[78-L] New Cheap Turntable

[Michael Biel]

From: "Doug Pomeroy" <pomeroyaudio at att.net>
>> Just happened to be in Macy's Brooklyn store on Monday and
>> spotted a turntable, with USB output, for $69.95. The surprise
>> was that it has 3-speeds!

From: "Steven C. Barr" <stevenc at interlinks.net>
> No...most 21st century turntables offer all three speeds 

Not quite.  I still see a lot of two speed tables -- about half and
half.  The Newmark mentioned that uses software to get 78 means that
mechanically it is a 2-speed turntable.

> (it just involves a third idler wheel to the array!).

That's not how idler wheel turntables work.  Most only have one idler
wheel no matter how many speeds, but the rotational speed of that one
wheel is changed by a stepped motor shaft.  The turntable will need a
three-step shaft for the third speed.  Of course many of these
turntables are belt drive, and there also the difference is a stepped
motor pulley that the belt wraps around.  It will need three "grooves"
on the motor pulley for it to be a three speed turntable.  Only one
belt, or only one idler wheel.  And when you go the next step up to a
direct drive turntable, the speed is controlled by an electronic
oscillator.  They need to add a third frequency to it.

The RCA BQ-1 broadcast turntable did have three idler wheels but they
were all of the same size.  There was a stepped motor pulley, and the
speed change mechanism selected which wheel would be positioned to hit
its step on the pulley.  Most turntables move the wheel up and down to
place it by the step which is needed.

> However, what they usually DON'T provide is a second needle to play
> 78's with their larger grooves. I have seen a few of these new tt's
> which offer 78 needles as an extra-cost option, though! Steven C. Barr

This is very true, but usually you have to mail away to get that 78
needle after you have already bought the turntable.  They figure that
most people don't need it.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com