VPI SDS help

I should have thought of that, the Classic has to have a capacitor changed to prevent a loud pop or to use the SDS. On the Classic it was very easy, I have never has a Townsend so don't know. I suspect it is not too hard. On the Classic the cap is in the AC line attached with wire nuts [ wire nuts ARE NOT those members given to buying $2000 ICs and $3500 PCs, but I digress]. Try to take the bottom cover [if it has one] off and see if you can see a cap. Unplugged of course.

I have never heard of needing to open the motor of the turntable and replace a part to be able to use an external motor controller. I am going to contact Townshend regarding the ease and viability of doing so?

You have to do this in order to use the Classic with the SDS, a really stunning design failure on the part of VPI in my opinion. It is not in the motor itself but wired into the AC line. The Classic is also prone to making a loud pop when turned on requiring the same capacitor to be changed. They did not inform the dealers of this problem, I had to email them to find out about it.

I had this exact problem with my Rega 25 and VPI SDS. I found that if I gently help the turntable platter gain speed (on startup) by gently turning the platter by hand--giving it a gentle shove--the SDS will drive the Rega 25. I guess the SDS doesn't have the power to overcome the inertia of the platter at startup; but once the platter is spinning, the SDS drives it without further problem. Without doing this procedure my Rega would sometimes play at a speed below 33.