Ah, the SDS... I can't live without it, yet it drives me bananas. I've reached the point where I set the correct speed, using a strobe, before each listening session. I've found that the speed is rarely correct 2 times in a row.
I've not been too scientific in my study of this, but here are factors that seem to be influential...
1) Weather. The big one. Unless your gear is set up in a room that has exquisite temperature control (mine isn't), the weather (temperature AND humidity) will affect your speed. Colder = Slower. Did you initially set up during the winter??
2) Mains power. If you're getting stable 120V, this should not be much of a factor, but it still is a factor.
3) Quality of belts. Once the belts start exhibiting those small cracks, speed stability is very unlikely.
4) Motor distance to platter. If it changed at all, speed would change.
5) Warm-up. I find that, after an hour of playing records, I'm usually running slightly faster than 33 1/3 and I re-adjust.
I hope that helps. If all else fails, check the batteries in your strobe :>)
Tom
I've not been too scientific in my study of this, but here are factors that seem to be influential...
1) Weather. The big one. Unless your gear is set up in a room that has exquisite temperature control (mine isn't), the weather (temperature AND humidity) will affect your speed. Colder = Slower. Did you initially set up during the winter??
2) Mains power. If you're getting stable 120V, this should not be much of a factor, but it still is a factor.
3) Quality of belts. Once the belts start exhibiting those small cracks, speed stability is very unlikely.
4) Motor distance to platter. If it changed at all, speed would change.
5) Warm-up. I find that, after an hour of playing records, I'm usually running slightly faster than 33 1/3 and I re-adjust.
I hope that helps. If all else fails, check the batteries in your strobe :>)
Tom