• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Mitsubishi LT-30 - in the hunt

Gerryn

Gerryn

New Member
Hi. I'm new to Audiokarma and really interested in getting back into vinyl after 30 years or so. Especially with all the recent reissues coming out into the market.

I once owned a Mitsubishi LT-22. Wish I still had it. However with that said,
I would like to acquire a Mitsubishi LT-30 in excellent condition.

Other than eBay, are there other places I may be missing where one may be spotted in the future. There's been a few listings years ago on Canuck Audio Mart.

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance for your help.

Gerry
 
Register to hide this ad
Gerryn said:
Hi. I'm new to Audiokarma and really interested in getting back into vinyl after 30 years or so. Especially with all the recent reissues coming out into the market.

I once owned a Mitsubishi LT-22. Wish I still had it. However with that said,
I would like to acquire a Mitsubishi LT-30 in excellent condition.

Other than eBay, are there other places I may be missing where one may be spotted in the future. There's been a few listings years ago on Canuck Audio Mart.

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance for your help.

Gerry
Click to expand...

Welcome to AK!

The LT-30 is fairly rare. In addition to eBay and Canuck Audio Mart, there's Audiogon and, of course, craigslist. You could also become a subscriber member of AK and place a Wanted To buy ad in "Bartertown".

Also, as it happens, I know where one is for sale - or was recently. If you're interested, send me a Private Message by clicking on "boreas" at the top of this post. I'll give you the details privately. Conducting any sort of business in the general forums isn't allowed (even though I have no connection to this table).

[EDIT: I noticed your avatar. If you're in or near Cleveland, bear in mind that this turntable would be coming from California so shipping would add considerably to the price and to the risks too.]

John
 
Thanks very much, John.
I've replied to you in a private message and appreciate your help.

Gerry
 
You can also place "wanted to buy ad" at Audiogon, for $4.

Most of LT-30 owners here acquired them in non-working conditions and fixed them. If you go this route you have much better chance to own one.



Gerryn said:
Hi. I'm new to Audiokarma and really interested in getting back into vinyl after 30 years or so. Especially with all the recent reissues coming out into the market.

I once owned a Mitsubishi LT-22. Wish I still had it. However with that said,
I would like to acquire a Mitsubishi LT-30 in excellent condition.

Other than eBay, are there other places I may be missing where one may be spotted in the future. There's been a few listings years ago on Canuck Audio Mart.

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance for your help.

Gerry
Click to expand...
 
Beware Heffron Fiream Classics!!

He has an internet business presence and a phone # and address which is why I wasn't concerned and exercised patience, but based on this I don't think he's trustworthy or reliable for anything. I don't like breaking anyone's rice bowl but this has been just plain disrespectful if not unethical and he's had more than sufficient time to make it right.
Oh and if it comes up for sale again, Beware!
 
Last edited:
Reviving an old thread, rather start a new one.

What is the deal? I've been searching for a Mitsubishi or Diatone LT-30 for several months now. They seemed common on the 'bay in the winter, but the well has apparently dried up. Did the government embargo their sale; Has an AK member horded all of them, hoping to drive the price up; are they just all broken?

Any leads appreciated. I like my Thorens TD160, but decided it's time to give a linear a chance. And I would like something more automatic (I'm lazy).
 
Sasha18 said:
Reviving an old thread, rather start a new one.

What is the deal? I've been searching for a Mitsubishi or Diatone LT-30 for several months now. They seemed common on the 'bay in the winter, but the well has apparently dried up. Did the government embargo their sale; Has an AK member horded all of them, hoping to drive the price up; are they just all broken?

Any leads appreciated. I like my Thorens TD160, but decided it's time to give a linear a chance. And I would like something more automatic (I'm lazy).
Click to expand...

There were a finite number made and probably not a big number. Sooner or later the well WILL dry up.

Keep the LT-5V in mind. It's as good as the LT-30 IMO.
 
rnorton said:
There were a finite number made and probably not a big number. Sooner or later the well WILL dry up.

Keep the LT-5V in mind. It's as good as the LT-30 IMO.
Click to expand...

IMO, with respect not even remotely physically possible tho' apparently the LT-5V is the best of the vertical LTs. The LT-30 weighs more than 30 lbs being built on a heavy cast alloy baseplate damped by an MDF plinth, the arm is rooted into a massive 2&1/2 lb carriage assembly thru a precision full-box-gimbal riding on heavy precision ground rod rails, and the whole is as non-resonant overall as they come anywhere near the class and gets the playback physics mostly right. I consider it one of the best if not the best integrated LT imported from the Far East.
That and $2 at Starbux-----.
 
Just be patient and stay focused.It will show in the right condition and price.It may take a little bit but the right deal will appear
 
Pio1980 said:
IMO, with respect not even remotely physically possible tho' apparently the LT-5V is the best of the vertical LTs. The LT-30 weighs more than 30 lbs being built on a heavy cast alloy baseplate damped by an MDF plinth, the arm is rooted into a massive 2&1/2 lb carriage assembly thru a precision full-box-gimbal riding on heavy precision ground rod rails, and the whole is as non-resonant overall as they come anywhere near the class and gets the playback physics mostly right. I consider it one of the best if not the best integrated LT imported from the Far East.
That and $2 at Starbux-----.
Click to expand...

I've listened to both for many hours and I can NOT hear any significant difference. I suspect that massive plinths are less necessary when most of the vibrations that they damp are incapable of affecting the arm and cart due to the 90 degree translation. Most people dismiss the vertical architecture as a gimmick but I've found it to have unexpected advantages.

I used an LT-20 as my only TT for 22 years but I would definitely rather use an LT-5V. I'm presently using an LT-640, which has its peculiarities and difficulties in setup but sounds every bit as good (and has exactly the same logic and arm drive) as the LT-20.
 
rnorton said:
I've listened to both for many hours and I can NOT hear any significant difference. I suspect that massive plinths are less necessary when most of the vibrations that they damp are incapable of affecting the arm and cart due to the 90 degree translation. Most people dismiss the vertical architecture as a gimmick but I've found it to have unexpected advantages.

I used an LT-20 as my only TT for 22 years but I would definitely rather use an LT-5V. I'm presently using an LT-640, which has its peculiarities and difficulties in setup but sounds every bit as good (and has exactly the same logic and arm drive) as the LT-20.
Click to expand...

I've seen folk that owned the three Mitz LTs say they are more similar than different.
 
Have both LT-30's and an LT-5V. No comparison. The 30 is hands down the better of the two. I have been inside both. Better built, better operations and better sounding. The 5 is no slouch but the 30 is better. My biggest issue with the 5 is that all LP's do not have the same spindle hole size. This fact allows for some LP's to move during play and that movement is picked up by the cartridge/stylus and can be heard. The clamp is not always tensioned tight enough to hold all these LP's in place. My two cents and experience.
 
I also own all three (4 if you count the 22, which is just grey vinyl instead of woodgrain on the 20), and have cleaned, lubed, tweaked, rebelted, relamped as necessary to get them to their best. The DD motors on both the LT-20 and 30 are far quieter and more accurate than the belt drive LT-5V, and the arm design and precision, and overall build are superior. One of the things I always loved on the LT-20 (one which I've had since new, bought in 1981) is how immune to room vibrations and ability to play warps, with the V15III I have on it, so I have to say I notice no improvement withthe 5V. On the LT-5V (at least mine) I found you have to find the sweet spot for vertical mounting (which unfortunately is not plumb) in order for the platter bearing to be totally silent. Since there is no way to accurately measure the VTF, you have to go on blind faith that the weight adjustment as indicated is correct. Add that it is also a PITA to brush clean a record on the 5V. Super fun to watch, though, and doesn't require a deep shelf.
 
MRL_Audio said:
Have both LT-30's and an LT-5V. No comparison. The 30 is hands down the better of the two. I have been inside both. Better built, better operations and better sounding. The 5 is no slouch but the 30 is better. My biggest issue with the 5 is that all LP's do not have the same spindle hole size. This fact allows for some LP's to move during play and that movement is picked up by the cartridge/stylus and can be heard. The clamp is not always tensioned tight enough to hold all these LP's in place. My two cents and experience.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem with my LT-640. I took a disc cut from copper clad circuit board that I had made for another project and attached it to the clamp with 3 pieces of thin double sided tape. This took out all of the slack without introducing any drag. The large hole wow problem went away completely. I'll bet this will do the trick on your 5. I think the clamp is pretty much the same on all of their verticals.
 
perryinva said:
I also own all three (4 if you count the 22, which is just grey vinyl instead of woodgrain on the 20), and have cleaned, lubed, tweaked, rebelted, relamped as necessary to get them to their best. The DD motors on both the LT-20 and 30 are far quieter and more accurate than the belt drive LT-5V, and the arm design and precision, and overall build are superior. One of the things I always loved on the LT-20 (one which I've had since new, bought in 1981) is how immune to room vibrations and ability to play warps, with the V15III I have on it, so I have to say I notice no improvement with the 5V. On the LT-5V (at least mine) I found you have to find the sweet spot for vertical mounting (which unfortunately is not plumb) in order for the platter bearing to be totally silent. Since there is no way to accurately measure the VTF, you have to go on blind faith that the weight adjustment as indicated is correct. Add that it is also a PITA to brush clean a record on the 5V. Super fun to watch, though, and doesn't require a deep shelf.
Click to expand...

I don't own a 5V, though I'd like to. My 640 does not have any noticeable noise from the belt or the bearing. The only TT I have that's quieter (and I have 8 good tables) is my Sanyo Q40+, which is just dead silky black quiet. Noisewise, I'd compare my LT-640 with my HK T-25.

I did a minor overhaul on the unit when I bought it (lube, new belt, replacement of the awful audio coax). Due to the near impossibility of setting VTF on this model, I matched the cart to the 2g factory VTF. I'm using an AT-95vl. I've found that my small digital scale can actually be used sideways if you re-zero it. It read with .1g of the factory 2g spec.

One of the oddities of vertical design is that a heavier cart will result in a lighter VTF and vice-versa.

And yes, record dusting on a vertical is challenging but not impossible.

I have to say that after having the LT-20 as my sole table for more than 20 years, I'm finding my LT-640 to be a suitable replacement. It's the one that never gets shuffled out of the system, while the others take their turns in the #2 slot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom