Albert's experience (as well as the others) is proof of the extreme importance of speed and rotational stability. That's why in my budget bracket I use the creature on steroids...
Turntable Power Source Benefits
Many of the table designs today have the motor separated from the platter and run the platter via a belt or string. I see some people are going to DC to power these motors and the Teres site claims them to be a real benefit. Walker makes a regulated power supply that others have said are helpful.
How are they helpful? I can understand how a steady power supply source can provide a more stable way to deliver constant and unvarying platter speed. But how can they improve the sound other than that if the motor is already separate from the platter? If you have the TT plugged into a separate outlet, how can any power-induced problems get into the sound chain? Do motor cycles jump from the motor to the cartridge?
Help!
How are they helpful? I can understand how a steady power supply source can provide a more stable way to deliver constant and unvarying platter speed. But how can they improve the sound other than that if the motor is already separate from the platter? If you have the TT plugged into a separate outlet, how can any power-induced problems get into the sound chain? Do motor cycles jump from the motor to the cartridge?
Help!
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- 22 posts total
Just got back from some extended golf and saw the questions. Khaki and Mot, as to your questions I respectfully defer to Albert--I have an older model, with Valid Points attached to it and a custom "bypass" feature which my seller had put in for him (to use it without the speed control, I think). I will be trying some better power cords with both the Walker and the Basis motor, but have so far gone stock without the upgrades. Albert, does Lloyd upgrade older units? |
My recent experience confirms that this question is fundamental, even on the much less exalted level of my tweaked Technics SL-1200 DD, with its internal servo speed control system. I just added the new KAB PS-1200 dedicated outboard power supply, which does not replace the control circuitry inside the TT but merely its power supply (and that of the motor), thereby allowing the critical circuitry to operate less affected by the vagaries of the power line and PS modulation. My impressions of its effect on this TT's sound can be characterized just as Albert does for his, though I haven't played with PC's or footers yet (and don't expect much at this level, but you never know - when I first ordered the mod, I was pretty doubtful all the way around). Of course, there is the confounding factor that the PS-1200 disables an onboard transformer and associated power supply circuits in the SL-1200, which eliminates a direct source of vibrational and EM contamination, something that doesn't apply to high end belt-drivers. Still, this experience leads me to give much credence to claims about potential benefits for other devices of this general type, even with the best TT's. I suspect that the lion's share of improvements wrought by this comparitively simple device are mostly attributable to its beefier transformer, 10X increased filter capacitance, and superior regulation presenting much more stiff and stable source of DC to the onboard control circuitry. There is probably no more important variable in TT performance than imperturbable speed control on the micro level, and given the industrial sophistication of Panasonic's sensing and correctional technology developed for their professional SP 'tables and incorporated here, I have to think the speed stability I'm now enjoying is better than most realistically-priced belt-drivers out there. |
- 22 posts total