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After market Motor + Belt drive for Verdier

I have been looking to upgrade my TT motor and belt drive for some time now. I use a Nouvelle Verdier and its only sore point is its motor and silk thread drive. It is not bad, it gets the job done. The sound is neat and in general non-offensive. However, when I used a 0.25 inch magnetic tape (reel to reel) to drive the platter the overall sound became more dynamic, voices sounded younger, instruments sounded happier. It was as if the pitch of all the instruments became more realistic. But then I also heard more of the irregularities of the motor rotation, the timing of instruments messed up a little. The background was no more as clean as the thread drive.

This told me two things:
1. Silk thread is good but it affects music in a way that makes the performance a bit sleepy.

2. The stock motor is not good enough to accommodate a tighter coupling with the platter.

So, I am now looking for after market motor and belt drive solution. I looked at Teres motor but for that to work they require a sensor to be placed under the platter but my TT doesnt have enough gap between the platter and plinth to place the sensor. I am looking for some viable suggestions here.

A friend of mine suggested me to consider a flywheel between the motor and the platter which will absorb the motor irregularities. I dont know if it is worth a try because I see many good TTs do not have a flywheel, that means a good motor is all I need I guess but I am open to the flywheel idea also.
pani
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Maril555

I bought my GT Audio Battery PSU for about £850 as a demonstrator from Graham Tricker (GT) about 7-8 years ago.

When I was last at his place collecting my TRON Voyager power amp, I mentioned that there was some interest in the Verdier PSU. If my memory serves me correctly, he said that he did not have any metalwork left for the casings. Like everything, I would imagine that if there were enough interest and firm orders, then he might consider another batch. Not sure he would do a one off. But just ask him. Graham will always try and help. Contact him by email or phone.

I have the stock motor, which is powered by the Battery PSU (connected via a lemo lead - he will need to adapt the motor housing with a lemo socket). It was much better with the battery psu. The noise floor just dropped away completely - hence it sounded more dynamic, due to the increased dynamic range available. I wouldn’t go back to the stock motor and AC.

He also made a special motor housing, machined out of solid aluminium billet. Beautiful - it also made it a bit better. But the best bang for buck was the Battery PSU.

Email me offlist if you need any more info
topoxforddoc@btinternet.com

Charlie
pani OP
1,219 posts
 
Thanks for the info Topoxforddoc. I wonder why pay GBP 850 for a battery PSU, isnt it okay to just hook up a high amperage deep cycle battery that can be bought from a shop for about $150 and a charger for another $50 ?

The question to answer is, is a stock Verdier motor with a silk thread drive is really good enough for a TT as good as a Verdier. It is a common observation that in the end how the platter rotates has a huge impact on the over all sound, much more than cartridges and tonearm changes. In fact it is right at the foundation of a turntable sound. Does the Verdier need/deserve a better motor drive system ? If yes then which one ?
maril555
619 posts
 
There is also a way to convert stock Verdier motor to DC, posted on Callas website. I'm not sure that will accomplish the same improvent, as GT PSU
rugyboogie
199 posts
 
Motor that I have tried is a Scheu DC motor which I bought from Signature Audio when they were closing as a back up motor.
Another Brick and Motor store gone.....
No improvement in the sound and the speed stability wasn't as good as the Philips motor in the Verdier.
Test for speed was the Timeline.

Agree with CT0517 re the height of the thread drive being low on the platter gives the best results. Also the mentioned washers for the motor are a must as well.
Threads that have given me the best results are un-waxed dental floss
and silk thread.
The stock linen thread supplied by Verdier is very good but the rubber belt is not to my liking at all.

Have tried several types of materials for a base/platform for my Verdier.
Found that I am happiest with the Brazilian cherry.
Base material that I have tried are Baltic birch, Douglas Fir ply, caramelized Bamboo, Black Slate and Black South African granite and various combination of the above.

A dedicated battery option peaks my interest.
Anyone interested in getting one made as a group purchase?
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
That is great info Topoxforddoc and Rugyboogie. Thanks for sharing.
Am also Interested in the battery option as a next step.
Count me in for any kind of group buy that gets considered.
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