speed controller for Lenco or Garrard


Hi,

there seems to be newer speed controllers for lenco and garrard tt from sound carrier in US and long dog audio in UK.....anyone successfully use either of these or other speed controller power supplies for their lenco or garrard?

thanks

Michael
128x128karmapolice

Showing 5 responses by lewm

With my Lenco I use the 25W Eagle PS, If the Eclipse PS is ~25W, you’re good.
karma, Here is how I would think of the two alternative products you are considering:  Even though you don't need the motor, with the Eclipse you get the tachometer that feeds back to the power supply and maintains speed at a near perfect range around 33.333, no matter what.  Or, for more money (as you say), the Lonedog sounds like only a Power Supply that allows you to set speed and then claims to maintain speed without the benefit of feedback, and no motor comes with.  I've never seen either the Eclipse products nor a Lonedog, but I would assume that the Eclipse is similar in "fit and finish" to the Phoenix Engineering stuff, which is "industrial" but fine enough looking and doesn't break.  Anyway, the chassis' are pretty much out of sight apart from the two readouts.  I personally would go for the Eclipse pkg.  But that's just me.
First, SOTA, the company that makes turntables, hooked up with Bill Carlin, the person who owned and designed the Phoenix Engineering gear, and SOTA now markets the Phoenix stuff under the "Eclipse" name.  This includes an AC power supply like the Phoenix Eagle, and a tachometer, like the Phoenix Roadrunner, that feeds back to the PS and holds speed at a solid 33.33.  You can even buy an AC synchronous motor in order to convert a belt-drive that may not have an AC motor, for use with the Eclipse motor controller equipment (because the Phoenix and therefore the Eclipse equipment is designed to drive an AC synch motor). But that is not necessary for a Lenco, because the Lenco motor works with the Phoenix/Eclipse stuff as is.  Maybe I wasn't crystal clear in my first post.

Second, if you do acquire the Eclipse equipment, there is no need, and in fact it would be a bad idea, to use some other device in order to drop the voltage.  You would let the Eclipse equipment do the job.  Dropping the voltage also is a two-edged sword; at some point you lose torque that way.  Furthermore, just dropping the voltage per se does little or nothing to improve speed constancy.
If the current SOTA Eclipse power supply and tachometer are like their Phoenix Engineering forerunners, you cannot go wrong by buying that ensemble and using it to drive your Lenco motor. (No need to buy the Eclipse motor along with the power supply and tach.) This is assuming the Eclipse PS can deliver 25W or more.  I am using a Phoenix Engineering Eagle and Roadrunner tachometer to run my Lenco with superb results. The SOTA products are made under an agreement between the Phoenix Engineering designer and SOTA. What I don't know is whether the Eclipse or PE ensemble can drive the Garrard motor, because the latter is not an AC synchronous type.  I actually doubt it will work. For the Garrard, probably the best ever made was anything designed and built by Mark Kelly.  The last of his efforts had a tube output stage.  They were pricey to begin with, and now they are not easy to find. (Mark Kelly is out of the business.) You might consult one of the aftermarket companies that live on upgrading the Garrard 301/401. I know that Loricraft also has or had a controller, also costly.