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Measure My Turntable Speed

I've been told that a very accurate way to measure the speed of a turntable is by using a test meter set to khz, placing the positive terminal into one of the outputs of the phono stage (or tape output), the other to the ground and then play a 1000hz test track of our a good quality test record... If the table speed is good, the reading should be very close to 1khz...

Ever tried this one?
stickman451
crem1
672 posts
 
It all depends on money...What you have spent and what you intend to spend in the future. The KAB is one of the greatest inexpensive tweaks on the analog market. Anybody who is interested in analog can not be without a KAB. Analog is a comittment and part of that means you and what you will do to listen to the music, less pops and clicks and speed changes. All the best.
quiddity
119 posts
 
Whilst strobes of various kinds are good for measuring average speed, the advantage of the test tone approach is that it allows one to monitor speed stability over the shorter term. The simplest method is to set up a frequency counter with the shortest sample interval which gives acceptable precision.

A better method is to monitor the test tone waveform on a scope using a separate, stable wave as the timebase. The test tone will then walk back and forth across the screen at a rate which equals the frequency difference between the test tone and the stable wave. If the stable wave is indeed stable and the test tone was recorded at constant frequency then the variation is due to the speed of the table wandering.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,478 posts
 
I just used a strobe and a neon light to adjust the speed on my table, and I can play along with the record while playing my piano. It's good enough for me
blueranger's avatar
blueranger
719 posts
 
Why cant a Dual strobe paper do it???? It has little bars for 50 hz on one side and 60 hz on the other. I adjust my TT till they dont move. Then I play a CD and record of the same song to check. Always worked for me and its only a couple of dollars. I think your using an elephant gun for a butterfly. If i am wrong, can someone tell me in down to earth terms why you must spend 90 some dollars for a strobe?????? Mike
cincy_bob
270 posts
 
The method suggested by the Acoustic Sounds turntable tech using a 1kHz test tone and a DMM is a very accurate way to calibrate the speed of your turntable. If you have a test LP with a 1kHz tone track and a DMM, you have everything you need. Laying out the money for a strobe won't buy you greater accuracy, but you might find the strobe to be a bit more convenient to use.
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