MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS:
Motor: D.C. servo.
Drive: Direct.
Speed Variation: ±3 percent.
Wow & Flutter: 0.05 percent (DIN 45 507).
Rumble: -70 dB (DIN B).
Dimensions: 18 in. (45.7 cm) x 13.2 in. (33.5 cm) x 6.1 in. (15.5 cm).
Weight: 22 lbs. (10 kg).
Price: $250.00.
Visonik has made quite a name for itself as makers of a range of loudspeakers, particularly their unique "micro-miniature" models and subwoofers. But they also make a number of turntables, with the top of the line being the DD-8200, a direct-drive model with a servo-controlled d.c. motor, variable speed control, and a neat "mirror strobe." All the controls are accessible with the dustcover closed--a design trend which I, for one, find very sensible.
A two-position, 33 and 45 rpm, speed switch is on the left hand side, and next to it is a 6-in. window containing the mirror strobe indicator and horizontal slider for speed adjustment Then comes a Reject lever and, right at the end, is the Cue Lift control. Indication for the speed selection is provided by two red lights positioned just above the actual switch.
The tonearm is the familiar S-type design, made of matte finish aluminum and measuring 8 1/2 in. from stylus to pivot.
The rear counterweight is calibrated from 0 to 2.5 grams, and there is a wide extension weight for lateral balance. The low mass headshell is made of a special aluminum alloy, and slots are provided for accurate alignment of the phono cartridge.
The anti-skating dial is located at the base of the tonearm and calibrated in a similar manner to the counterweight.
As most readers know, there are two schools of thought regarding turntable platters --some engineers favoring a light platter, while others favor the flywheel action of a heavy one. The 8200's platter weighs in at 3 1/4 lbs. (1.47 kg), plus almost 1/2 lb. for the substantial rubber mat, which puts it into the heavy category.
Measurements
For test purposes a Stanton 881S phono cartridge was mounted in the headshell and aligned with the position gauge supplied. The range of the speed control was checked first and was found to give a variation of +4.5 percent and -2.5 percent, slightly more than claimed. Wow and flutter was a low 0.035 percent (DIN 45 507), and rumble was an excellent -62 dB using the ARLI weighting. Tracking error was within the normal 0.5 degrees per inch, typical of this kind of tonearm, and bearing friction was negligible, being too low to measure accurately. Arm resonance came out to 8.5 Hz with the Stanton cartridge, the rise being just under 3 dB. Calibration of the tracking force weight was quite accurate, being within 5 percent above 1 gram, and the anti-skating dial gave a close match. Optimum results with the Stan ton 881S were obtained with a tracking force of 1.25 grams and the anti-skating dial set to 1.5 grams.
Listening and Use Tests
The oil-damped, cue-lift control works a little differently from most--depressing the lever brings the tonearm slowly down, but to bring it back up the lever is pressed down again and released. It takes some time to get used to it, but the operation is smooth with no backlash, so this is a minor quibble. There are four strobe calibrations, one pair for 50 Hz and the other pair for 60 Hz, but there should be no confusion as the viewing window is quite large.
As mentioned earlier, all controls are accessible with the dustcover closed --it is obvious that considerable thought has been given to the ease of operation. As the measurements indicate (especially the low wow and flutter figures), the Visonik DD-8200 is a very fine performer and offers a remarkably good value for the quite modest price of $250.00.
-George W. Tillett
(Source: Audio magazine, May 1979)
Also see: Well Tempered Turntable (July 1988)
Well Tempered Tonearm and Van Den Hul MC-One Cartridge (July 1988)
Nagatron HV9100 Ribbon (Velocity) Magnetic Phono Cartridge (May 1979)
Thorens TD 115 Turntable / Ortofon TPO-70 phono cartridge wand (Dec. 1982)
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