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  1. #1

    Angry McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Hi all,
    Anyone having trouble with the McIntosh MT-5 spindle not fitting the vinyl hole? About 70% of my vinyl won't fit. McIntosh sent a new spindle, but it was the same exact one. ALL the vinyl fits fine on my Rega P3.

    thx
    brandon

  2. #2
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    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Welcome to AS Brandon.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

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  3. #3

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Thanks! Look forward to poking around. Sorry to first post with a problem!

  4. #4

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Clearaudio (who makes the spindle) are much bigger. I keep a knife and I twist on small shaped vinyl holes. You can also buy Clearaudio drill bit or make your own:

    Search: Clearaudio LP Drill

    It makes for a tighter fit and the record isn't bouncing around.

    Quote Originally Posted by Shempster1965 View Post
    Hi all,
    Anyone having trouble with the McIntosh MT-5 spindle not fitting the vinyl hole? About 70% of my vinyl won't fit. McIntosh sent a new spindle, but it was the same exact one. ALL the vinyl fits fine on my Rega P3.

    thx
    brandon

  5. #5

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Quote Originally Posted by AM123 View Post
    Clearaudio (who makes the spindle) are much bigger. I keep a knife and I twist on small shaped vinyl holes. You can also buy Clearaudio drill bit or make your own:

    Search: Clearaudio LP Drill

    It makes for a tighter fit and the record isn't bouncing around.
    I would buy a new turntable with a correctly sized spindle before I would take a knife or drill to all of my LPs.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

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  6. #6

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    I would buy a new turntable with a correctly sized spindle before I would take a knife or drill to all of my LPs.
    It isn't "all" your LP's, just some new repressings by companies like Doxy, etc. All vinyl should be 7.3mm or 7.24mm. Some new pressings are smaller for some reason - bad presses, etc.

    I would suggest getting a 7.3mm drill, if it is too tight, screw it in and you will now be at the proper size. Look at the outside edges of these records as well, you will see, that they overpress them.

    You want that spindle tight, and not loose and off center. Look at what happens when you place a 45RPM off center without a adapter, well that is what happens (to a lesser degree) when you put an oversized record on a small spindle.

  7. #7

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    By the way, I had an MT10, Clearaudio Innovation and now I have a Clearaduio Master Innovation. All have the proper sized spindle.

  8. #8

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Quote Originally Posted by AM123 View Post
    It isn't "all" your LP's, just some new repressings by companies like Doxy, etc. All vinyl should be 7.3mm or 7.24mm. Some new pressings are smaller for some reason - bad presses, etc.

    I would suggest getting a 7.3mm drill, if it is too tight, screw it in and you will now be at the proper size. Look at the outside edges of these records as well, you will see, that they overpress them.

    You want that spindle tight, and not loose and off center. Look at what happens when you place a 45RPM off center without a adapter, well that is what happens (to a lesser degree) when you put an oversized record on a small spindle.
    The OP said 70% don't fit and thus my comment.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

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  9. #9

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Ive never had an issue with mine.
    Main System:Mcintosh MC601's Amplifer,Mcintosh C1000/C1000T Preamp,Kef Ref 5 Speakers,Mcintosh MCD1100 CDP,Mcintosh MT 5 TT, Olive 04HD, Acoustic Zen Absolute Shotgun Cables,4 ELECTRA™ 7 Power Cords&2 Pairs of
    ECLIPSE 7 (EBI) XLR's, Consonance D-Linear 15 Ultra Reference Power Conditioner/Surge Protector, SolidTech "Rack of Silence"Reference 4 Audio Stand.

  10. #10

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Tight is good. Sometimes it's a tight fit on the MT10 but never an issue. A heavy weight will help it down.

    A gentle wriggle is all it takes to pull it off.


    Speakeasy

  11. #11
    Senior Member
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    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Quote Originally Posted by Shempster1965 View Post
    Hi all,
    Anyone having trouble with the McIntosh MT-5 spindle not fitting the vinyl hole? About 70% of my vinyl won't fit. McIntosh sent a new spindle, but it was the same exact one. ALL the vinyl fits fine on my Rega P3.
    Brandon.......ClearAudio offers this tool for shaping tight LP holes. The bit is pressed into a nice aluminum anodized handle. They are proud of it at $50.00. Available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Clearaudio-Rec.../dp/B00NY869I2

    The RIAA specification for a 12" LP center hole is 0.286" + 0.001" -0.002". A Size L drill bit has a diameter of 0.290", or 3-one thousandths over the RIAA maximum specification of 0.287".

    Standard drill bit sizes are shown here: http://www.gearhob.com/eng/design/drill_eng.htm


    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  12. #12

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    If the spindle is oversized which it appears to be, I would rather take the spindle to a machinist and have him turn it down to the correct diameter (or sell the table) than give my LPs the ream and scream.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

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  13. #13
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    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    If the spindle is oversized which it appears to be, I would rather take the spindle to a machinist and have him turn it down to the correct diameter (or sell the table) than give my LPs the ream and scream.
    Mark.......Since the RIAA specification for a 12" LP center hole is 0.286" + 0.001" -0.002", you could theoretically have albums with holes of 0.284" diameter and still be within the RIAA specification for hole diameter. This would make those albums snug on a spindle that met the standard diameter of 0.286". Reaming with a precision sized bit to increase the hole size of those albums to a 0.286" or 0.287" diameter still allows the center hole to remain within the RIAA's specified diameter range. Since the RIAA specification allows a 0.003" variance in the hole diameter and still be considered within spec, and since there is most certainly other albums that are sporting hole diameters of 0.287" that would be slightly larger than a 0.286 spindle yet remain in spec, I don't see how enlarging an albums hole with a precision drill bit of the correct RIAA size, up to and including 0.287", could be considered "ream and scream" as you put it.

    Granted, using inaccurately sized reaming devices would be considered risky, things like a screwdriver, a pocketknife, a rattail file, a razor knife, a drill bit deemed close enough, or any other such tool not specifically designed to make a precise hole to a specific diameter. Something like that might just fit your comment perfectly.
    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  14. #14
    Senior Member
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    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    I have a ClearAudio table a few Lps are tight on the spindle but I have not had new pressing from a higher end label that was a problem. ClearAudio has very rigid views on what is the right way to do things I have found they know what they are doing. Buy the drill bit from them if you need to but I would not change or machine down the spindle. IMO only By the way ClearAudio has centre record weight and outer ring I have not found a better centre weight or ring and I have tried a few . It is not the highest tec centre weight but it does work better with my table which may not be your cup of tea but it is very good. I have not tried the still point weight yet but I will . The little things really matter on tables.
    Lyra Atlas, tri-planner, clear audio statement, Burmester 100, Ayre KXR20, Ayre MXR20, Ayre DX5, Adept Response line conditioner, Ayre signature interconnects, Cardas clear power cables,cardas clear speaker cables and Martin Logan CLX with Decenti subs with Cardas hex link.
    Not in use Infinity QLS and Ohm F

  15. #15

    Re: McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

    Look guys, we all have a few LPs that are snug on the spindle regardless of the table we have in our systems. The vast majority of all my LPs slip right on the spindle. The OP said that 70% of his LPs are too tight which to me means that he is either wildly exaggerating the situation or the spindle is really oversized. I'm going to assume the OP is somewhere in the ballpark and he is having problems with the majority of his LPs fitting on the spindle. So, unless he plans on taking that table to the grave with him, I wouldn't ream the spindle holes on the majority of my LPs because they may be too sloppy on the next table.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

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McIntosh MT-5 spindle problems

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