Turntable speed accuracy

The comment about using viscous drag or friction to dampen platter oscillations on bd tt's struck me. I do my own maintenance on my Sota tt. It is easy enough to disassemble the platter, clean and relube the spindle and bearing. I let it go for a few years and then about two years ago, I got around to pulling it apart and relubing it. I noted then that the tt sounded better, but I didn't really understand why. So now I clean and relube it every year. Some other Sota owners have also mentioned they found some synthetic lubes make it sound better than other lubes. I tried some synthetic lube last Fall and didn't notice a big difference in sound myself. The synthetic lube is very tacky and definitely added drag to the spindle compared to the lithium grease that I was using. Since my speed is pretty rock solid, I guess the drag is not too high.

Unfortunately bringing the motor closer to the platter also brings it closer to the cartridge as well.

It also results in less contact between the belt and the motor pulley. That seems like a bad idea because there's already so little contact there. Right?

Good point Ketchup. The belt is more likely to slip on the capsan than the platter. Of course if it uses a sub platter that problem is reduced.

I tried it on a "DD" SP10 MK2 and it was off, no way to correct like the MK3 offers speed adjustments so the owner has to send it in.

Not what I wanted to read. I hate this thread.

Seriously: did the built-in strobe of that particular sp10 show that it was holding speed? And the timeline showed differently?

Dev: "I tried it on a "DD" SP10 MK2 and it was off, no way to correct like the MK3 offers speed adjustments so the owner has to send it in."

I believe there are trim-pots inside the chassis that can vary the speed minimally but I just don't know which ones. Maybe the trim-pots are for other functions. I don't have my SP-10mk2 or the manual anymore to verify that. Perhaps other more knowledgeable owners can comment on this. Good luck.

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