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VPI Aries w/SDS and Flywheel SetUp Question

Just added a flywheel to my Aries t.t. and it seems to make my platter turn too slow. (Music sounds slow compared to CD of same)

I have an SDS and trying to use the strobe disc, but have to go way up in frequency to compensate.... like from 60hz to 62.8hz. To get the disc to look right... but then the music sounds bad. When adjusting by sound, I'm at about 60.8hz, but the strobe disc looks way off. What's up? Are these numbers way out of normal parameters?
jbatlanta
rives
953 posts
 
Your strobe is probably off. Someone recently had a very good suggestion. Put a piece of tape on the platter and count the rotations for a 3 minute period. It should be 100. Adjust your speed accordingly. I thought this was a great suggestion. For more resolution go for 6 minutes for 200 revolutions.
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cjlundgren
33 posts
 
I also have the VPI Aries with SDS and added the flywheel later. I could never get the unit to sound right with the flywheel installed. Upgrading to the SDS made a huge improvement in the overall sound, but, IMHO, the flywheel didn't do any good. As soon as I removed the flywheel from the setup, the sound returned to normal. VPI took the flywheel back - they have great customer service. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck with this!
jbatlanta OP
97 posts
 
I've been playing around with the belt tensions by moving the motor and flywheel this way and that, and surprisingly that seems to make a difference.

Bumping the frequency around also on the SDS while comparing to the sound of CD player (same album) and matching by ear has worked, also.

Personally, I think with the platter being that heavy, it is a 'flywheel' itself. Why add another? I did it, cause it looks cool and fills up the space on my Symposium Ultra platform better...... but, I'd take it off if it was sonically bad, for sure.

Anyone else using the flywheel?
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