What to do with a TT2?

[YNWaN]

Why? The question is relevant to this thread. Why make everyone fart around looking for the answer somewhere else?

I can't think of any reason why it shouldn't work, and I'd be really interested to hear if it was worthwhile.

There has been a bit of confusion I'm afraid, my post was a response to another post that has subsequently been deleted (that post was about rising eBay prices).

[AlfaGTV]

If it becomes necessary to replace the motor, would the current 24V Rega DC motor be an option? As I understand it the early Regas used the same AC synchronous motor as the TT2, the new motor is meant to be backward-compatible. This would potentially give the option of adding the TTPSU for speed control... Just a thought!

The old philips motor is still available when scavenging the net. I looked into that while my TPS was being serviced.
Great pics by the way! Now, lets hear bout your impressions!

Regards Mike

[surayne]

Impressions are very, very good. I'm using the same cart as I did on my P3-24 but there is more detail, more depth and width to the soundstage and better imaging. Bass was a little wooly at first but I played about with VTA and it seems to have settled. Speed stability seems spot on, I couldn't pick up any audible wow or flutter.

My other half looked up when I popped on a 180g pressing of Nick Drake's Pink Moon and said "My God, it sounds like he's right in front of me playing!" - what more could you ask for?

I did have a little issue with the tonearm lift, it seemed to drop like a stone. I opened it up and popped a few drops of the damping oil into the mechanism and it's much better now. Fiddly little screws though. I've not experimented with damping the arm itself yet, but I'm not sure there's a need with the DL-160.

Mike, I don't need a new motor, but I might be tempted to try a change for the heck of it at some point. The current Rega motor is meant to be quieter and more stable than the older generation, and runs at the same frequency. I assume that I'd have to remove the pulley from the end of the motor on the TT2 and fit it on to the new motor, which might be fun. Finding a place for the PCB and inputs would also be interesting, but possible I'm sure!

[AlfaGTV]

Alright then! Great to hear you are satisfied!
As for my own older TT2, it is about to receive a Valhalla powersupply!
Have you heard about such an abomination!

I believe, when comparing my two, the power supply/motor makes a big difference in performance.

Regards /Mike

[DSJR]

A Valhalla supply that's still working?

[shane]

I assume that I'd have to remove the pulley from the end of the motor on the TT2 and fit it on to the new motor, which might be fun.

If you decide to try this out let me know, I think I've got a spare pulley knocking around somewhere which would save you messing around with the existing motor. I recall that trying to pull the pulley off the motor often left you with the pulley and shaft in one hand and the remains of the motor in the other!

Although I've not heard one, I'm told that the TPS makes a big difference. Makes sense really, anything that feeds the motor with a clean sinewave rather than the crap that comes out of a mains socket will reduce motor vibration and clean up the sound. I'd thought of using a Valhalla supply myself (not that I actually have a TT2 at the moment, but this thread's had me searching ebay), but they're a bit pricey. I did see an artical somewhere about a Naim Armageddon clone which I might dig out some time which seemed a lot simpler.

[surayne]

If you decide to try this out let me know, I think I've got a spare pulley knocking around somewhere which would save you messing around with the existing motor. I recall that trying to pull the pulley off the motor often left you with the pulley and shaft in one hand and the remains of the motor in the other!

Although I've not heard one, I'm told that the TPS makes a big difference. Makes sense really, anything that feeds the motor with a clean sinewave rather than the crap that comes out of a mains socket will reduce motor vibration and clean up the sound. I'd thought of using a Valhalla supply myself (not that I actually have a TT2 at the moment, but this thread's had me searching ebay), but they're a bit pricey. I did see an artical somewhere about a Naim Armageddon clone which I might dig out some time which seemed a lot simpler.

Yeeaargh! That doesn't sound particularly pleasant, I'll definitely take you up on that offer if I go down this route, Shane.

From what I can tell from a few days of intense Googling, there are the following options for a PSU upgrade:

1) Naim Armageddon clone. Will probably cost around £100 all in with a decent case, the circuit design looks fairly simple. You won't have speed control though.

2) Valhalla, but it's getting a little old now, so I personally wouldn't go down this route. Around £50-80 I think?

3) The Hercules / MOSE combo. Will give external speed control as well. Cost is around £300.

4) Motor replacement with a Rega 24V version, and use an external Rega TTPSU. Should give external speed control as well as a new, more stable motor and decent regulated, external PSU. Cost is £120 for the motor and £200 for the TTPSU if bought new (I'll probably look for a used older version that tends to go for around £100). The downside to this is of course that installation will probably be more complex.

5) Other external PSUs like the Origin Live, etc. are available but most seem to go for over £400 and I can't see the point, really.

[DSJR]

Just to watch out for ease of pulley replacement. Shane and Guy could advise here

In my experience, adding a high current mains filter to the stock motor "supply" does a similar job to the Valhalla kit, believe it or not. I'm sure a properly phase-adjusted external supply would be far better again though, as the Lingo used to be (how much for an early Lingo?)

[mafrega]

Hello everyone, this is my first post in this forum, the first thing that I use an online translator and I hope you understand me well, also apologizing for it. I'm very interesting thread carefully. I'm trying to perfect my rotation TT2 pulley as shown in the photo, I have not even set to 100%, just mention that you have to completely redesign the suspension. In this way the suspension works in a more natural way. What you say about it?

[AlfaGTV]

Hola!
Well, why not? There are some advantages and some disadvantages IMO.

It is not impossible to get a "perfect" bounce in a TT2, somewhat difficult though. The biggest issue i've had is the tone arm cable dressing which was tricky when using RB-301 and OL Silver which both have quite thick and cumbersome cabling.

Your idea gives two main advantages as i see it:
You eliminate the pulling of the drive belt in one direction, which
1. Lessens drag on the bearing
2. Simplifies suspension adjustment

The disadvantages are:
1. Quite small belt contact surface, opens up for speed drifting?
2. Addition of another bearing which will influence by introducing rumble?

I have seen photos of people adding a second motor to their turntables though, in the same position as you suggest. That will also solve the above problems, but introduce others instead such as increased complexity etc. etc.

Good to see some ingenous ideas though!

/Mike