Here is an unusual turntable. I've seen and read a lot of turntables before but, I never thought I get to see one of these Hitachi turntables in the flesh. Why is it unusual? Well, how the bearing is designed.
By looks, it doesn't look all that different from any other Hitachi or CEC turntables out there on the current or past market and by most assumptions you are absolutely correct. What we have here is the typical well made Japanese turntable of the early 1970s. It has a very nicely sized AC motor, a die-cast aluminum base that is set in a nice real wood veneer plinth, a good sized platter and a fairly good tone arm.
However, unlike most, the bearing is designed differently. While almost 99% of vintage turntables out there have a "well" design where the spindle bearing falls/sits into a well. This Hitachi is the exact opposite. The best description I can come up with is that the bearing reminds me of a unipivot design where the bearing and "well" are inverted. Inside the Hitachi is a plate which houses the bearing shaft. Then the spindle falls on-top of the shaft. Very odd and unique. I do not know if it makes the bearing more efficient but, it's quite unique.
Other than that, this Hitachi is quite typical. It is a pure manual, 2-speed, belt driven table. But, it is well made.
When I was browsing through the manual it seemed to prefer higher tracking cartridges. So, I would assume it's more on the medium mass to higher mass tone arms. It came with a Shure M95ED so, I just ended up getting a Jico replacement. It sounds and track nicely as it should.
It is a cool table, that's for sure!
By looks, it doesn't look all that different from any other Hitachi or CEC turntables out there on the current or past market and by most assumptions you are absolutely correct. What we have here is the typical well made Japanese turntable of the early 1970s. It has a very nicely sized AC motor, a die-cast aluminum base that is set in a nice real wood veneer plinth, a good sized platter and a fairly good tone arm.
However, unlike most, the bearing is designed differently. While almost 99% of vintage turntables out there have a "well" design where the spindle bearing falls/sits into a well. This Hitachi is the exact opposite. The best description I can come up with is that the bearing reminds me of a unipivot design where the bearing and "well" are inverted. Inside the Hitachi is a plate which houses the bearing shaft. Then the spindle falls on-top of the shaft. Very odd and unique. I do not know if it makes the bearing more efficient but, it's quite unique.
Other than that, this Hitachi is quite typical. It is a pure manual, 2-speed, belt driven table. But, it is well made.
When I was browsing through the manual it seemed to prefer higher tracking cartridges. So, I would assume it's more on the medium mass to higher mass tone arms. It came with a Shure M95ED so, I just ended up getting a Jico replacement. It sounds and track nicely as it should.
It is a cool table, that's for sure!
