Turntable speed accuracy

Atmasphere: "Were it not for the motor in the 208, I'm not sure I would even be messing with belt-drive at all."

I share that sentiment.

Lewm: " I actually thought that the term "Papst" (Pabst?) refers to a particular motor configuration, patented or invented by someone named Papst, not to a company that makes a wide variety of different kinds of motor."

I am surprised that you did not know Papst is a company that made motors. Yes, it's Papst with the P. and the same Papst model is used inside the Empire 208, Fairchild 412, various Rek-O-Kut belt-drive and idler-drive tables such as K33H and L33H. Different motor models are used in Thorens 124 as replacement, smaller motor in the Empire 598, etc...

It's also possible the Audio Note TT3 three-motor turntable uses Papst motors. http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/analogue/tt-3_01.shtml#

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Dear Lewm,
Yes it is Exactly as you described. Modern manufacturers have better toolings and usually better preconditions but most do not make proper usage of it. Continuum is a positive exception. Nowadays high quality bearings seem to be too expensive which means we are offered more and more crap.

Best & fun only

Dear Thuchan, I just this past month ordered the bearings for my new turntable design and the costs are - with a limited edition of 12 units for 2012 and 2013 - USD14,800 + 19% VAT for the bearing alone (no joke - for each single bearing).
But then this bearing is a custom-made bi-planar air bearing of outstanding precision, capable to lift and spin a 110 lbs platter with ease.
If one want to go all the way it get's expensive.
But there are many good standard bearings out there, for far less money and of high quality.
Cheers,
D.

Hi Dertonarm, how in the heck can a bearing for a table cost so much?

Dev, Just read what Dertonearm is asking that bearing to do. (Did you take note of the 110-lb platter?) Then imagine the special tooling and labor required to make the bearing in very small numbers. Then you will understand the cost. Based on typical ratio of parts cost to retail price in the audio business, DT's turntable will have to cost around $70K, just to justify his use of that bearing.

Hiho, I am actually glad I did not know all those details about Papst. I have enough useless information cluttering up my mind already. Sherlock Holmes told Watson that the reason he did not know about Copernicus (or some other well known related body of knowledge) was that he had otherwise to keep in mind the appearance of the ashes and the distinct odors associated with 170 different kinds of pipe tobacco, in order to do his sleuthing. I have never owned a tt with a Papst motor, and I don't aspire to, so no need for me to know anything more than what I have learned by casual reading.

I and several others have been waiting for nearly 2 years for Mark Kelly's motor controller for Garrard and Lenco. I am not holding my breath. This is not to say that Mark is not a completely honorable and brilliant guy; he just has a lot on his plate to distract him. It will be worth the wait, I am sure, once it is done.