) cartridge on my Kenwood KD4100 direct drive TT and it's fine. Put it on my E.A.T. C-Major and it's horrible. I have NO problems with running my Ortofon Quintet Blue or Audio Technica Lab Series LS500 microline on either TT. The C-Major runs directly to the internal phono amp in my Luxman integrated amp, while the KD4100 uses a Schiit Mani phono amp. It's definitely the cartridge and there are long lists of which turntables hum with which Grado cartridge. You don't find compiled lists like that for any other cartridge brand, as far as I know.

Myself, I'll never buy another Grado.

 

[pluske]

Yea. I got the Grado for the DP-300F which is a belt drive and has no problems with it at all. On the PD-264 it’s only detectable after the record is done and the stylus is hanging out right over the spindle.