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Hi all,
I'm playing a fairly new Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit. For the last week or so, it's sounded a little sluggish. Pitch is consistent and I timed rotations and it's right at 33.33 per minute. Belt is fine.
Trying to decide if this is all in my head or there's anything I'm missing.
Best,
WJ
Follow Ups:
Not sure what you mean by timing the rotations but it implies an opportunity for user error. If you have an iPhone, buy the Turntabulator app for $1.99.
Someone here will complain that it's an app and thus won't work as well as far more expensive options but it was recommended to me by the techs at Musical Surroundings and they've checked its results against other methods.
Others have tested it against Dr. Feickert's Platterspeed and found it accurate, as seen in catastrofe's post here:
There is also a free app called RPM; I've used it and it seems to be accurate.
You mentioned that the Pro-Ject is fairly new...did this table replace another table and if so did that table's speed seem okay? As you probably already know two separate turntables turning at exactly 33.3 RPM can often times sound different. One reason may be due to what Rega likes to call PRaT (pace, rhythm and timing) which can manifest itself in one table seeming to sound faster (or slower) than the other one...some Rega owners have suggested that the extra snap you often get with a Rega table is due to its platter speed being a bit fast, others suggest it is due to other reasons (damping characteristics of the table) Also if you have changed other components in your system, for example going from a SS amp or phono stage to a tube unit, this may account for part of what your are hearing. I have also noticed that some cables (both speaker and ICs) can have an impact on how things sound including a system's perceived quickness. Anyway, these are just suggestions you might want to consider if the more obvious reasons for your concerns aren't corrected by some of the very good suggestions you have already received.
E.R.E.
You must not believe you measured platter speed correctly; otherwise, why would you be asking this question? I would recommend measuring platter speed using a method you trust completely. If you do that, there will be no question in your mind whether or not your turntable is turning at the correct speed. I use a Phoenix Engineering RoadRunner tachometer to monitor platter speed on my Sota Millennia turntable . It monitors my turntable's platter speed even while playing a record.
Good luck,
John Elison
If pitch sounds stable and 33.3 is measuring correctly then it cannot be slow.
So my first question is : You say "timed" the speed. What method did you use? "Timed" is a slightly unusual phrase and most people would say "measured" instead and will have used a strobe disc or a test disc and frequency counter/counter app such as the Dr. Feickert one.
If the speed is indeed 33.3 rpm as "timed" by you then perhaps you could explain a little further how this sluggishness is manifesting itself ?
Is it an Esprit SB or DC?
As someone who repairs turntables, people take it for granted that I check things with a strobe disc. I do not, as I trust my ears. So you need to do the same, or at least print a strobe disc from the internet, and light it with something that cycles at wall-current frequency [not an electronically-balasted compact fluorescent].
While there are better ways to verify platter speed than using a strobe disc, one of which was cited by John, I have been laboring under the belief that IF you do use a strobe disc, it is risky to illuminate the disc with a wall-powered strobe (contrary to what you say), because there are slight variations in AC current frequency over time. This is why KAB, who make the best strobe device I know about, supply a battery powered strobe, guaranteed to flash at a constant frequency.
Maybe you are gifted with perfect pitch, but by and large I would not think that anyone's "ears" can detect small variations in platter speed, which become important if one is servicing a turntable and desires a precise adjustment. Ballpark, maybe. Exact, no.
" As someone who repairs turntables, people take it for granted that I check things with a strobe disc. I do not, as I trust my ears. So you need to do the same, or at least print a strobe disc from the internet, and light it with something that cycles at wall-current frequency [not an electronically-balasted compact fluorescent]."
I assume that you have posted out of sequence as your response appears as a comment to my posting rather than the OP's, to whom I guess it applies?
Yes. I always seem to post 'out of sequence' on this board.
Thanks, everyone!
It's an ear thing and pretty subtle. Just a general lack of "kick" but it's not consistent. Maybe a weird stage in the life of my cartridge? The things I'm hearing it on tend toward woozy and spacey (U.S. Girls, Can). I've also checked them against Spotify and the pitch isn't notably different.
I'll try on those apps to be on the safe side but it seems like this either totally imagined (ears are subjective!) or so subtle that I should just get used to it.
Best,
WJ
Sssssssloooooooooooooooooow...dooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwnnnnnnnnn
I'm sorry, I have absolutely no idea what you're driving at.
Just a little lightheartedness... no message.
Woooosh! :)
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