Turntable speed accuracy

Thanks, Tony, for introducing some science to the foregoing discussion. I know I am going to sound like one of Syntax's "fanboys", but I have been listening to my Technics SP10 Mk3 for the first time in extensive sessions over this past weekend. And I am astounded by the rhythm and drive this table can impart to music on LPs with which I am very familiar. Try "Art Pepper + Eleven", which contains just about every bebop rhythm one can imagine. There were tears in my eyes, literally. Yes, Tony, the Mk3 can bring its 21-lb platter up to speed in one rotation, probably sooner. I have been arguing this stuff on a theoretical basis; now I am a true believer.

Thuchan, I reluctantly admit to being a "neutrality apostle". But I am reluctant only because, IMO, the term neutrality is usually misunderstood. In your comment you pair the term neutrality with sonic-footprint. From my vantage point, sonic footprint is, by definition, usually the result of distortions. Neutrality (or however close a component gets to it) is a measure of musicality. In other words, a component that is truly musical IS closer to neutral. "Precision control" allows musicality.

Regards.

well said Frogman, but I am not pairing sonic footprint and neutrality. Sonic Footprint in my understanding is that you recognise the turntable's abiliy in producing fine music. Just take the EMT R80 (927) as an example. Agree completly that Precision Control allows musicality. I for myself need both!

Some people argue that a turntable should just reproduce which is a funny statement. A Linn Lp 12 and some of the smaller new Thorens tables e.g. also reproduce - but with what kind of result. Of course some people may like it. good. Distortion is a wide field and I know someone in this community who loves the term.

In my understanding sonic footprint is not the result of distortions at all. The Nakamichi, or the EMT as well as the Micros do have a sonic footprint which is different. Does this mean I am surrounded by distortions, God beware. I would jump from the bridge...

best @ fun only

Dear Thuchan, Please do not jump, but isn't the answer to your question obvious? If the 3 tt's sound different, then they are introducing different "colorations". Or possibly one is "neutral" and the other two are introducing colorations. No matter how you say it, these colorations amount to distortion in one form or another. I would also say that it does not matter, as long as any of them can make you feel you are at a live event, or even if they make you feel alive. How about the Continuum, which you don't mention?

Halcro, as I posted on 11/16 the SP-10 Mk2 manual states that table will maintain correct speed if up to 500 arms could be lowered simultaneously while tracking at 2 g. Even with an error range of 10%, it should be correct with up to 450 arms! From that, your three arm test was not much of a challenge. ;-)

However I suppose the problem with the Technics statement is the table could "maintain correct speed" with up to 1K gram weight applied. That could be different from not maintaining speed at the moment the weight was applied. In other words, should one allow say one revolution to correct the speed with this weight? That would be a big difference in sonic terms.

So if I'm understanding this, your laser mark should be measured precisely at the moment each stylus is lowered onto the record with no time interval to allow your table to correct for the added drag.