garyjac1553552774 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 G'Day All, from across the Ditch, I have used one of Dave Whitaker's Aura Turntables for the past 10 years or so. As with all things, however excellent, there comes a time when they need attention. Now that Dave is no longer with us (alas), is there someone I can contact (preferably by email, with an eye to repairing the motor bearings. It sounds to me as though they are starting to shake, rattle and (not) roll. The unit is still spinning the platter at the correct speed, but the motor is intermittently quite noisy (can be heard a couple of metres away). I have heard that Chris Marquet might be the man to contact about this but have no email contact point for him, if he is still able to do these motor repairs, that is. Any assistance in this direction would be greatly appreciated. I'm not giving up my Aura ! Regards, Gary Jacobson The Quad ESL (www.quadesl.org) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Hi Gary - I own an Aura & may be of some help. The mtrs can vibrate. the mtrs have some end float & there are a few factors that can come into play - drive belt tension, pulley height, mtr bearing wear. On many later mtrs, Dave installed Linn-style end-float balls. The top bearing is a brass or bronze bushing. Chris Marquet may be able to service the mtr if needed. His contact details were on this site, on a 'sticky' page (somewhere). What does your Aura look like? ie. With intermediate flywheel, with mtr pulley-flywheel, etc? There are some pics of Aura variations & details here: http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2012/01/aura-turntable/ http://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/2013/12/26/aura-turntable/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Couldn't find that sticky either Owen. Calling MJ? Gary's now got his phone number, so that may be the best way to discuss/contact him anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 The recommended repairer thread appears to have become unstuck... Took a bit of searching but here it is; http://www.audioenz.co.nz/forums/topic/fixing-hole-recommended-repairers/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Thanks guys, and I have viewed the repairer thread. That's where I found a phone number for Chris Marquet. However, I don't know if it's polite to go cold calling people you don't know. Does anyone have his email address? Aura Motor pics attached. Vintage March, 2006. Probably one of the last Dave made, I suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Gary, Looks similar to mine re: date, intermediate flywheel, dual tt bands, chrome weights. Cold calling Chris is the least of your worries. Chris is a unique individual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 OK, I'll give him a ring and see what develops from there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 chriquet@xtra.co.nz is his email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Thanks Owen. I prefer that. Better than being told to F...Go Away...on the 'phone Regards, Gary Jacobson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Indeed that appears to be a latest spec Aura. Is that a OL Conqueror tonearm? And what looks a bit like....a Golden Age unipivot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Oh, you could mention first that your Aura appears to have one of Chris Marquet's Mtr Controller ccts - this was a redesign which Dave commissioned from Chris late in the day. Not many Auras had this PCB. PS. Chris is retired these days, but may be still undertaking sm jobs, esp if it involves one of his designs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 It is an OL Conqueror Arm, "defrocked" and between cartridges when that photo was taken this morning The other arm is a Mission 774 in fact and it has a Denon DL-S1 cartridge in place. This is a combination (low mass arm and very delicate low output MC) that produces a very deep and wide sound stage without the "robust" drive of the Denon 103 or 103R, for example. I've been listening to a Zu Audio 103 in the Conqueror recently and that's not a bad match either. I've come to the view in recent times that Denon's cartridges are much ignored and perhaps underrated for no good reason. I run the Denon DL-S1 through a Bob's Devices SKY30 SUT into the MM stage of an ME25 preamp with Manley Snappers at the power end of things driving stacked Quads. My old ME50 is being refurbished and (hush hush) a few other secret things being done to it at the moment. Still a very hard amplifier to beat with the old ESL if you are not of the "valve" persuasion. Regards, Gary Jacobson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Denon 103R's x2 on my Aura here. My first Ah Ha moment was hearing Quad 57's way back 40+ years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Ah HA! Great ears hear alike ) Me too, but not quite 40 years, more like 35 or so ) The ME50 modifications will be very interesting. I'll publish those in due course on my site, but I don't know if there's two many out there for sale these days. Denon -- been around nearly as long as Quad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Correction. Should be *30 years ago, not 40 (bad maths). Let us know how you get on with the motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Quad 57s have the most beguiling, seamless midrange. I always remember hearing M Callas, Nessun Dorma through old pal Mark's Quads... yup, 30yrs ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Oh Yes indeed, and I prefer them stacked to add an extra 6dB at the bottom and 3dB (potentially) at the top. A big line source speaker. As for the so-called "missing octave" (20 ~ 40), that doesn't bother me for the music I listen to generally. Today you have to spend over$20K to find something that has more than a pair of stacked Quads. Not an outlay I'm prepared to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Share Posted September 16, 2014 G'Day Owen and Chris, Thanks to your help, the Aura motor is replaced and spinning nicely. There's some side story here on my web site: Aura Motor Replacement and Other Adventures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Glad to hear you got it sorted. The alternate motors sound interesting. Keep us updated, and if you then find yourself with a spare original motor do let me know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyjac1553552774 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Share Posted September 16, 2014 I will, but if you get anxious, Panasonic will still supply the old MAX-13V9L for $AUD148 made to order apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Thanks for the update & successful conclusion. Nice blog page too, for Quad afficionados. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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