Full Manual Turntable-What to do


My Clearaudio Emotion only has an On/Off button for the motor. My question is what do you recommend when I want to put on a new album. Turn off the motor, or just lift up the existing record while the platter is still spinning?Is it a bad idea to switch the motor off every time I switch side. Your recommendation? Cheers.

millicurie999
Dear millicurie999: I think that some way or the other all of you are " right "  and each advise with its trade-offs. Nothing is perfect.

I'm with Spencer that in off position we protect the records because if when spining we take out the LP the record surface can " suffer "  from micro-damage because the graze/skim between the platter mat and LP underside. Is't that a real fact?, I don't know but could happen. In the other side could be that when in on position if we don't take out firmly the LP can goes down to the floor with clear damage.

Normally I left on all the time especially with my BD TTs where the on/off button is  in the TT power suply that seats in the floor and the TT at the top of the rack. With my direct drive TTs normally I set the button off because it's in the same TT/motor and its start/stop movement is really fast where in the BD ones is really slowly and we need patience that I have not.

So, it's up to you.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.


Thanks, everyone, for your insight. I used to do the On/Off thing and then lately, I began to wonder if the mechanical switching will go bad sooner or if the TT is designed for continuous operation (part of audio-related OCD, no doubt).  The motor does get hot on continuous though. Will go back to On/Off cycle from now on.


I've really never understood from a vinyl lover's perspective and from a logical standpoint why those that choose to leave the motor on between lp changes, do so.

If the main argument is saving the motor /switch vs. saving your vinyl?.. I'll always go for saving my vinyl.

If the main argument is being "cool", I'd rather save my vinyl.

If the argument is one less "step" in the playback of vinyl, I'd recommend those that adopt that option to quickly get out of vinyl reproduction.

To the Op's reasoning, Is the TT motor more important that the vinyl? I think you came to the appropriate conclusion.


If the main argument is saving the motor /switch vs. saving your vinyl?

Neither, the argument for leaving the motor on is that the vast majority of motors take a long time to fully speed stabilize and hence you are best of to avoid turning them off if you can avoid it. Provided your mat is not "sticky" then there’s no real risk to the disc in taking it off a moving surface. In the case of my deck where the platter is coupled via magnets to the motor I can stop the platter while leaving the motor running so I tend to leave it on