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Belt vs. string

Hi all,
I seem to see a lot of TT motors using string, while others use rubber belts, and still others use VCR tape! My questions is, are they interchangeable? I mean, my clearaudio emotion uses a rubber belt, but would I be able to also use string, or fishing line or whatever?
I suppose I could just try it, but I wonder if anyone has tried both...I am mostly wondering because replacements are ~40$ or something...string is near free...
b
mantisory
restock
831 posts
 
Byron, on your Clearaudio emotion it will be tough to get the tension right for a string as you can't move the motor around as far as I remember. Or is there a way to adjust the tension on the Emotion?
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rauliruegas
13,123 posts
 
Dear Mantisory: I use on all my TTs cotton thread with excellent performance. Now, the best is to ask Clearaudio specially if like Restock posted your TT motor is fixed or you can't adjust the thread tension.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
mantisory OP
95 posts
 
this is true actually...the motor is loosely coupled to the turntable and can be moved maybe about 2mm in any direction if yu take of the little o-ring (which is suggested by many anyway).
So I am not sure if I would be able to get it right unless I was able to get it right off the bat to begin with.
I am just wondering if there would be any discernable difference...
thanks everyone
b
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,501 posts
 
I just changed my Superscoutmaster from the normal belt drive to the new rim drive. The results are appreciably better. I suppose that's because the belts were stretching and contracting. I suspect that if you use a more stable belt on the belt drive tables, similar improvements would result.
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