Do Rega 'tables run fast?

In the past I owned a Rega Planar 3 and an RP6. Both ran faster than 33 1/3 rpm.

 

It makes intuitive sense to me. It is difficult to get the speed exactly right using normal manufacturing tolerances, and most people are going to prefer slightly fast to slightly slow. So they design them to run a little fast.

 

Not at all...My RP6 with groove tracer upgrades is right on 33 rpm

 

The Rega plays faster than Yngwie Malmsteen.

 

This is true, many owners would complain of a slower running turntable! The primary function of a turntable is to spin at the right speed, major fail if it doesn't.

 

Read these comments: Slow down my Rega rp6 »

 

The Groovetracer was big improvement for my RP6 but the speed is still 33.7. I cannot here it but one of my musician friends can.

 

Ah thanks. I'll check it out.

 

Yes they do. They are rather well known for that tendency.

 

I get a feeling that Turntabulator app is pretty accurate. In fact, I know it is because I can make minute adjustments and the app will register them.

 

You're 1/3 slow then.

 

My stock RP6 runs at 33.4. The only thing I can tell audibly about the 0.07 extra revolution per minute is that it made it sound better than the VPI Scout and Clearaudio Concept tables.

 

Definitely a more energetic and brisk sound, I would imagine. And there's another positive aspect of turntables running too fast - in the long run, you get to listen to more music because you finish every disc earlier.

I moved from a belt drive to DD mostly because of speed issues. It wasn't that much off but I noticed my guitar sounded out of tune whenever I was playing along when listening to an LP. No such problem with CD's so I didn't need a strobe disc to figure out why.

 

Have you noticed, or anyone, that CD players sometimes run faster tempo? The pitch remains constant but the tempo can increase, ie: laptops and cheaper CD players, and I hate that too. I'm just a mad musician who hears stuff!

Thinking about testing this and may start a discussion. I would be fascinated if it's just my imagination?.

 

Can't say I have. I assume you're talking about tiny shifts in tempo? I got a pretty average sense of timekeeping, I can hear fairly subtle rushing or dragging but I'd guess minuscule tempo shifts go happily unnoticed.

 

ok.. I'll test my laptop CD drive. It seems to run fast (tempo) when it's warm! Maybe my brain gets tired and runs slow? haha!

 

My RP8 was in the 33.7 range. I switched to a new belt for other reasons and it brought it down to 33.4.

Either way, I couldn't tell it was fast.

 

And that's the typical speculation, that faster speeds sell tables.

 

sadly

 

My P5 is spot on, but I did add a Groovetracer subplatter.

 

New rubber belt perhaps help?

 

Wouldn't wall voltage affect the speed? Is the Rega motor designed for something like 115 - 120 VAC (in the USA), however some wall voltages run higher, resulting in the turntable running faster?

 

Rega turntables have a 24 Volt DC motor and my RP3 runs at a stable 33 1/3.

 

Just try using a different belt..

 

It's been close to 15 years since I ran my Planar 3 with the stock motor.

I currently use an Origin Live DC Motor Kit (Mk12 PCB) with a Premotec 9904-120-18105 3W Motor and a Maplin 9V 3.2A AC-AC PSU. I've had many, many issues with this kit over the years, but over the last 2-3 years it's been mostly stable but that's been down to myself and a few other members of other forums solving some of the problems that this kit has thrown up. OL themselves have been of little help.

The OL control box has adjustable pots on the rear, so I can fine tune the speed. A deck running fast is like nails down a chalkboard to my ears. I, also, must have OCD or something.

The other mods on my deck are an Audio Origami strip, polished & rewired RB250 (with Michell Technoweight), PEEK Bearing, GrooveTracer Ref Sub-Platter & White Delrin Platter, and a Michael Lim Motor Isolation Base.