Pitch problem. Help


Hi folks,

I've had my Goldring GR1.2 for a few months now. Wonderful entry level table. Sometimes it sounds so good it's downright spooky. Quiet, accurate, and lush.

Other times, I can hear fairly serious pitch inaccuracies - especially on guitar or piano, I can literally here the pitch wobbling up and down.

This seems to change day-to-day. Last night, I listened to my new Johnny Cash album and was stunned. This afternoon, the pitch wobble has reared its ugly head, and the magic is gone.

What's happening here? Why would this happen some times and not others, on the same record? And what can I do?

Many thanks for your help.
lousyreeds1
Yes the upshot is that Power Conditioners at the end of the day are "current limiting",in that a power amplifier needs to be able to draw a large amount of current from the mains at times and more than a Conditioner can provide very quickly.It becomes another component in the way of the Power transformer of the amp which should be good enough to obtain sufficient power from the mains and handle it properly,as that is what they are designed to do.This is current "high-end" philosophy(?) and it's said if your amp can't handle power properly....get another amp.Apparently low-draw current devices are O.K though.
As a Rega P3 owner I found the following causes most of the speed instability:

1) Off-center pressings (or oversized spindle hole in the LP). A little tapping on the periphery of the record (NOT WITH THE ARM LOWERED !!!!) will often center the record.

2) Belt slipping. Wash the belt in hot soapy water, and clean the pulley and subplatter with isopropyl alcohol to prevent any slip.

3) Level the table. Using a carpenters' level make sure the platter is ABSOLUTELY level. The regas are very sensitive to this.

4) Bearing oil. Gently lift the subplatter 1/2 inch (do not remove): the oil of the bearing should be clearly visible at the top of the shaft. If not you may need to add a drop or two of oil. Use 80w manual transmission oil (the smelly stuff with sulfur added) or oil from a Rega dealer.

Do all of the above before buying a speed box, because I strongly suspect that you don't need a speed box (and the above is way cheaper).

If you decide you need a speed box look into a Heed orbit. I think Music Direct may sell them. To be honest, though I think if you want to take it that far you're probably better off buying a better deck (like a nottingham).
Hi all,

Thanks again for the advice. I've noticed now that the speed problem is greatly alleviated late at night, though it's never perfect. This leads me to believe that crappy power is indeed the culprit. Since my TT has a captive power cord, I'll live with it for now. I'll be upgrading to a VPI Scout or something of similar caliber within the next few months.

Another question about the Goldring, though: about half the time when I turn off the motor, I get a loud pop through my speakers. This can't be good... What's causing this, and how can I make it stop? It only happens about half the time, and it's totally random.

Thanks again.