i just spent the morning/noon yesterday giving that REALISTIC branded ELAC TT of mine a once over. i removed the transport assembly from the plinth, and applied some OLD ENGLISH wood polish to it. then i went and replaced the stock power cord and RCA leads with a high quality set. i also went ahead and applied a few treatments of CD scratch remover to the acrylic dustcover, removing the scuffing and restoring it to a like new sheen. have a look at the finished product:










here's a couple of old shots to illustrate the difference in finish:

Nice. Elacs are surprisingly good tt's and the hanger is fun to watch.

Hanger??

oops, "Changer."

oh, hee hee! so, this is a changer model, eh? i kept the changer spindle and 45 adaptor from the BSR. i'd have been totally screwed for 45 playback otherwise, as this table had none of it's accessories included when i found it. i wonder if the BSR changer spindle is compatible with this? not that it matters, as i have no desire to use it as a changer. BTW, i just yesterday got a hold of this pack of spring-loaded kitchen table leveling feet that ended up working beautifully for the TT!! have a see;

Unless you listen to very low volumes, it hurts me to see a beautiful TT in front of a loudspeaker....

Couple years ago, while on vacation, I picked up an Elac 40H and Marantz 27. Didn't realise until too late the Goodwill worker may have left things in the box as I was missing spindles (had the short button spindle). Luckily, a few months earlier I was at an estate sale and bough some "junk" including a busted Realistic Lab 40 TT ($1.00). Later, poking around, I found there was a covered storage space on the Lab 40. Inside were two changer spindles and a single play spindle for the Elac (Realistic carried re-branded Elacs) . Work perfectly. I also picked up a 45 changer spindle. Elacs use an "umbrella" type. There are three ribs that spread out at the top of the spindle to support the free floating vinyl. They pull in and let the vinyl drop. AFAIK, platters on most of the Elacs slow to let the lp drop. The spindles can be a costly item if you find them.

the changer spindle from the BSR is an "umbrella type" as well. i'd wager that it is compatible. i'll give it a shot. oh, and clint, i've never had a single issue one with the placement of the TT. i don't listen at catastrophic volumes, but i believe i listen loud enough to to make me well aware if there were problems. i can tell you with a certainty that i have none. in fact, i've been repeatedly ribbed about this very same thing over at STEVE HOFFMAN. so, can you tell me what sonic artifacts the arrangement should be causing?

in three years, i've never had a single issue one with the proximity of this or the BSR TT to the left loudspeaker. i don't listen at catastrophic volumes, but i believe i listen loud enough to to make me well aware if there were problems. i can tell you with a certainty that i have none. still, as i've been repeatedly ribbed about this very same thing over at STEVE HOFFMAN numerous times, i am now very curious about this. could you please explain to me what sonic problems the arrangement i have should be causing? perhaps it's just dumb luck? here's a perspective shot of the arrangement:

just yesterday, i got the APRIL 1988 issue of STEREO REVIEW in the mail that i got off EBAY a week ago. it happened to have a letter and response regarding this very same issue. he said that the record and stylus can act as a microphone, and pick up vibrations from the speakers as a feedback loop that causes low-level rumble. that makes sense. it also makes sense now why i dont experience any problems, despite my TT's close proximity to the left speaker; both are heavily isolated. the TT has those spring-loaded feet i added, and it sits upon a dresser that is not only heavy, but suspended on long stilts. (it's the only dresser i've ever seen built like that, it looks like it's from the 1960s or so) so the TT has two layers of isolation. both speakers rest on speaker stands from RCA's 1984 "DIMENSIA" A/V integrated system package. those have peg feet for isolation. they rest on twin cabinets that are on casters. so the speakers have two layers of isolation as well. all this seems to result in resonance-free playback, the only possible vibrations coming from the sound in the air....

As long as the end that fits into the platter is correct it will work. Should look like the nosecone of a rocket. Post a pic if possible.

IMO as rule of thumb, i never placed a TT in front of a speaker, not only because of the microphonic issues with the stylus but also because of stylus stability in the vinyl grooves, but if you feel that's nothing wrong with it, that's ok.

FYI, here is a pic of the spindle end. Sorry about the flash. There is a thin pin sticking out the bottom (cause of shadow) that is hard to see. If the spindle you have doesn't resemble this I wouldn't use it as no telling what might get bent.

Regarding Alvaro's comcern, I know of what he says. I ahd a Thorens TT inside an armoire and though the cabinet was a few feet from the speakers it must have been in the wrong plane. Every time I played Judy Collins the woofers on my JBL L-112s would bounce around like a bowl of Jello unless I hit the high filter on the receiver.

yep, the BSR's shaft is short. i already tried it, to no avail (don't worry, nothing got damaged!!) it doesn't matter anyway; i have no use for LP changer functions; the ELAC has it's single play spindle in place, and i kept the 45 adaptor from the scrapped BSR. so, i'm stylin' as far as vinyl goes. nevertheless, all will not be well in MACGYVER land until i get my cherished PD-3000 CDP fixed!!

found some pics of the ELAC changer spindle...