Now here is something just that little bit special, it's not often you can find a reasonably good turntable with the NAD badge
This is NOT your "turn it on, plonk on a record and start playing music" type of turntable, this is well above that with "fine tuning" available in a number of areas.
When these were first released in 1983, they came with a flat tonearm - strange, unusual and despite the technical advantages, most users didn't like the flat arm at all but with that said, there is a camp of users who have properly setup their flat arm systems and absolutely love them.
NAD changed to a more traditional tubular tonearm as a result of customer feedback BUT if the user wishes to (and can find a flat tonearm kit) it is not difficult to retro fit the original flat tonearm to one of these 5120's. A cool side effect of this tonearm "changeability" is that you could have a number of tonearms, preinstal your favourite cartridges and just change the tonearm as the need arises.
NAD Turntable
Model: 5120
NO cartridge is fitted - often a user will have their own "favourite" anyway.
33 & 45
Speed accuracy: +-0.5%
Wow and flutter: 0.04% WRMS
Rumble: -70dB
240V (not a converted unit from elsewhere)
Tonearm: flat or tubular static balance arm with dynamic vibration absorber
Effective length: 208mm
Effective mass: 6g
Overhang: 19.1mm
Offset angle: 26 degrees
Dynamic vibration absorber: spring suspended counterweight with viscous damping
Cartridge weight: 2 to 8g
Tracking force: 0 to 3g (usually used around 1.5g)
Released to market 1983 - the equipment I am offering is from the early 1990's (changed to a tubular arm)
Made in Czechoslovakia
Belt Drive
Fully suspended sub-chassis. This means the turntable platter etc and the tonearm are suspended independantly of the main chassis.
The platter is not one piece but in fact three...the sub platter which is driven by the rubber belt, then the metal main platter disc upon which sits the rubber platter mat (thick/heavy) and finally the centre hole adaptor. The latter is ingenious, if you wish to play a 7" with a large centre hole, just invert this centre hole adaptor and away you go!
There are so many aspects to this turntable that are "different" - the speed control is way at the back on the left hand side, the tracking force adjustment is right near the tonearm pivot and the anti-skating control sits at the base of the tonearm rest post.
Semi-automatic operation
Complete with the Operation Manual (original) and accessories (spare DVA white screws)
Even the manual is "different" in that it gives exploded views of the turntable components, very detailed setup instructions and gives a lot of insights into resonances, damping and how to take these factors into account and "tune" the turntable. It even has an extensive chart showing the commonly used cartridges, showing their resonant frequencies, damping factors etc
Original NAD box is supplied although the styro packing is long gone, I have replacement styro for safe shipping
These have an integral locking system underneath (when shipping) which of course will be used when being shipped.
PHYSICAL CONDITION:
Very good - excellent
First, the perspex lid (unusual design with a rear/top but no sides), the turntable casing provides the side supports/dirt dust protection) and is LIKE NEW - see those funny bubbles on the lid? That is the original plastic seal over the perspex - it has never been removed. I checked from underneath and there are no cracks at all.
The main casing is also in very good condition. Very clean and no scratching to any part.
The lid hinges are fine, lift the lid and it stays in position with no "drooping"
TESTING:
Here is the important part, does it work? Of course it works - actually very well...
It is important to understand the operation of this turntable, although "semi-automatic" it works like this ...
Place the record on the turntable
Set your play speed
Manually move the tonearm to sit above the run-in groove area
Turn the switch (front panel right hand side) to PLAY
The tonearm will now ever so gently lower onto the record - and I mean gently, it is a very gradual lowering.
Record plays and when the run-out area is reached, the tonearm lifts and then the front panel switch automatically moves to STOP and there is the tonearm sits, above the run-out area - IT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE TONEARM REST AUTOMATICALLY.
This is part of the design, not a fault.
There is one thing that needs attention due to the age of the unit - the neoprene rubber drive belt must be replaced.
These turntables use a mechanical two pulley system, one pulley for 45rpm and the other pulley for 33rpm. There isn't much assuring the belt rides in the correct position so the belt tension is critical to correct operation of the turntable. My old belt was beyond reliable use and is NOT supplied (it had stretched just 5mm and that was enough to give grief when changing speeds)
I am NOT supplying a new belt either, these are readily available online or you could try a generic from somewhere like Wagner Electronics in Sydney. The belt (designated part number 57) is 4mm x 0.8mm x 160mm diameter - mine had stretched just 5mm and that was enough to give grieve so that diameter is pretty critical. I believe the original belts are neoprene rubber, these being more resistant to environmental conditions which can cause rubber breakdown = longer life. Online prices seem to range from A$15 up to around A$50 or a local generic belt can be purchased for around $10 I seem to recall.
I am NOT supplying a cartridge - the cartridge fitted was one of my "gems" and is not for sale, however there are many cartridges which will work well with this tonearm/turntable - something like a Grado is highly recommended.
I have used this turntable many times, if you love to "tinker" with your turntable then this NAD is great for that - suspension, resonances, vibration damping and overall "turntable tuning"
So to the testing nitty gritty ....
I powered up the turntable....until you turn the front right switch to PLAY, nothing happens. Once in the PLAY position, the lamp glows orange. Moving the tonearm off the unusual rest begins the turntable rotation - all is fine here and the speed is spot on.
Because I was using an "emergency - not quite the same" belt to undertake testing, I just checked playing a 7" vinyl running at 45rpm. I didn't want to change speeds because this is when you get the belt slipping off the sub platter if the belt is not "just right"
Played the record fine and when it reached the "run out" area of the record, the tonearm cleanly raised itself and then stopped - the turntable then automatically turned itself off - IT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE REST POST BY ITSELF, THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL OF TURNTABLE
Since this test playing of vinyl, I HAVE NOW REMOVED THE CARTRIDGE AND JUST THE FOUR AUDIO WIRES ARE HANGING AT THE END OF THE TONEARM - your task (Jim, should you choose to accept it) is to find a nice cartridge, fit it and alignment it properly (alignment protractors are easy to find online - free e.g vinyl engine)
Shipping of this turntable is no problem, I pack delicate equipment every day and take extreme care. It will be shipped with the tonearm locked to the tone rest, the various platter components secured in position and the suspension lock underneath the turntable in the "locked position"
