Diatone LT-1

About the Diatone LT-1

The Diatone LT-1 is a full automatic linear tracking turntable developed by Mitsubishi Diatone, employing a linear tracking system where the tonearm moves linearly across the record, closely following the groove tangentially to reduce tracking error and harmonic distortion. It uses a stainless steel wire drive for the moving base of the tonearm, combining durability and flexibility. Tracking error is detected via photodiodes and controlled to within 0.03° to 0.05°. The turntable features a 12-pole Quartz PLL DC servo motor direct drive system, a 312 mm stainless steel and aluminum alloy die-cast platter weighing 2.5 kg, and supports 33 1/3 and 45 rpm speeds with electronic speed switching. The tonearm is a static balance universal straight pipe type, 225 mm total length with 175 mm effective length, and tracking error angle of ±0.05°. Needle pressure is adjustable from 0 to 3 g in 0.1 g steps. The unit weighs 18.5 kg and measures 485 mm width, 207 mm height, and 413 mm depth. It includes accessories such as an overhang gauge, 45 rpm adapter, sub-weight, driver, and disk stabilizer. The design incorporates advanced vibration control based on motion modeling and computer simulations to minimize vibration transmission to the needle tip, ensuring excellent tracking capability and sound quality. The LT-1 is regarded as a sophisticated and well-built turntable from the early 1980s, notable for its precision and stability in playback.