After market Motor + Belt drive for Verdier

Hi RugyBoogie,
I have tried folding the tape into the V shape, I also tried pushing the tape all the way down where there is a flat surface to just about hold the tape width. I also got another brass capstan made which has a flat groove just to accommodate the tape width. The important thing to note is the effect this tape drive has on the sound. If you read my post right at the top I have mentioned that the instruments sound "happier" and voices sound "younger" as they actually should. It is not a tone change, it is a more fundamental change, it is something to do with the pitch of the voices and instruments. If you have ever heard a master tape or even a good Nakamichi tape deck playing cassettes, there is a certain agility with which instruments springs to life, instruments have realistic weight but never sounds over weight. Something similar happens when the tape drive is connected and that is exactly what I miss with the silk thread drive. It is a fundamental thing. If you listen to music you have grown up with you will know this instantly, you will not know this on lesser known music or typically audiophile music (Diana Krall types). Verdier is a TT for life if these things are fixed, no doubt about it. Only thing is, after paying $10k for a TT, one would like to settle down and not fiddle around to get things right, that feeling some times weighs me down.

Only thing is, after paying $10k for a TT, one would like to settle down and not fiddle around to get things right, that feeling some times weighs me down/

Pani –imo - If anything a more expensive turntable makes things worse as it highlights other problems in the chain, including the platform, the tonearm, cartridge and phonostage. If you tell us your tonearm, cartridge, phonostage - maybe someone familiar with them can say how those components affect the sound.

Have you inserted the teflon washers yet ?

Of the turntables I have owned and currently own the Verdier is the most like an actual musical instrument - a tool - as far as tuning it goes and how it reacts to everything. I can't do as much with my Idler and DD except play around with different platforms.

I feel it is important to determine the type of music listener/audiophile we are. I know audiophiles that touch nothing in setup, and lets others do it. Its like their car. They just put gas in like a record here. If something goes out they need to call someone. I’m just saying.....

I have question as I am curious about something. When I play 33 1/3 records my dial on the motor is just to the left of 12 O’clock on the dial. Be interested in knowing where it is for others with the stock motor.

I know its been higher in my first setups (closer to 1 or 2 pm) because I left small blue tac dots on the casing to remind me. No where close to that now. Is this an important consideration in setup ?

Does higher on the dial make the motor more stressed ?
Cause less stability ?
Is it better to get it set up so that the dial is lower ?

Any thoughts on this from the Verdier veterans ?

Curious.

Hi Ct0517,
I have not yet done the Teflon washer thing, I am not too handy with DIY and when I see wires running inside the motor housing I get nervous.

I use a Naim ARO tonearm with Miyabi Red Rose (Standard) cartridge and RCM Sensor Prelude phonostage. I listen mostly to Blues, Rock and Swing Jazz, so PRAT and tone are very important for me.

BTW, I forgot to answer your earlier question, you could stick the reel tapes with the use of Super Glue (instant glue).

I use a Naim ARO tonearm with Miyabi Red Rose (Standard) cartridge and RCM Sensor Prelude phonostage

Pani - fyi - this is just coincidence. Dover's last post on the ET2 thread. He uses a Final Audio string drive.

"The sound of the Naim Aro is quick, lucid through the mids, excellent soundstage and very musical. The downside is that I believe it has a very narrow operating window in terms of cartridge compliance and mass. The Dynavector Nova 13D sounds excellent as does a Denon 103D. The Koetsu Black sounds awful, unstable in the bottom end."

Hi Dover - if you happen to see this and can add anything?

Pani

if its the same inside like the Platine motor, the hardest thing about putting the teflon washers in is not losing the little aluminum washers that are there when you lift it out. The only wire you disconnect from what I remember is the ground. The washers cost one dollar.

Cheers

Hi Pani

Thanks for clearing up the tape and capstan drive.

Agree that music on R2R master tapes is THE reference for many , I am lucky to have tapes and a couple of Studers.
As good as vinyl gets it isn't in the same league as R2R.
Had a Nakamichi 582Z, yes they were good but no match for R2R.
There is so much vinyl that we cannot get on tape therefore I/we keep tuning the Verdier.

I like what CT0517 said about cars and tuning.
Cars are build for a broad group of individuals.
Those that like cars buy better cars that have a higher potential to be tuned to an individuals taste and abilities.
Tuning the Verdier is like a high performance car.
Easy to tune and it will reveal whats in the music.

Re the power supply.
Wouldn't want to spend too much on a battery powered box, but my old ASR was battery powered and my darTZeel pre is also battery powered....... I see a pattern here.
Will explore a battery power supply and will post my thoughts. An AGM battery and a simple charger should do.

Back to the R2R.
R2R is relatively inexpensive to get started but the tapes can get costly.
Friend in Seattle invited me to a gathering that took place at his place.

Here is my post from 04 13 2009 on Mike Lavigne's system page re R2R

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1036349020&openusid&Rugyboogie&4&5&st1400

Take care and Viva le Verdier