Ariston
RD80SL Mark2 Turntable
Ariston
RD80SL with Linn LVX tonearm and Linn Basik cartridge
Description
The
RD80SL is a high quality turntable with an
independently sprung subchassis using a three-point suspension, belt-driven
by an AC synchronous motor and 2.6kg two-piece machined mazak platter with
screw-down record clamp. It offers 33.3RPM and 45RPM. It has the capacity to
extract the maximum amount of information from the disc. 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. It also has a two piece, fully machined concave
platter with screw down record clamp. Precision made single point bearing. Real
wood veneered cabinet.
The turntable is supplied complete
with dust cover, original packaging and instruction book.
Specifications
Type:
manual belt drive
Motor:
AC synchronous
Platter:
2.6kg
Speeds:
33.33 and 45rpm
Wow
and flutter: 0.08%
Rumble:
-7dB
Performance
This Ariston RD80SL is recommended to anyone in the market for a classic turntable. It is designed to
extract musical information from the record, adding as little of its own
character to the sound as possible, and in this it succeeds admirably
Condition
Used,
excellent condition
This
turntable is in outstanding condition, it has run faultlessly throughout my
ownership, it has been used in a child-free, pet-free, smoke-free home.
Cosmetically, it is in excellent condition, it is very clean, the wooden plinth
is un blemished with a nice polish, and the plastic cover is in excellent
condition, without cracks or blemishes. Sonically, this record player still
sounds great, and could easily be upgraded by fitting the cartridge of your
choice. It is currently fitted with a Linn Basik (moving magnet) cartridge.
History
of Ownership
I
bought this turntable, new, from Peter Tyson Ltd., Carlisle around 1986. I have
been the sole owner from new, it was originally fitted with a Linn LVV tone arm
but I upgraded it to the superior Linn LVX arm which is currently fitted. With
the advent oF CD then streamed music, I withdrew the turntable from routine
service for several years, and I have carefully stored it.
Production
History
Ariston
Audio produced a range of fine turntables for a decade and a half. The
Prestwick company got consistently good reviews, but never quite managed to
enthuse hi-fi jurnalists of the day in the way that Linn and Rega did. All
the same, its products sold solidly and certainly deserved to. The RD80SL punched above its weight in the
mid-price turntable sector.
Launched
in 1982, followed the classic independently
sprung subchassis belt-drive model, using a three-point suspension, AC
synchronous motor and 2.6kg two-piece machined mazak platter with screw-down
record clamp. As you would expect, it offered 33.3RPM and 45RPM, and held
to those speeds well too, with a quoted wow and flutter of 0.08%. Rumble was
measured at -75dB, a very good figure.
Ariston’s
excellent single-point bearing was fitted, and the 445x360x170mm plinth was
a real wood-veneered fibreboard affair, with a wooden armboard and acrylic
dustcover. In autumn 1983, the RD80SL appeared with changes to the electrical
insulation to meet new Semco-Demco standards. The platter was also
revised, now machined slightly concave on its upper surface for improved
record-to-mat contact. It also added fine adjustment of the motor pulley/belt
angle, and gained access to the tonearm underneath without having to remove the
baseplate. Finally, a new thick and heavily damped rubber mat was specified.
Relationship
with Linn
The
company was started by Hamish Robertson, who contracted Castle Precision
Engineering Ltd. (owned by Ivor Tiefenbrun's father Jack) – to make a turntable transcription deck
for him back in 1970. The RD11 was developed by Hamish along with Ivor and
Jack, and distributed by C. J. Walker and Company. Hamish Robertson and Mr Tiefenbrun each disputed who had designed the single point bearing system used in the similar Linn and Ariston turntables, leading to an acrimonious legal battle.
The Ariston turntable company has no relationship with the manufacturer of white goods with a similarname
Notes to bidders