Rek O Kut Tips Redux

Rek O Kut L34 Rondine Jr. + S160 tonearm

 Although not quite in the same league as the Garrard 301, 401 and Thorens TD124 + MKII, this classic American turntable marque has a steady stream of enthusiasts and followers. 

I've learned a few more tricks to keep vibration and noise at bay since I uploaded Rek O Kut Tips in the early 2000s.

Old and New Rubber Grommets

Even if they all look alike, Lord rubber grommets have different weight capacities. Unfortunately, there are no tell-tale marks. I only learned about this because I asked one of the sellers.

ROK L34 motor

For the larger and heavier motor used in the L34/L37/B12, I recommend the rubber grommets sold by ebay seller 10stan.

Papst Aussenläufer used in the B12GH

The softer grommets sold by tdsbill provided much better vibration isolation from the smaller and lighter Papst Aussenläufer motor.

Under the chassis of a ROK B12GH

 

With proper rubber grommets installed, make sure the motor floats freely and is not jammed by untidy cable routing.

Talented machinists have been offering brand new idler wheels for Rek O Kut turntables in the $50 range. Since the bearings wear out, it might be more cost-effective to just get a brand new idler wheel from a reputable seller rather than getting your old idler wheel refurbished for $35-$40. 

The performance of the idler wheel in the center is as good as a refurbished original wheel with a good bearing.

Karmadon idler wheel for Rek O Kut L34/L37/B12GH

However, this precision idler wheel by Serge of Karmadon was a significant improvement in noise and vibration reduction over the stock and aftermarket units in the preceding picture. A meticulously grounded rubber wheel of proper Durometer rating is bonded to a hub milled from solid brass fitted with a sintered bearing machined to tighter tolerances. The performance gain was at par with using Audio Silente idler wheels on my TD124!  

1/4" ball bearing
steel vs. ceramic

There's a smoothness in the "feel" of turning the platter over a ceramic bearing even if I can't claim that I heard an improvement in sound. Some say the ceramic bearing can wear out the thrust pad, I haven’t noticed any wear on mine after almost 5 years. Use it at your own risk.

Rek O Kut B12GH + Grace G565G

Using the proper rubber grommets, routing the cables neatly, with a Karmadon idler wheel and a ceramic bearing, the only noise I could detect from the ROK B12GH was air-rush from the built-in cooling fins. However, I wasn't as successful in using it in a lightweight plinth like I was with the Garrard 401 and Thorens TD124. 

Rek O Kut L34 Rondine Jr.
+ 
Denon DA305

Unlike its more sophisticatedly engineered contemporaries from Garrard and Thorens, these Rek O Kut idler-driven turntables really need the help of a massive plinth to absorb noise and vibration.

JE Labs ROK L34 + SME 3012 and Excel ES801
DIY Plinth
ca. early 2000s