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Vacuum Turntables?

kmp14

kmp14

Active Member
I am just curious about "vacuum turntables" like the Sota Star. Do they actual suck the LP down onto the platter? Is the suction strong enough to flatten out slight warps? It would seem that if it didn't completely flatten the LP, you would hear the noise of the vacuum nozzles that are under the warped sections.

Just wondering how it all works and what the benefits are. Thanks!
 
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I was fortunate enough to work with John Bicht building the first prototypes and the first production run of his original Versa Dynamics TTs.

For the Versa Dynamics, there is a gasket around the outer edge of the platter and then the platter had grovves running from the gasket seat to the center of it where the vacuum was drawn from.

The vacuum pump was recommended to be mounted in the basement or in a place the sound and vibration could not effect the TT.

Hope that helps.
 
My Micro-Seiki RX-1500 has a vacuum platter. That pump is dead quiet and the system sure holds the record solidly in place.

The pump for my ET-II arm, on the other hand, is very noisy and has to be isolated in the next room.
 
I have a Sota Star and the vacuum works really well with minor warps. The vacuum gasket lip needs to be in contact with the record before suction and a vacuum can begin to take place. I also feel the reflex clamp is a necessity. The only time I hear the vacuum pump is during initial start up when vacuum is the greatest.
 
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