Vintage

Driven via a 500rpm synchronous motor, belt, capstan and idler wheel, the 2.3kg platter is brought up to speed within three seconds, although the engagement and auto-cueing of the arm is somewhat more ponderous. Absolute speed is determined by the fine pitch dial sitting around the 33/45 selector, and a very precise ±0.03% was achievable, albeit with a ±4Hz wow of 0.07% and a total flutter – led by a component at ±10Hz – of 0.09% (all peak wtd). However, in common with most good direct- or idler-drive decks, low-rate drift is avoided more successfully than we see with some modern DC-motor belt-drive solutions [see Graph 1].

Braun’s main bearing offers a respectably low –68.5dB rumble (20Hz-20kHz, DIN-B wtd, re. 1kHz/5cm/sec) when measured directly, showing resonances at 36Hz and 59Hz on the unweighted spectrum [not shown here]. As discussed in our main review, the substantial rubber mat only supports the vinyl disc at its edge, so while the –71.7dB through-groove rumble is very low indeed, this figure may not be possible where the LP picks up vibrations from a nearby loudspeaker, for example. Neither is the PS 450 an ideal candidate for a heavy record weight...

The partnering tonearm has an effective length of 226mm and an effective mass of ~9g with the integral headshell and plastic slide-in cartridge carrier. It’s well suited to the high compliance/low tracking force Shure pick-ups that were typically fitted. The lightweight but rigid alloy armtube shows a fairly gentle primary bending mode at 110Hz with other twisting or harmonic modes seen on the CSD waterfall [see Graph 2] at 200Hz, 280Hz, 300Hz and 410Hz up to 1kHz, the latter linked to lightweight components in the auto-lift assembly. PM