Turntables and power conditioners?

Dear Jedinite, I am not familiar with your AC device, but I am fairly certain it is
not a power regenerator and that it will not do what you think it does to
protect your tt from line voltage variation. At $50, even used, I am guessing
it is an adjustable isolation transformer; for a given stable input AC voltage, it
is able to adjust the output voltage up or down, but it is not an active device.
Thus, when your line voltage sags or surges, the output of your device will
also sag or surge by a proportionate amount. You may be realizing some
benefits from its function as an isolation transformer, however, which is
mainly why you perceive an improvement.

I also think that the Lenco motor does benefit from an active AC regenerator
that has fine control on AC frequency and voltage. Controlling AC frequency
up or down by a few Hz can be used to establish exact correct speed.
Regenerating AC and fine control of voltage and voltage polarity will allow the
motor to run as quietly as possible. In an idler drive turntable, this is mightily
valuable, as there is at least an indirect path for motor noise (in the form of
drive shaft vibration) from motor to platter. I have observed some of these
benefits with my Lenco. For one thing, speed stability is markedly improved;
you can see it with the KAB strobe device. Plus these turntable dedicated
motor controllers isolate your tt from your other audio gear, and vice-versa,
so the motor noise does not get back to your local AC supply to your audio
system.

As to a typical AC regenerator, like those made by PS Audio, those can be of
value if your AC line voltage is "dirty", like if you live in NYC or
similar congested area, or if you have heavy appliances running off your
house AC. But the PS Audio does not permit fine control of AC frequency for
turntable-specific applications.

Nmmusician, Why isn't it redundant to run the Monarchy off the Walker? Seems the Monarchy is already an active device capable of regenerating AC. What does the Walker add, in theory? In practice?

To be clear, the Walker is powered by the Monarchy which is itself run directly from the wall via an Oyaide R0 outlet/WPC-Z wall mount system and a PS Audio Lab ll power cable. The Monarchy is indeed a 100 watt true AC regenerator but with limited voltage/frequency flexibility whereas the Walker has both 33 1/3 and 45 RPM continuous speed controls, motor phase reverse switch and a custom/propietary AC Regeneration waveform specifically designed for AC motors. It also employs input and output isolation transformers and is limited to a total of 25 watts output.

Initially I connected the Walker to the Monarchy out of sheer component location convenience but the results were a more refined and tuneful presentation with more black and solid background. I then upgraded the power cord between the Walker and the Monarchy with even more of the same attributes initially noted.

The Walker is a much more refined and purpose built AC regenerator specifically for TT motors with near complete isolation from the AC grid and the Monarchy is a minimum frills although extremely well built and highly recommended general purpose low wattage AC regenerator.

Cheers