With increasing demands on automatic and high-capability manufacturing, the dynamic performance of machine tools becomes more and more important. In this paper, the correlation between dynamic compliance of the cutting system and the commencing point of chatter vibration in turning is checked by impulse excitation method and cutting tests for some cutting system. The correlation between chucking conditions of workpiece and the commencing point of chatter vibration is clarified, and it is proven that there is a mutual relations between them. Chatter vibration commenced at certain level of dynamic compliance of the cutting system regardless of the kind of the system. It shows the possibility of dynamic performance test of a lathe by means of impulse excitation method.