Groove Tracer Black Delrin Platter

[AudioSoul]

For Rega TT's. I did not know they made them. I was inquiring of the possibility of have a black Acrylic platter made and Frank told me he makes a Black Delrin one. They are more money $235.00 vs 185..00 for the acrylic. I have owned TT's with Acrylic and Delrin platters before. I like Delrin better, it doesn't have that plasticy sound as Delrin is more dense and heavier than the Acrylic. If anyone is interested I will report back on how it sounds compared to the stock platter and matt.......

[watercourse]

Yes, let us know how the platters compare!

[Frank_Sm]

Regarding the Delrin platter. I had anticipated featuring it on the website several months ago but the workload around here has kept me from doing so.
The other consideration was regarding manufacturing cost. It requires a longer machining process, and the raw material cost is very high too.
It is denser than acrylic (carries more mass) and has a much different presentation.

[gabriel1998]

That would be something I'd be interesting in and its Xmas!!!Please post some Pictures:D

[Frank_Sm]

Very stealth.

[gabriel1998]

Very Sexy!!! Does it come with a Batman Sticker?

[AudioSoul]

I never would have imagined thinking a piece of plastic was beautiful. But that is beautiful. I should have mine by wednesday.......

[Indydan]

That delrin platter looks awesome! I am very happy with my Groovetracer acrylic platter, but if you put those black delrin platters up for sale Frank, I would be tempted to get one. I wonder what the differences/improvements over the regular acrylic platter are?

[watercourse]

Yes Frank, give us some details. Inquiring minds want to know!

[Laudanum]

I have used many types of platters. These are just general impressions.

Regular glass - "Clear", "glassy" but can be "hard" sounding and with a "green" cast.

Clear Acrylic - Not as "hard" sounding as glass but can be a bit "plasticky" and can sound "synthetic".

Smoked glass - Not as "clear" but "glassy" nonetheless and still can be "hard" but with a slightly veiled, "smokey" like sound.

Frosted acrylic - Again, not as "hard" a sound as glass, but missing that "glassy" quality. Also veiled compared to clear acrylic and a colder "frostier" type sonic character. Again, can sound "synthetic".

Black acrylic - Acrylics overall "softer" character compared to glass. Retains the "plasticy" (and sometimes "synthetic") sound of acyrlic but a much "darker" presentation overall.

Starfire Glass - Same sonic flavor overall as other glass platters, still a "hard" sound, but "glassy". However not veiled at all like the frosted glass and lacking the "green" cast of the standard glass platter. Very pure and "Crystal clear".

Bakelite - A bit unusual for a platter material. Warmer than the others, not as hard or glassy but not quite as dynamic. Non-fatiquing, almost with an organic/natural character. Perhaps a "woody" timbre is the best description.

MDF - "Woodier" character than Bakelite. Hint of "Natural" sonics but with a bit of a gummy or "gluey" dullness to the sound.

Metal platters - I will get into the different specific metal platters later, but they can tend to share a common "house sound". Almost a "metallic" character to varying degrees. Again, I'll leave them for later.

I have yet to audition a Delrin platter so I cannot comment there.

Just my opinions, please take them in the way in which they were intended

[watercourse]

What I'd like to know is whether the delrin platter has the same lowered center of gravity like the acrylic, and whether the height of the two platters are the same, so that the delrin is a drop-in replacement for the acrylic?

Go team GT! Would love to see some improvements to the main bearing

[bacobits]

I do not think the glass/felt platter is glassy or hard sounding. I do think now after some comparisons the acrylic platter sucks some of the life out, may be my clamp too. To the point of having to turn the volume up. But after the volume adjustment I have to evaluate the differences. I think both platters sound fine really. I would love to try that Delrin platter.
It looks to be the same machining dimensions and fit as the GT Acrylic platter.
As usual nice job Frank! Price is reasonable too. You start getting over $300 it gets to be 1/3 cost of the table's original price. I start thinking other things.......
For example VPI is really expensive for some of their upgrades.

[watercourse]

May be the clamp? I didn't like how a ttweights clamp sounded with the acrylic platter. It deadened the sound too much, and I also noticed some smearing. I much preferred a simple weight. You could try not clamping it down and seeing if that makes a difference.

But back to the delrin platter - I would imagine darker background, but also a deadening?

[AudioSoul]

What I'd like to know is whether the delrin platter has the same lowered center of gravity like the acrylic, and whether the height of the two platters are the same, so that the delrin is a drop-in replacement for the acrylic?

Go team GT! Would love to see some improvements to the main bearing

I asked Frank about the dimentions before I commited to buy. He said the Delrin platter is the same dims as the acrylic but the Delrin platter is heavier due to the Delrin is denser than acrylic.