Takumi TT 3.1 Recordplayer – Turntable

Description

Master the Moment

according to a statement by Nahoko Kojima…

The essence of Takumi is to gain a sublime understanding of the nuances of a particular art. To be focused and spend countless hours on one thing, and to carry on. It requires one to empty the mind and focus in a way that is simply not possible when still acquiring a skill.

SpeedPod

You control the speed with the SpeedPod, a small external unit. It switches between 33.33 and 45 RPM, and lets you make fine adjustments in 0.01 RPM steps — helpful for older records or tuning by ear. Designed to integrate seamlessly, the SpeedPod fits precisely under the Takumi chassis.

Delrin Platter

The Takumi TT level 3.1 comes with a precisely machined Delrin platter. Delrin is the material of choice for multiple reasons. The material properties of Delrin and Vinyl records are very similar, resulting in near perfect coupling and therefore minimizing mechanical vibrations. Furthermore, the density of Delrin is higher than that of Acrylic, increasing the mass of the platter, which increases speed stability thereby reducing wow and flutter. Finally, the elegant look of the Delrin platter is the “cherry on the cake” for the level 3.1.

Solidwood

The level 3.1 plinth is constructed from carefully selected solid wood enclosed by two Acrylic layers. The top layer is mechanically decoupled to reduce possible vibrations. Wood options are Beech or Walnut.

Integrated Armlift

Both controls, speed and tonearm lift, are located at the front right corner, a typical 70’s configuration. One lever is for speed selection, 33,33 or 45 RPM. The other lever is for the arm lift. The tonearm rest and the damped tonearm lift are integrated with each other. The result is a clean, minimal design, without compromising the ease of use. The height of the tonearm rest can be adjusted to match the VTA of the tonearm, allowing all lines to remain straight and even.

*The final layout of the controls illustrated here may differ slightly from the production model.

Balance is the keyword in the design of Takumi

It is Newton all over

Playing vinyl on a turntable is a physical wonder. It is all about vibrations. Of course, the vibrations of the sound waves are the most important – after all, you want to listen to music! However, the different parts of a turntable also create vibrations, and this phenomenon must be considered during the construction of a turntable.

For example, did you know that the vibrational waves which are created reach the element and the needle through the base, the tonearm, and other ways? And speaking of the needle… it generates all kinds of forces on the grooves of the record which must be kept under control.

According to Newton’s third law, vibration will occur inside the record as the needle scans the groove. The details of your favourite music can be lost or distorted if the turntable is not well designed for these vibrations.

Therefore, every force and path that can be travelled by vibration waves must be examined. By making sure that you use the right materials and by connecting them in the right way, your music sounds like never before on the Takumi TT.

Newton’s Laws of motion:

1st law:

an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a force.

2nd law:

the vector sum of the forces F on an object is equal to the mass m of that object multiplied by the acceleration a of the object: F = m.a

3rd law:

when one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body.

Stable Speed, Quiet Drive — How the Takumi Spins

Spinning a record might seem simple, but doing it well takes careful engineering. The Takumi 3.1DC uses a belt drive system, a quiet DC motor, and a smart speed control system to keep everything turning smoothly and precisely.

We chose belt drive to reduce vibration. The belt acts like a filter — it helps block small motor movements from reaching the platter. This keeps noise out of the music and improves clarity.

The motor is in its own housing, separated from the main chassis. Inside, we use damping materials to absorb any small movements. A cover over the pulley also helps reduce sound from the motor. The result: very low mechanical noise.

But smooth rotation needs more than isolation. The Takumi uses a sensor system that checks the platter speed constantly. A set of magnets under the platter work with a sensor in the base to provide real-time feedback. If the speed drifts even a little, the system adjusts it automatically.

This means better pitch accuracy, better timing, and a more natural flow in the music — even with long listening sessions or hard-to-drive records.

The Takumi doesn’t just spin the record. It keeps the speed steady and the music intact — so you hear exactly what was pressed into the groove.

Built for Smooth Rotation — Platter, Subplatter, and Bearing

Spinning a record might seem simple, but doing it well takes careful engineering. The Takumi 3.1DC uses a belt drive system, a quiet DC motor, and a smart speed control system to keep everything turning smoothly and precisely.

We chose belt drive to reduce vibration. The belt acts like a filter — it helps block small motor movements from reaching the platter. This keeps noise out of the music and improves clarity.

The motor is in its own housing, separated from the main chassis. Inside, we use damping materials to absorb any small movements. A cover over the pulley also helps reduce sound from the motor. The result: very low mechanical noise.

But smooth rotation needs more than isolation. The Takumi uses a sensor system that checks the platter speed constantly. A set of magnets under the platter work with a sensor in the base to provide real-time feedback. If the speed drifts even a little, the system adjusts it automatically.

This means better pitch accuracy, better timing, and a more natural flow in the music — even with long listening sessions or hard-to-drive records.

The Takumi doesn’t just spin the record. It keeps the speed steady and the music intact — so you hear exactly what was pressed into the groove.

Why No Platter Mat?

Most platter mats create a barrier between the record and the platter, allowing the vinyl to vibrate on its own. This can amplify subtle resonances, which may color the sound, blur transients, and mask fine details.

With the Takumi, the record rests directly on the acrylic platter. Because acrylic has similar resonance properties to vinyl, it quickly absorbs micro-vibrations instead of reflecting them back into the stylus. By doing so, we effectively add the mass of the platter to the record itself, forming a single damped unit. This combination is then isolated from the subplatter and spindle by carefully tuned rubber interfaces.

The result is greater stability, lower noise, and a cleaner, more focused musical presentation — with preserved clarity, blacker backgrounds, and sharper detail.