How much does rock-solid speed stability cost?


I've been shopping for a new turntable and have found out I am very sensitive to speed variations. I listened to several belt driven tables and couldn't find one I could tolerate (Man, the P3 was bad). I thought the Nottingham Spacedeck was going to work, but after a second listen, it started to bug me also. So I had a bright idea - why don't I get an SL1200 from Crutchfield. It's supposed to be very stable. If I don't like it I can return it.

Well, crap! It's just as bad as the others. Average speed is fine, but it's sharp, then flat, then sharp ... Anything with a pure tone like piano, french horn, or flugelhorn has audible flutter. I have a hard time finding ANY recording that doesn't do this.

I guess almost 20 years of listening to nothing but CDs has ruined me. My big question to y'all is...Is this just the way analog is, and it's probably not for me? Or, can spending more money fix the problem? I only have about 200 records, most collected from mid '70s through early '80s. I really can't justify spending more than $2000 on a turntable and arm. I haven't heard the VPI Scout or the Basis 1400. Will they do the trick, or does it cost a lot more to get the level of performance I need?
nighthawk

Showing 2 responses by mikelavigne

interesting thread. there is a review by Peter Moncrieff that will tell you (in his opinion) way more than you might want to know about speed issues with turntables.

turntable speed

the review is about the Rockport Sirius III. after owning a few very good turntables, including the VPI TNT and the Basis 2500, i can say that when the speed is perfect IT does make an astonishing difference in the basic reality of the music. if you read the review it will give you a deeper understanding of some of the issues involved.....even if you don't completely agree with some of what he writes.

whichever turntable you choose, consider a product such as the VPI SDS, which will allow you to correct the speed on A/C syncronous motors.

to answer your question......it costs alot to truely achieve rock-solid speed stability. i would add that there are many very good turntables that do a very good job in this area.....but any/every belt driven tt has it's limitations.
in the 'real world', a high-quality belt-driven tt is the way to go. i agree with Twl that it is possible to minimize (not eliminate) the design limitations of belt-drive to a degree that makes them non-issues unless compared directly with the Rockport.

when Twl mentions 'torque' as far as cutting lathe's; that brings to mind the servo-mechanisim of the Rockport. the servo on the Rockport keeps the speed with-in 10 parts per billion dead on regardless of groove modulations......the 55 pound platter comes to full speed in 3 revolutions and stops with-in 3 revolutions. it takes 'torque' for this to be possible.....both on cutting big groove modulations and playing big groove modulations with no speed instabilities.