I have been using a Falcon PSU from Phoenix Engineering for over a year in conjunction with my Ace Spacedeck. I think it has made a nice improvement to the sound of my system. Everything has taken on just a bit more nuance and naturalness with the PSU in place.
I haven't tried any other motor controllers or power regenerators. |
I am a Nott. Hyperspace owner. IME the Nott. Wave Mechanic is better than wall AC. The Wave Mech. did however experience a blown output transistor in the time that I used it. I know of one other instance where this happened to someone else. Not too hard to diagnose and fix.
Currently I'm using a "beta unit" of a TT PS designed by K&K Audio. It's different in that it has separate outputs for each of the two field coils of the motor. This does require rewiring the motor pod with the removal of the capacitor. This feature allows for the fine tuning of the phase angle of the AC current between the two field coils (with the capacitor and a single output the phase difference is fixed). Also, in addition to the frequency or "speed" control it has an amplitude control. Reducing the voltage to the motor reduces the pulses generated by the motor. Takes Tom Fletcher's "low torque" notion to a new level and IME does improve sound.
The result of this extra control has been IME a much greater improvement in SQ over the standard TT PS from Nott.
The K&K unit uses very high quality parts including "instrument grade" OPA chip amps. |
Yes, do it.
I have a NA Mentor, much modified. Motor and WM are vintage 2014/12. I suggest that you get them both at the same time, and they will match the WM to the motor.
The upgrade made a significant difference in my system, at a very reasonable cost. |
How have your Mentor been modified?
Well, the motor came with the table, that's what I have.
Yeah, it's about $750 from UK, over $1k in the US.
But blown transistors? I don't like it. |
Inna, don't let the comparatively low price of the Falcon PSU deter you. It's got a lot of functionality built into that small case. You can do speed and voltage calibration. I'd at least investigate a bit. No affiliation to the manufacturer, just a happy customer. |
There is another PSU from the same company, a little more expensive.
I would still prefer, I guess, what is recommended by Nottingham, but I'll have to think further. No rush. |
Inna, the most important mod was to the plinth. I used an aluminum / Baltic Birch plywood / aluminum sandwich, and further isolated the motor. Also went to an air bearing tonearm (big difference).
If I remember correctly, NA will match the WM to your motor. Of course, that means sending it to them and being without for a few weeks. But new motors are not expensive from NA - and with the cost of courier ... and then you don't have a new motor with new bearings ... and you don't have a spare motor ...
I have experienced no blown transistors or other problems. I also protect the WM with an isolation transformer. |
I see.
I took a look at the Walker motor controller and read some reviews. I think, it could be significantly better. Some Nottingham owners use and really like it. Damn expensive, though not so for a Walker - look at his turntables.
I should't have looked, anyway. |
If I remember correctly, NA will match the WM to your motor. Unless Nott. has radically changed the Wave Mechanic in recent years I don't see how this would be possible. The unit that I owned had only one adjustment, frequency, to adjust the speed. It had one output and relied on the capacitor in the motor pod to define the phase difference in the AC current to the two field coils of the motor. It is my understanding that Rega in some of it's pricier TTs had a two phase controller that allowed them to trim the phase angle of the AC current at the factory to the individual motor. This is precisely what one can do with the K&K unit. IME with the K&K controller having the ability to adjust the voltage of the output is as, or maybe more, useful for improving SQ. |
John, the output from my WM is a 5-conductor connector. Therefore it is highly likely that the unit provides two split phases, which would allow phase angle adjustment inside the unit, thus matching WM to motor. |
The new US distributor for Nottingham is audioencountersolutions.com |
