Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable FINALE: NEAT P58 + FAQs

This is the final installment of my Japanese idler turntable adventure but as Sean Connery said, "Never say never again..." 😉

Thrifted Hi-Fi

Last time, the Altec 753Cs were driven by my Resto-mod Magnavox 8601 amp. In the spirit of my Vintage Japanese Drivers page from my old website, the same amp will now be used in the context of audio components and speakers I found in flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales + some DIY added to the mix.

Silbatone Acoustics at the Munich Audio Show 2025

My buddy Joe Roberts of Sound Practices has been sending me pictures from the Silbatone Acoustics room at High-End Munich 2025. I'm sharing them in this blog with his permission.

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 7: Kenwood PC350

Kenwood PC350 - a Japanese TD124 spinning a jazz tune!😉

Back to the Future: AR XA + NAD 3020

Whenever I find them at reasonable prices, I re-acquire audio components I owned and enjoyed in the 80s. I started my quest with the Grace G707 tonearm, a TDA1541-equipped Magnavox CDB 473 CD player and the dynakit stereo 35 PP EL84 power amp. I also tried to rekindle my affection for the BBC LS3/5A monitor and my MC SUT collection now includes a pair of Sony HA-T10s. Meanwhile, I've been hunting for an AR XA turntable and a first generation NAD 3020 to complete my journey back in time.

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 6: Realistic Mark 8

Just like cars, a new turntable model has to be introduced every year or two to keep consumers' interest and convince them that newer is better.😊

from page 37 of the 1960 Radio Shack Catalog

The Realistic Mark 8 improved upon the similar looking "motor unit-stye" Mark 7 in Part 4 of this series by adding a 16 rpm speed and supplying a half pound heavier cast aluminum platter.

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 5: Lafayette PK300

I bought this Lafayette PK300 idler-driven turntable because it looked like an improved Shield MO-19 (aka NEAT P58H) with the added feature of an eddy current pitch control as found in the Garrard 301/401 and Thorens TD124.

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 4: Realistic Mark-7

Here's a tale of two idler-driven turntables of Japanese origin sold by Radio Shack in the late 50s. They share the same model badge and engineering features but they aren't exactly twins.🤔

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 3: Lafayette PK245

A TEAC OEM 

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 2: NEAT P58H/Shield MO-19

In the early 2000s, the swinging tonearm mount of the Shield MO-19 caught my attention because it looked like the perfect partner for my Velvet Touch viscous damped tonearm. It turned out that this Japanese 4-speed idler-driven turntable is actually a rebadged NEAT P58H. 

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 1: Pioneer PL6U

Ever since I discovered the Shield MO19 (aka Neat P58H) and Realistic MkVII at the turn of the new millennium, I've become fascinated by, and in the process have collected a few Japanese idler-driven turntables. To my ears, none of them measure up to the Garrard 301, 401 or Thorens TD124. However, the models I'll be covering in this series, IMHO, offer great musical value for money when properly sorted.

For this initial installment, I'm featuring the Pioneer PL6U, which I used as an interim turntable when I returned to the US in 2016. It's the little brother of the Pioneer PL7, which was built to much higher specifications.

OJAS @ Lisson Gallery NYC

Our dear friends Charito and Joey, whom we haven't seen for over five years, were in NYC visiting for a couple of days. On short notice, Tish was able to take a day off so we were able to meet up with them. Joey is an avid audio DIYer and was a frequent collaborator especially during the annual November Hifi Show when I was still based in Manila. He represents G.I.P. Laboratory in the Philippines. 

It was also timely that Devon (OJAS) Turnbull's HiFi Dream Listening Room No. 1 exhibit at the Lisson Gallery NYC was on its penultimate week. So Joey and I agreed that this was going to be our meeting place! 

Analog LP Playback + Film Photography

Combining my passion for two obsolete technologies

Thorens TD124 MKII with heavy platter + Alfred Bokrand AS309 tonearm
Canon P + Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM 
Ultrafine eXtreme 100 in Kodak HC110 

Late last year, I acquired the classic AS309 tonearm for my Thorens TD124 MKII from Alfred Bokrand. I really can't hear a difference between the AB309 and AS309, even if I'm forced to split hairs. I'm just happy to own both!

Garrard 301 + Ortofon RMG309 + SME 3012 in JE Labs plinth
Tower 3 (Leica copy) + Leitz Summitar 5cm f2
Ilford FP4+ in Kodak HC110

This was my main turntable for over twenty years. Now the duty is shared with the Thorens TD124 MKII above, and the Garrard 401 below.

Garrard 401 + Alfred Bokrand AB309 tonearm
Bessa R + Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM
Ilford FP4+ in Kodak HC110

A couple of blog readers and Instagram contacts have reached out regarding long delivery times from Alfred Bokrand. All of my transactions with him were done through eBay and on the average, delivery was within two months. I highly recommend that buyers order via eBay since it has a buyer protection guarantee.

A Cousin's Listening Room

 

This is a hifi system I built for a cousin who loves music!

Gray Research HF500 Turntable + 108C Tonearm

My buddy John Piro has a knack for finding obscure vintage hifi pieces and has built up quite a collection. A couple of summers ago, he offered his spare blonde plinthed HF500. 

I had just acquired my first and only genuine Gray Research 108C viscous damped tonearm and couldn't pass up the opportunity to pair them up. 

Capstan Drive

The Gray Research HF500 turntable employs a unique drive system. Strictly speaking, it is not an idler drive. A round section rubber belt is partially embedded around the outer rim of the platter, which is driven directly by the motor shaft. Capstan drive is probably a more appropriate technical term.

45 + 78 rpm capstans

To change speeds, the corresponding 45 or 78 rpm capstan (or bushing as termed in the manual) is placed over the native 33 rpm motor shaft.

D&R turntable drive system
Courtesy of jamesvanarsdale.com

 AFAIK, the only turntable from this era which also drove the outer periphery of the platter is the equally rare D&R turntable, but as depicted above, it uses a rubber idler wheel. 

Seiko-Epson drive system
Courtesy of audio-heritage.jp

The Gray Research capstan drive may have been the inspiration for Mr. Takeshi Teragaki's three turntable designs for Seiko-Epson - ∑2000, ∑5000 and ∑5000II.

Servicing Tips

Download a pdf file of the Gray Research HF500 Manual for more detailed information.

This iron platter/bearing combination weighs close to 20 lbs. The 1" spindle tapers to 13/16" which turns on a 1/2" thrust sphere at the bottom of the sintered bearing well. 

After experimenting with a couple of belt sizes, a 3/16" (cross section diameter) x 36" polyurethane round belt x from McMaster Carr, catalog #3044K705 gave the steadiest stroboscope readings at all speeds.

Disassembly

Remove the four screws as indicated by the red arrows. 

The plinth lifts from the bottom frame. 

The top plate is a massive 1/4" thick metal resting on rubber pads at each corner. Prior to installation of new rubber pads, motor vibration could be felt at the tonearm finger lift.

 With new rubber pads installed (+ new motor mounts, see below), vibration was practically nil. The material I used looks very similar to replacement rubber soles used by shoemakers. 

Removing the motor 

To release the motor from the mounting bracket, straighten and pull out the cotter pins.

Left = worn out motor mounts
Right = fresh motor mounts

Another source of vibration were perished motor mounts. Brand new replacements are available from Surplus Sales of Nebraska -  Rubber Shock Mount, Part No. RPS - 426-0001.

 

New rubber mounts installed

Before reassembly, I cleaned the motor and re-lubricated the bearings with blue 3-IN-ONE electric motor oil.

The sound is very energetic!

I've been enjoying my entire mono LP collection! 

View it in action! 😊

Thorens TD124 Tips

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

Garrard 401 + Alfred Bokrand AB309 tonearm

 Garrard 401

Fine Engineering from Swindon, UK

 I have a couple of very good friends whose ears I trust that are Garrard 401 users - Ben and Joey. Joey is the head honcho of Harana Audio and one a partner in G.I.P. Labs, Philippines. Another was my dearly departed buddy, Brian "monofantastico" Clark, who actually believed the 401 was superior to the 301. 

So there's been no doubt in my mind that the 401 is at least at par with its older brother. Although I've always wanted one, I wasn't dying to own one.

Manufactured on the 23rd week of 1968

That was until one dreary Sunday evening, when I put a modest bid for a 401. Much to my surprise, within a couple of hours, I received an email notice that I won!

This is one of, if not the best, transaction I ever made at the auction site. The packing was bullet-proof and the unit was pristine! Best of all the seller was a kindred soul. Thanks so much FJ!

Open Plinth

Garrard 401 + Audio-Technica AT1501 MkII + Denon DL103

The 401 was pretty much plug and play except for the dead strobe light, which I didn't mind since it's a 50Hz UK model anyway. The square chassis made it a natural for open plinth mounting. With a few scrap pieces of wood + clamps I gathered from the garage + an Audio-Technica AT1501 MKII, it was making music in no time.

I was transported back to the late 80s with my first Thorens TD124 MkII and Garrard 301, which I acquired in the mid 90s. These idler driven turntables had to acquit themselves on their own merits without the aid of heavy damped plinths. 

Garrard 401 + Audio Technica AT1501 MkII + Nagaoka MP11

I have Flickr and Instagram contacts who use their 401s and other idler drives sans plinth. They probably hear the same open, effortless and airy sound I heard. The experience is akin to open baffle mounted drivers. 

But just like open baffle speakers, bass extension is rather limited in my temporary set up. I think this can be significantly improved by the use of a heavy tonearm pod and massive support columns.  

Moldavian Plinth

 While I was scouting my area for a machine shop that can fabricate a heavy tonearm pod and support columns, a friend who knew I'm a sucker for light colored mid-century modern wood finish, offered his surplus Moldavian-built Garrard 401 plinth. 

Garrard 401 + Grace G565 + Denon DL103

After a few hours with a hole saw, chisel, lots of saw dust and wood chips, I pretty much confirmed the assertion of my aforementioned friends with regards to the merits of the Garrard 401. Indeed, it has all the great qualities of the 301, except the snob appeal. 

All it needs now is a tonearm that befits its stature.

Wanted: transcription length tonearm

longer = less tacking distortion

Audio Technica AT1501-II
spindle to pivot mounting distance = 270mm

Although the Audio-Technica AT1501-II and Grace G565 are excellent 11" tonearms, both lack the gravitas of the Ortofon RMG309 and SME 3012. The 1" (25.4mm) shorter length shared by the AT1501-II and Grace G565 vis a vis their European counterparts is a factor.

 

Grace G565
spindle to pivot mounting distance = 270mm

Other contributing elements are the design, quality and type of bearings, tonearm material and mass. All of these can make or break the performance of a tonearm.

Ortofon RMG309
spindle to pivot mounting distance = 309mm

After over two decades of Ortofon RMG309 and SME 3012 ownership, I'm convinced that the RMG309 extracts more musical information from the SPU cartridge than the SME 3012. However, the RMG309's counterweight/tracking force arrangement limits its use to the SPU or a head shell/cartridge combination = 30 grams.  

SME 3012 Series II (early version)
spindle to pivot mounting distance = 295mm

 

The versatility of SME 3012 makes it a great partner for the Denon DL103 series and other cartridges in my stash. Perhaps the original stainless steel SME 3012 gives the RMG309 a run for the money? But good luck finding one.

Alfred Bokrand AB309 Tonearm

With my limited budget, hunting for another RMG309 or SME 3012 is out of the question in this day and age. It was just timely that Alfred Bokrand was running an auction for a few of his bespoke creations based on the Ortofon AS212.

 I've always lusted after the EMT 997 "Banana" reissue and Groovemaster II. So I chose to bid on an AB309 instead of the more conventional AS309. After putting a winning bid, I waited patiently for over a month. 

Due to the slow sailing galleon from Spain, I had time to search for my original RMG309/TD124 tonearm board and cut a tonearm board for the 401/Moldavian plinth.

To facilitate moving the tonearm between the 401 and TD124, I also ordered an extra Ortofon AS212 tonearm base from Serge at Karmadon Audio. Highly recommended for tonearm swappers!

As I took the AB309 out of its foam-lined wooden presentation case, it exuded with quality workmanship. If Alfred didn't disclose it, I wouldn't have known that this tonearm was built on the main bearing tower of a vintage Ortofon tonearm.   

Thorens TD124 + AB309 + Pickering 380

Since I already had the RMG/TD124 tonearm board prepared, set up was a breeze on the Thorens TD124. Tracking force is set by sliding the counter weight until proper vertical tracking force (VTF) is reflected on a tracking force gauge. 

It's only necessary to use the large + small counterweight when using the SPU, which weigh a little over 30 grams. My other cartridge/head shell combinations within the 14-26 gram range only required the single large counterweight.

Compared to the SME 3012, the AB309 is even simpler to use and the split counterweight arrangement makes it truly a versatile tonearm. Bravo, Herr Bokrand!

AB309 tonearm
spindle to pivot mounting distance = 309mm

After several months of listening to my favorite LPs with the AB309 mounted on the TD124 or 401, I still could not get into A/B testing/reviewer mode. I'm always drawn to enjoying the music LP after LP. 

Suffice it to say, I've known my hifi system for many decades. When a new component is inserted I can immediately detect whether it is detracting or enhancing my musical experience. 

There may be some subtle differences between the 301/RMG309/SPU#1s vs. 401/AB309/SPU#1s but that would be splitting hairs, which I'm loathe to do. So from here on, I will share my thoughts as to why I've held the Ortofon RMG309, SME3012 and more recently, the AB309 in such high esteem.

Thorens TD124 + AB309 + Teac TC15 aka FR1 MKII

Just like the Ortofon SPU cartridge, a transcription length tonearm is an acquired taste. For the uninitiated, the sonic virtues of the SME 3012, RMG309 and AB309 may come across like the volume control was taken down a couple of notches. To put it another way, due to the larger scale presentation, the added details become more subtle.

However, once you get past this threshold, you will notice a more expansive soundstage with a blacker background. From there you'll start hearing better lower level detail retrieval, improved micro and macro dynamic contrasts, greater dynamic range and more extended frequency extremes. 

Garrard 401 + AB309 + SPU#1s

The relaxed yet dignified authority of these tonearms is what makes them highly sought after by aficionados. 

Stay safe and happy listening!

CAVEAT

It's been over five years since I wrote this article and I'm still enjoying my AB309 and AS309 tonearms. However, I would be remiss if I didn't make my readers aware about the Bokrand tonearm issue. Please practice due diligence.

Another 12" tonearm truly worth considering is the Ukrainian-made Karmadon 311 that's now installed in my Garrard 301.