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High quality AC turntable motor

I am looking for a high grade AC motor for my Townshend Elite Rock turntable.
The current motor is specified to run at 110v 250rpm. I reckon that it's got very little torque. I have considered the phillips and the premotec - but they appear to offer no real alternative so far as specs are concerned with what I have.

I have seen a couple of motors on the RS Online website by the likes of Berger, and Crouzet. The Crouzet motor intrigues due to it's high torque rating. my concern is whether or not it is noisy, and vibrates a lot.

Does anyone have experience with these motors? or does anyone have any suitable suggestions?

I intend to try out a few different power supplies on the deck at some point.
lohanimal
lewm
6,770 posts
 
As others said, and I agree, a good motor controller that mates well with your stock motor will probably do you more good than a new motor with higher torque. Townshend turntables in general are well regarded and well designed. I would therefore guess that the motor is quite adequate to do its job as is, but there is much to be gained by feeding it properly. You might ask the designer for suggestions from among the commercially available motor controllers. Anecdotally, I can tell you that a Walker Audio Motor Controller completely transformed the sound of a Nottingham Analog Hyperspace that I once owned. I was shocked at the improvement myself.
lewm
6,770 posts
 
Seems like Townshend makes a motor controller, called "Merlin II". I would go for that, if I were in your position.
grbluen2
38 posts
 
I would agree with the others. I have recently upgraded to the Premotec motor from the Hurst, which had entirely too much torque. The Premotec motor runs smoother and generates much lower levels of vibration than the Hurst. The ideal motor would have just enough torque to avoid stalling.
Don
john_tracy
341 posts
 
Kevin Carter of K&K Audio has a prototype PS that has two outputs with phase angle adjustment. The only thing holding him back from releasing this as a kit is the need to assemble one so he can write up the instructions. If enough people were to email him that might provide the motivation to finish this project. The price of the kit should be reasonable compared to commercial units and it should be sonically superior to all the single output PSs out there.
delta27
4 posts
 
I have used a Crouzet motor and with the recommended phase capacitor it vibrates like a heavy duty sex toy. Since my turntable doesn't care about sex, it's not the thing!
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