The Usual Rega too fast problem

[rubber duck]

I think the phone apps only provide an average reading and won't tell you if the speed is constant. You'll probably be much better off looking at a strobe provided you're using a battery operated strobe light, or are certain your mains frequency is 50Hz. I'm not sure if any of the after market speed controllers would work with the new 24v motor. Whether you should get a new deck depends on how much you like the Rega sound.

[bbbiker800]

Forgot to thank those suggesting the mains frequency idea. My thinking is, that I receive the mains supply 'as-is' and unless i use a device to control/regulate it then I can't affect it and if I have a defective motor then that's not going to fix it. Plus a device would be expensive.

It would be interesting to know whether anyone has experience of how Rega motors age (I have the newer kind) and what they tend to do - go slower or faster ?.

By the way; installed the original Black belt - its still fast but dropped to 34.1 RPM. It would seem obvious that I need to try another belt and if that doesn't bring it back down to what it should be then its back to a Rega dealer for a test and new motor.

But, I'll get another belt and report back.

But still interested in feedback !!!!

Cheers everyone

[alphaGT]

That's right Richard, the 50 Hz coming into the house should never fluctuate. Most of your digital alarm clocks get their timing feed from the frequency coming in the power cable. And most speed controllers work by altering that frequency, while the voltage stays the same.


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[dave2010]

The motor speed runs on mains frequency, not voltage. Either pulley is too big, belt too thick or too tight, subplatter too small or yours mains frequency too high.

It's the belt.

I don't see how it can be the belt. The main variables for belt driven turntables are the sizes of the drive pulley and the subplattter - plus the mains frequency. The only factor the belt could bring in would be some amount of friction which would slow the system down, but most motors should compensate for that. Some belt driven systems rely on a fairly "loose" belt to isolate the motor from the turntable platter, and then rely on the mass of the turntable to keep things up to speed - and such systems may take a second or two to get going. I would expect belt driven systems to run slower than specified rather than faster - either due to belt slippage, or to lack of sufficient built up angular momentum to keep the turntable speed up.

[bbbiker800]

So now I've installed an Edwards Blue belt - its still fast but dropped to a fluctuating 33.9_34.0 Rpm. So better but still way off. Time to talk to Rega about the motor methinks.

Thanks for all the ideas guys.

[bbbiker800]

So now I've installed an Edwards Blue belt - its still fast but dropped to a fluctuating 33.9_34.0 Rpm. So better but still way off. Time to talk to Rega about the motor methinks.

Thanks for all the ideas guys.

[sq225917]

A thicker belt sits on a wider part if the pulley groove. Thicker belt sees a bigger pulley. Simple.

[Marco]

So now I've installed an Edwards Blue belt - its still fast but dropped to a fluctuating 33.9_34.0 Rpm. So better but still way off. Time to talk to Rega about the motor methinks.

Thanks for all the ideas guys.

Or better still, sell it and buy a direct-drive, then worry no longer about belts!

Marco.

[paulf-2007]

Or better still, sell it and buy a direct-drive, then worry no longer about belts!

Marco.

+1

[alphaGT]

Hi Alpha - Its an Android appl in Playstore; called RPM Calculator. Place your phone on the platter (with stylus guard in place !), start the app and reset it then spin up the turntable. I placed my phone in different positions and the answer is the same whatever. Agree the appl might not be accurate but it is consistent but who really knows !..... although, I could use an old Strobe and I may do that for another reference. An aftermarket speed controller might well be a fix but it would cost $$$ and if that is the answer then I need another deck.

Cheers, Richard

Richard, sorry for the delay, but I finally got around to searching for this app for my phone. I've got an Apple 6 phone, not the latest but fairly new. And this app called RPM was free without extra bells and whistles. First run I followed the instructions and placed it right up against the spindle and ran the app. It said I had a .2 error running fast at 33.4. I ran it again and got the same thing. Then I got an idea and I placed it close to the outside of the record. And it gave me a reading of 33.27, some -.17 percent error. So! I then placed it about half way, and as you see in the pic, it gave me a perfect 33.33. Of course RPMs do not change no matter how big the object spinning is, or how far from the center you get. And it does say on its information page that if you have any doubts you should calibrate your phone by running it on a turntable that you know runs at a perfect 33.33. There are no calibration adjustments, I guess you're just supposed to do it mentally. But, anyway, the amount of error you are showing could be within the error margin of your phone? I advise you to invest in a more accurate tool, I also saw some other apps that worked with a Bluetooth strobe light, which sounds like a much more accurate way to measure . But who knows what the light cost?

So now I've got the same issue as you, I'm not sure if my 'table is running dead on 33.33? But, I'll tell you this, I love the way it sounds! And honestly don't care if it's not perfect. For it to sound hurried and loose its pace and timing may require more error than we are showing? If, in fact it's in the table, and not in our phones.



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