Yamaha YP-511 (around 1975)

A turntable from Yamaha’s 1970s lineup, featuring a precision die-cast platter and advanced anti-vibration arm design.

Overview

The Yamaha YP-511 is a high-quality record player made around 1975, built with attention to mechanical stability and resonance control. It uses a powered by an 8-pole 24-slot DC servo motor, designed for high torque and fast servo response. The turntable spins a 30 cm aluminum die-cast platter weighing 1.6 kg, which has an inertial mass of 220 kg·cm and is dynamically balanced during manufacturing. The tonearm is an S-shaped static balance design with a light alloy pipe filled with damping material to suppress resonance, mounted on a 1.3 kg lead-alloy die-cast base. Speed accuracy is supported by independent ±6% fine speed control for both 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, with a built-in strobe for calibration.

Specifications

Drive system	Direct drive
Motor	8-pole 24-slot DC servo motor
Turntable	30 cm aluminum die-cast, 1.6 kg
Number of revolutions	33 1/3, 45 rpm
Signal-to-noise ratio	60 dB or more
Wow flutter	0.04% or less (WRMS)
Tone arm	Type S-shaped static balance system
Effective length	222mm
Overhang	17mm
Needle pressure adjusting mechanism	Direct Reading Type, 0 ~ 3g (0.5g Step Scale)
Weight of mounting cartridge	4g ~ 13g
Head shell	Interchangeable, EIA standard
Head shell weight	8g
Anti-skater	Direct-reading scale
Cartridge	MM Type, SHURE M75BM
Exchange needle	SHURE N-75-6 (¥5,800)
Proper needle pressure	2.5g
Optimum load resistance	47k Ω
Output voltage	4mV
Rated power supply voltage and frequency	100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz
Rated power consumption	2.5W(60Hz) 3W(50Hz)
External dimensions	Width 470 x Height 143 x Depth 378 mm
Weight	11.5kg

Design

The YP-511’s motor delivers high torque with fast servo response, supporting stable rotation. The 1.6 kg aluminum die-cast platter is dynamically balanced during molding and provides 220 kg·cm of inertial mass for speed consistency. The tonearm base is a 1.3 kg lead-alloy die-cast unit, and the arm tube is a resonance-suppressed light alloy pipe filled with special damping material. The arm uses a rubber-damped connection between the main shaft and the weight shaft, as well as between the bearing case and main shaft, to isolate vibration. A specially selected angular contact bearing supports smooth movement, and the internal force canceler is a dial direct-reading type. The arm lifter uses silicon oil damping for smooth vertical motion. The cabinet is constructed from 48 mm thick high-density particleboard and finished in American Walnut Dap. A dust cover with a free-stop hinge is included, and both speeds can be independently adjusted by ±6% via dedicated controls and strobe.