Turnable database with TimeLine

Damn that Led Zeppelin IV album is warped. I would not play it without a periphery ring. Also, watching Halcro's videos, it's interesting how some audiophiles just drop the cartridge on the record. I lower my Delos as gently as I possibly can. Seems like a good practice to prolong the suspension's life.

I disagree. The Timeline measures the speed accuracy AND constancy with each rotation of the platter. How much more do you want or need? I understand Tonywinsc's point as a matter of theoretical discussion and extreme obsession, but if constant speed with each rotation of the platter is not enough for a person, I suggest that he needs to find another hobby altogether or perhaps listen to digital only.

Perhaps you should buy a tonearm with hydraulic action lifting and lowering...as all my six arms have?
No human can lower the cartridge more gently that these.... :-)

Halcro,
Perhaps I wasn't clear in my post. I actually do have a tonearm with a dampened lowering mechanism (VPI JMW-Classic), but the cartridge still has a distance to travel once it's released. If you simply flip the lever (as I have seen some audiophiles do it regularly), the stylus will still hit the record surface with some force, albeit weaker, IMO too hard to ignore and repeat with every flip of the record. I release the mechanism very close to the record to minimize the strain on the suspension. I thought every audiophile adhered to this practice with lowering mechanisms.

Lewm,
After reading this thread for weeks now, this is exactly my question, and what I have not seen addressed in any of the posts so far. If it has been addressed, my apologies.

If a turntable slows down for a very brief moment due to the stylus drag and the Timeline registers it by shifting the laser spot but then remains constant, how relevant is that drag save for the very brief moment of the stylus settling in the grooves and the turntable adjusting its speed?

Halcro,

I just watched your video of the Raven, and I must say I am puzzled by the speed changes. What's causing it? Assuming the VTF is stable, as it should be, why would the turntable speed up as the tonearm tracks toward the spindle?