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After market Motor + Belt drive for Verdier

I have been looking to upgrade my TT motor and belt drive for some time now. I use a Nouvelle Verdier and its only sore point is its motor and silk thread drive. It is not bad, it gets the job done. The sound is neat and in general non-offensive. However, when I used a 0.25 inch magnetic tape (reel to reel) to drive the platter the overall sound became more dynamic, voices sounded younger, instruments sounded happier. It was as if the pitch of all the instruments became more realistic. But then I also heard more of the irregularities of the motor rotation, the timing of instruments messed up a little. The background was no more as clean as the thread drive.

This told me two things:
1. Silk thread is good but it affects music in a way that makes the performance a bit sleepy.

2. The stock motor is not good enough to accommodate a tighter coupling with the platter.

So, I am now looking for after market motor and belt drive solution. I looked at Teres motor but for that to work they require a sensor to be placed under the platter but my TT doesnt have enough gap between the platter and plinth to place the sensor. I am looking for some viable suggestions here.

A friend of mine suggested me to consider a flywheel between the motor and the platter which will absorb the motor irregularities. I dont know if it is worth a try because I see many good TTs do not have a flywheel, that means a good motor is all I need I guess but I am open to the flywheel idea also.
pani
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Maril555, I don't think that Graham Tricker is making his GT Audio Verdier Battery PSU at the moment. However, if enough people are interested, I am sure that he would consider another batch. Why don't you email him on

gtaudio@btinternet.com

or call him on +44 1895 833099

He usually answers the phone until abput 2200 UK time, as he talks regularly to Jeff Catalano @ Highwater Sound in NYC, who distributes his TRON amplifiers
maril555
619 posts
 
Doc,
I remember you saying, you've been using one. Could you tell how much $$$ is it approximately?
You could do it privately, of course.
I would also like to know, how it compares with the stock motor?
Tx
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Maril555

I bought my GT Audio Battery PSU for about £850 as a demonstrator from Graham Tricker (GT) about 7-8 years ago.

When I was last at his place collecting my TRON Voyager power amp, I mentioned that there was some interest in the Verdier PSU. If my memory serves me correctly, he said that he did not have any metalwork left for the casings. Like everything, I would imagine that if there were enough interest and firm orders, then he might consider another batch. Not sure he would do a one off. But just ask him. Graham will always try and help. Contact him by email or phone.

I have the stock motor, which is powered by the Battery PSU (connected via a lemo lead - he will need to adapt the motor housing with a lemo socket). It was much better with the battery psu. The noise floor just dropped away completely - hence it sounded more dynamic, due to the increased dynamic range available. I wouldn’t go back to the stock motor and AC.

He also made a special motor housing, machined out of solid aluminium billet. Beautiful - it also made it a bit better. But the best bang for buck was the Battery PSU.

Email me offlist if you need any more info
topoxforddoc@btinternet.com

Charlie
pani OP
1,219 posts
 
Thanks for the info Topoxforddoc. I wonder why pay GBP 850 for a battery PSU, isnt it okay to just hook up a high amperage deep cycle battery that can be bought from a shop for about $150 and a charger for another $50 ?

The question to answer is, is a stock Verdier motor with a silk thread drive is really good enough for a TT as good as a Verdier. It is a common observation that in the end how the platter rotates has a huge impact on the over all sound, much more than cartridges and tonearm changes. In fact it is right at the foundation of a turntable sound. Does the Verdier need/deserve a better motor drive system ? If yes then which one ?
maril555
619 posts
 
There is also a way to convert stock Verdier motor to DC, posted on Callas website. I'm not sure that will accomplish the same improvent, as GT PSU
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