Mine is a Valhala LP12. What are said to be Linn belts are $60+. If needed I may try a generic. Belt on it is 5+ years old.
I've a TD 165 for rebuild. Have couple new belts.
Any Strobe recommendations/experience for turntable speed test
- Thread starter Old Guy8
- Start date
I've a TD 165 for rebuild. Have couple new belts.
maxhifi
Addicted Member
How fast does it run? Have you tried the turntable RPM smartphone app? I think turntables running a bit fast is a poorly kept secret - if it isn't a gross error, why not just enjoy it as-is? If you are the sort of person who will only be satisfied by exactly 33.33333 RPM, the only realistic path to this is direct drive.
I'm guessing that some people are more sensitive to this than others.
I don't have perfect pitch but my brain seems to know when a familiar song is playing slightly fast.
My Rega Planar2 drove me nuts until I put a layer of electrical tape on the sub-platter to slow it down.
From what I understand, they were manufactured that way to sound "brighter" in the showroom.
I like the capability of my rim drive Dual 1019 and 1219 to be able to dial in the strobe disc.
But that doesn't solve Old Guy88's dilemma. I was just addressing the pitch sensitivity issue.
I don't have perfect pitch but my brain seems to know when a familiar song is playing slightly fast.
My Rega Planar2 drove me nuts until I put a layer of electrical tape on the sub-platter to slow it down.
From what I understand, they were manufactured that way to sound "brighter" in the showroom.
I like the capability of my rim drive Dual 1019 and 1219 to be able to dial in the strobe disc.
But that doesn't solve Old Guy88's dilemma. I was just addressing the pitch sensitivity issue.
I DON'T KNOW that I do have a problem.
Am interested in knowing where the speed is at. I'll try a speed app to see where it's at. An AKer sent me a PM with a LP12 speed issue repair vid. A couple apps named there. Vid said it should get to speed within 5 seconds. I've always helped it get going, and never noticed how long it takes.
Unless it's way off, I'll likely let it alone. If not broken...
So the phone reads around 33.39 on a quartz locked direct drive TT. And about 33.07 on the Linn.
Maybe I should order a new belt, before trying any adjustments. See if that brings the speed up. I bought the Linn in '15. Still the same belt on it. Don't know how old it is.
MudSlideSlim
Well-Known Member
It's easier to discern when someone is singing flat or the music is slower than it should be.
An ever so slightly higher speed might give the music a kick which most of us don't mind.
Belts and waistlines do seem to increase with age so a little fast might be part their plan
Looks like about a 1% difference between tables.
Can you hook them both up and A/B them with the same song on a record or tone on a test record to see if you can hear the difference?
Not sure what 1% would do to pitch.
Maybe detectable to some people but not others?
Can you hook them both up and A/B them with the same song on a record or tone on a test record to see if you can hear the difference?
Not sure what 1% would do to pitch.
Maybe detectable to some people but not others?
Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
ALWAYS, get an original Thorens or Linn Sondek belt! Aftermarket are just not the same!
Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
My desktop flexible LED lamp that I purchased from Target works great for a turntable strobe light! I think I paid around $10.
Don't rely on the phone speed apps. I’ve tried a couple and they are not consistent nor do they match an accurate strobe disc.
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maxhifi
Addicted Member
Yep.
Sure but if one turntable consistently measures good with the phone, and another consistently measures bad with the same phone, it is cause to investigate if the bad one is actually bad using a strobe disc. The results the OP got on his Linn would definitely trigger me to confirm the speed with a strobe disc and then fix it.
There are several strobe discs you can download and print out, and then use them with any sort of line powered light.
I have a strobe disc.
I'll inspect the belt. May order a new belt. Mine is over 5 years. Table sounds good. But being an Audiophile, always thinking about improvement.
If I remember right, speed adjustment entails a set screw to tilt capstan. But not going to adjust if a new belt is answer.
exactly. I use the end of a strand of cheap LED xmas lights, which are half wave. with the printed strobe disc from online lets me set the speed every time.