New observation:

I bought my VPI Ares3 turntable last May with the super platter from a guy out west. It came to me in mint condition without a tone arm as he removed his Dynavector ($7K tonearm),,he didn't wish to part with it understandably. I picked up a wonderful SME Series IV magnesium arm and I machined the tone arm board in the mill to accept the SME. I have been using this set up since last spring with amazement in how it performs..... and how warm it sounds with the Model T's and EP 500.

I had asked Howard, the gent who sold me this TT, when the last time he put lube on the bearings of the super platter, he told me that he never lubed it !!!!!! Huh??? Yikes!!!. OK, it appears from what I can see to be an oil impregnated bronze bearing over stainless steel, it should survive.

Anyway, I got in some 'superlube PTFE' lube today; this is a silicone based dialectric and food grade grease with PTFE, also known as Teflon, which is water resistant and a corrosion inhibiting grease compound. I lifted the 25 pound super platter off of the main bearing spindle and applied the grease to the shaft and ball bearing at the top (settle down now Mojo).... reinstalled the platter and then did a spin test.... yikes, the platter just turned so freely... I mean it kept going.

I put on some good vinyl with great bass tonight. I have never heard such bass extension out of the new to me EP500! I have no idea what just happened, but I am guessing that the reduction of friction and perhaps a more 'free floating' bearing is causing less absorption of signal into the base of the turntable and it's passing into the phono stage.

Just a guess, but this is pretty evident on this end.

My EP500 sounds so much smoother smile Can't wait to add in the 800

Last edited by Slimpikins; 12/22/17 02:57 AM.