Rim Drive Mod or how to make it even better

Hi,

Consider that the platform where you sit the turntable along with the motor/flywheel assembly becomes part of the overall turntable the very second you do it. That means that the overall presentation of the turntable is necessarily affected, and only the user can truly tune it. By adding a highly compliant material to the bottom of the motor/flywheel assembly, the end user is able to isolate it to some degree, however. What all this means, the way I see it, is that any turntable made with external pods that aren't isolated by their very nature, are the same in that regard. I feel that is the reason that you will find some pods from various manufacturers that contain lead shot, or some other material, to help control unwanted effects. It goes, in my opinion, to the very concept of turntable design. Does that mean that it is a bad idea? Of course not. I believe it does mean that the shelf or platform you choose is as important as any other piece in the frontend, however. My point is that you may also want to take a strong look below the sorbothane to see if that "extended plinth" can also be improved.

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What I find so interesting is that the felt,et al only works with the rim drive - and only under the motors, and is detrimental under the platter assembly. Additionally, that it is a step backward using the felt under the motors as well with the belt drive. Never the less....using the soft footers with the rim drive is surely an advancement. ...from top to bottom there is a significant increase in clarity, pitch stability, etc.

Its interesting you mention this. I have my SAMA placed on a 6 x 6 slate tile and isolated from the maple platform using Sorbothane feet. I am also using silk thread belt for the Super Platter. The plinth rests on footer so both the SAMA and plinth are at the same relative height. I prefer this setup over having both the SAMA and plinth resting on the maple platform.

I ordered my rim drive in February and still don't have it! Who do you know?

Can't wait to try all this stuff...

Tom

Harry W... I had to wait as well. The wait is worth it. You get to open up the motor assembly and see a rats nest full of wire. You must cut and reattach the wires. MAKE SURE YOU"RE CUTTING THE CORRECT ONES. Oh - here's something I remember as well. You have to take the 4 silver feet off of the assembly. Peel the green felt pads off - they are only stuck on with glue. Put them carefully onto some wax paper or something similar to save them. When you finish the project, it will run (I forgot) very slow or very fast. Adjust with the SDS. Put the felt pads under the feet as I suggested above. Get the felt pads from Home Depot - furniture slides. This will enable the whole assembly to slide easily so that you can just kiss the drive wheel to the platter. Be sure that the wheel is driving on solid metal. Adjust the height so that the wheel is not running in one of the grooves of the platter. If you have a VPI arm, at first the drive will make the arm dance uncontrollably. Don't be socked - just wait 2 days for the belt around the drive wheel to seat. Enjoy.