Turn table speed variation question

"I have not seen nor heard of any claims regarding the speed accuracy of Idler or Rim Drive turntables using the Timeline under ‘stylus drag’ conditions."

Well, now you have. :-D

A good number of people have seen the turntable do it, but I'll try get a YouTube video made shortly.

[/quote] 12-19-13: Halcro
When I listen to acoustic guitar on my Victor TT-101 DD turntable with unequalled speed accuracy......an off-centre record hole will be mercilessly exposed. :-(

Halcro - you are ready for the next big upgrade......
Nakamichi TX1000 - direct drive and self centering for eccentric records - perfect sound forever, almost as good as digital.

Using high compliance cartridges on heavy arms will exacerbate the problems of eccentric records as well.

When you have these wow/flutters variations in your turntable is time to update some points in your system.

I also recommend you a tool similar to Dr Feickert platter speed program and Adjust+ LP to check changes on values.

I usually improve these values taking care a lot the belts. You should move your non direct drive turntable everyday to avoid any kind of belt deform.

You also need to re-oil your turntable bearing.

If yo have an AC motor you need a good frequency generator to control Hz fluctuations. If you have DC there is nothing to do.

Indeed you can buy an outer ring to improve the moment of inertia, trackability and effective platter mass.

All of these points are interesting if you are a vinyl lover

Using high compliance cartridges on heavy arms will exacerbate the problems of eccentric records as well.

Some evidence or proof for this statement would be illuminating?

However, you are quite correct about original instrument recordings being an "acid test" for speed stability. But, IMO, the main reason for this is what I pointed out in my previous post; the presence or absence of vibrato.

Excellent point, Frogman.

Thanks for confirming my impression of the difference in harmonic structure between modern and older instruments. I spent 8+ years getting my system to the point where it can play (nearly) all my authentic intrument recordings without distracting levels of distortion. It requires a speed-stable TT of course, and much more. Densely packed waveforms in complex harmonic structures are ruined by almost any sort of distortion, anywhere in the system.