TT801 Direct Drive with Vacuum Platter

About the TT801 Direct Drive with Vacuum Platter

The Victor TT-801, produced from 1981 to 1984 in Japan, is a rare and highly regarded direct drive turntable known for its advanced engineering and sound quality. It features a turbo disk stabilizer system that works with an optional vacuum pump unit (TS-1) to create a vacuum hold-down effect on the record, significantly reducing mid- to low-frequency vibrations by 20 dB or more. The platter has air intake holes that channel air through the center spindle and out via the TS-1 pump, stabilizing the record during playback. The drive motor is a low-vibration coreless DC motor with 2.5 kg-cm torque, controlled by a double-servo quartz circuit and synthesizer system that improves quartz lock stability by 30 times compared to previous models. The turntable has a composite die-cast aluminum body with double zinc rings, providing high inertia and eliminating unwanted resonance. It includes an electronic brake quick stop mechanism and a reset switch for instant speed correction. The unit has an SNR of 80 dB (DIN-B) and wow and flutter less than 0.01% (RMS). It was originally priced around 130,000 Yen in 1981 and was not intended for export. The TT-801 is considered a golden era audiophile turntable with excellent precision and build quality, often paired with high-end tonearms for superior performance.