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In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: Copper Mat on a Micro Seiki Gun Metal Platter

Post Subject: Motor type?Posted by Wellington on: 1/23/2016

Retrofunk,
Interesting observations. With regard to the speed variations with the flywheel, I have to wonder about your motor. I don't recognize particular unit. Do you have the original RY-5500 motor that came with the RX-5000? The RY-5500 has a built-in tachometer to measure and maintain constant speed under varying loads (within limits of course). It should compensate for the load of the flywheel - it was designed to do so. Maybe your motor lacks the elaborate speed control of the RY-5500? Another RX-5000 user I know told me that he really never heard an improvement with his flywheel. That's not the final word of course, just another opinion. I had never pursued one because the price is so dear (although cheaper for a clone). Maybe if I find one in a garage sale for cheap, I will take the plunge Smile

I now have a bit more experience comparing the 49-pound stainless platter to the original gun metal platter. The stainless unit does seem more relaxed in a natural way. The midrange in particular is more vivid and seemingly has a lower noise floor. Not hugely so, but significantly enough. Bass is as solid as it gets. The CU-180 does make a slight improvement to my ears on top of the stainless platter too, but I agree with Retrofunk, not as much as with the gun metal platter. I think the best combination that I've experienced with my table is the stainless platter topped by by the CU-180 but with NO soft mats. I have used the ST-10 spindle weight and the variable-pressure SOTA reflex clamp with equally good results to hold the LP tight onto the the CU-180. This is important, because without a soft mat to take up voids, there could be tiny air gaps between LP and CU-180 that prevent resonance control and even allow buzzing. A weight will "smash" the record down into intimate contact. I have to make sure that the surfaces are clean to prevent pressing dirt into the LP. Tapping lightly on an LP surface when it is clamped onto the CU-180 and stainless platter is like tapping on a granite boulder. Dead and quiet. But certainly not dead sounding! The best sounding rig I've had in my 40+ years of audio affliction. I think I'm done with table machinations for a while.

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