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SME speed adjustment

I have been reading with much interest the thread about speed accuracy and the Timeline device.

I have an SME Model 10 turntable which has no speed adjustment on the motor controller. I use the KAB strobe and my table is fine, but I fear that if I have the chance to check it with the Timeline, and the speed is off, I will not be able to adjust it, so the exercise would be futile anyway. Currently, when the speed changes over time, I replace the belt, as SME suggests and this usually works.

Could someone suggest a method to adjust the speed on a motor controller that does not have such an option? Is there an aftermarket device that can be used to alter the voltage to the motor controller or some other method?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.
peterayer
brf
1,715 posts
 
A Variac will not work to adjust the speed of an AC motor. AC motors are synchronized with the frequency of the AC supply current. A variac only alters the voltage, not the frequency.
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
You may be worrying needlessly Peter?
It is not necessary to have the turntable revolve at precisely 33.33rpm to have good sound.
Orchestras around the world don't always base their pitch on the note A being at 440Hz. Anywhere +or-12Hz in pitch is quite acceptable.
This would relate to a shift in the Timeline mark on the wall of up to 1/2" every revolution of the platter.
As long as this shift is consistent.......you will have no speed-related issues.
The only way to find out....is to buy/borrow a Timeline.
The 'fear' is much worse than the knowledge :^)
Good luck.
ketchup
698 posts
 
This would relate to a shift in the Timeline mark on the wall of up to 1/2" every revolution of the platter.

To make that statement, you also need to state the distance between the Timeline and the wall, don't you? At what distance from the wall does 1/2" of shift per revolution correspond to +/- 12Hz?
peterayer OP
1,382 posts
 
Agree with Ketchup,

Imagine the wall being 30 feet away versus only 2 feet away. The greater the distance to the wall, the more pronounced any drift of the Timeline dot from a starting reference point Simple geometry.

Halcro,

I see your point. I can't hear a tiny pitch deviation from 440 Hz. And I don't hear problems with speed changes during heavy passages due to stylus drag, so perhaps it is not an issue. I sleep well not testing with the Timeline, but these threads are starting to get me worried, perhaps needlessly.

I think the newer SME motor controller which replaced the older rectangular/front dial type is available for my SME 10 and it has variable speed. It seems this would be a simpler solution than buying the Walker or VPI. I will look into the new SME controller.

Can anyone verify this?
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
Of course you're both correct :-)
The distance from the spindle to the wall in my example above.....is 350mm.

The problem with stylus drag is that one doesn't consciously hear it.
From all that I have seen, read and heard over the last 6 months........I imagine that the majority of turntable users might be experiencing this phenomenon and are quite happy?
It is only really when one hears the complete elimination of any speed inconsistency that an epiphany occurs?
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