VPI Aries w/SDS and Flywheel SetUp Question

I've been playing around with the belt tensions by moving the motor and flywheel this way and that, and surprisingly that seems to make a difference.

Bumping the frequency around also on the SDS while comparing to the sound of CD player (same album) and matching by ear has worked, also.

Personally, I think with the platter being that heavy, it is a 'flywheel' itself. Why add another? I did it, cause it looks cool and fills up the space on my Symposium Ultra platform better...... but, I'd take it off if it was sonically bad, for sure.

Anyone else using the flywheel?

Problem Solved!

In talking to VPI, they told me the VOLTAGE on the SDS has to be changed when adding the flywheel. (I don't see this in the manual for the SDS....and I didn't get a manual with the flywheel)

Makes sense. There's more mass to turn, and the SDS is programmed to reduce voltage once the platter is up to speed. Analogy would be running a car too slowly in high gear.

Well now that I've bumped up the voltage, Steely Dan's "Gaucho" and also the Doobie Brothers record all sound the same pitch as the CD. (I used several 'duplicates' of records and CD's to compare).

This record thing requires work, doesn't it!

John