Ariston RD80 SL Turntable / Linn Basik LV-V Tonearm

Ariston RD80 SL
Increased efficiency in our new factory, together with new production methods, have enabled us to introduce the new RD80 into a price range much lower than was hitherto thought practical for a quality turntable. The RD80 maintains the Ariston philosophy of excellence of design, together with top class performance. It has the capacity to extract the maximum amount of information from the disc.
Like our other models the RD80 is entirely gimmick-free, and provides simply the best platform for carrying a vinyl disc without allowing that disc or any other extraneous energy sources to interfere with the stylus-to-groove interface. The RD80 - quite the finest value turntable available "today".
Optimum resonance isolation is achieved in all Ariston turntables. Relatively slow running AC synchronous 24-pole motors now extensively used in audiophile turntables were first introduced by Ariston in 1969. The motors are completely divorced from the subchassis and tone arm assembly. All frequencies are therefore contained within an innocuous area.
We construct the sub-chassis in precision pressed heavy gauge steel or aluminium which is perfectly flat on all planes. The bearing housing and the tone arm board are rigidly mounted to the sub-chassis. The entire assembly is isolated and has a natural frequency in the area of 4 Hz.
The Ariston tone arm board is protected from damaging infrasonic frequencies in the area of 7 - 16 Hz, which are set up by the arm's oscillation. These frequencies are moved to a lower harmless value by the use of acoustically dead materials.
All Ariston platters incorporate peripheral mass distribution which, by maintaining a flywheel effect, smooth out the undesirable effects of wow and flutter. It should also be noted that the parameters of wow and flutter by which turntables are commonly judged, does not indicate the turntables ability to retrieve information.
In a no-compromise turntable, designed for maximum isolation, any other method of drive is totally unacceptable. The flat neoprene belt precision ground to a fine finish isolates the disc-carrying platter from the motor. A flat belt is employed for absolute speed stability - a round belt can twist and thereby create wow. Direct drive does not isolate, due to the fact that it cannot be de-coupled from the platter. This creates resonance at the vinyl/stylus interface.
Our shaft bearing is unique. Before we go on to explain why, it would be helpful for you to remember that a piece of cigarette paper measures one thousandth of an inch in thickness.
The bearing has to eliminate vertical movement which manifests itself as rumble (a low growl) through the speakers. Ariston turntables have a typical rumble figure of - 74 dB weighted. Any figure in excess claimed by other manufactures must be treated with some degree of scepticism due to the environment and the inadequacies of test equipment currently available.
The shaft is precision ground from hardened high tensile chrome steel to within a tolerance of ± .0003 inches. That is two tents of one thousandth of an inch. One fifth the thickness of a cigarette paper.
The surface finish is a mirrorlike 4 - 6 microns and the hardness is to 64° rockwell. The shaft rests on a spherically precise captive ball for single point contact. The bearing housing is honed to perfectly match the shaft.
Take the belt off an Ariston turntable and turn the hub and platter by hand. Note how friction free the entire assembly is - it will simply run on and on and on.
Features & Specifications
Type: Belt drive
Two speed manual 33.3 and 45 rpm
A.C. Synchronous Motor
Two piece fully machined concave platter with record clamp
Precision made single point bearing
Closed transmission loop isolation
Real wood veneered acoustically damped board cabinet and metal base
Access points for adjustment and adjustable feet
Dimensions: 445 (W) x 360 (D) x 170 (H) mm

Linn Basik LV-V Tonearm
Linn's first use of the word Basik, as a product name, followed the fifth Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show when Ivor commissioned a Japanese firm to produce a quality basic tonearm.
The idea was that it could be partnered with the Sondek LP12 to provide a cost effective entry level front end. The arm was typical of the Japanese mass market preference at the time for European styled polished alloy S-shaped designs. The arm mounting arrangement was the same as the highly robust one that was used for the top line Linn Ittok LV II and was a development of an Audio Technica design. It has since come to be known as the Linn mount. In keeping with the use of the letter k at the end of Sondek and Ittok, Linn christened the new budget arm Basik LV-V (for Las Vegas Five).
Specifications
Effective Length: 229 mm
Stylus Overhang: 18 mm
Offset Angle: 24°
Pivot To Stylus: 211 mm

Turnaround

Orders will usually dispatched within 2 working days of receiving cleared payment.

Shipping Rates

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Carriers

We despatch the bulk of our UK mainland items on a 24 hour service.  Non-Mainland locations – Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles, the Scottish highlands and Islands, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland may take a day or so longer. Smaller items are delivered using Royal Mail 24 or special delivery. Larger items are delivered using a courier service such as UPS and occasionally by a Pallet service.

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