Why does my turntable speed up

Basically, you unscrew the top of your turntable and then you just with the help of a small screwdriver fine-tune the motor to get it just at the right speed. In my experience, it never takes more than one turn to get the speed just right. I will say that there is a fair bit of trial and error with this so do not get frustrated if it takes you longer than you may like. This is for many people a personal preference thing so be sure to listen to a lot of your favorite songs so you can tell if the turntable is set to just the way you like it.

Hopefully, you have a better understanding of why your record player speed is a bit off. It is something we all have to get used to and in all honesty with you guys, this is part of the dance of being a vinyl collector.

Once you have tried a few of these fixes once, you will be a pro and realize that it is not too hard at all. As a matter of fact, I collect old turntables and find that tinkering with them is a great deal of fun, just as much fun as actually listening to them in many regards.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. FAQ If your record player slows down and speeds up, this is why and how to remedy it. Author Reeze T. August 31, The type of drive refers to how the motor is connected to the turntable platter.

The motor powers the movement of your turntable, and the type of drive it runs helps define the speed. A direct-drive turntable houses its motor directly underneath the platter , and rotates the platter directly, hence its name. The speed is almost instant and there is no resistance via a belt. The belt loops around the spindle and the platter upon which the record sits , and the whole thing acts in the same manner as a pulley system, rotating the platter. Belt elasticity or tension relates to, you guessed it, belt-driven turntables.

Another possible outcome of a worn belt is that it deposits particles directly onto the motor pulley as it degrades. This expands the diameter of the pulley, meaning the belt needs to travel a slightly further distance and the result is a disc that plays too fast. Again, this is far more likely to occur on a belt-driven player, but can also crop up on a direct-drive model too.

As a turntable is made up of moving parts, any friction will cause a slowing down of the mechanical process, so any excessive friction can adversely affect the playing speed. Sometimes the explanation is staring us right in the face, and the wrong speed for the record is selected. You might swear that some pitches seem high or the sound is distorted.

And once you get it into your mind that your record player is too fast, you subconsciously convince yourself that you keep hearing more evidence to support your hypothesis. In a stereo shop they can measure your RPM by using a strobe and calibrate it that way.

Most likely you will not have access to that kind of equipment. Luckily, there are apps you can put on your smartphone that can check the RPMs of your platter. There are other apps as well but those are the most popular and according to the reviews, they are the most accurate. Once you know for sure that the turntable is spinning too fast, continue with the rest of this guide.

How you fix it depends on why it is too fast. In other words: the solution depends on the problem. There are about 4 main reasons a belt drive deck could be spinning too fast, and 4 different fixes. Sometimes the speed switch can have an internal issues where the switch is slightly too far in one direction or the other. This will send too much voltage to the motor which causes the record to spin too fast. This is often caused by dirt or grime inside the switch that can build up over time.

To determine if it is the switch try gently moving it slightly while the platter is spinning. If you hear the record slow down or speed up slightly, there is a good chance the switch could be the issue. Replacing the switch is the better solution for the long term but will cost more and take more time. You would have to have a shop do it or do it yourself.

Either way you are paying for the part and labor. Cleaning and lubing the switch is much easier and will only take a couple of minutes. Belt-drives, on the other hand, take longer to build up to their correct playing speed so you may have to wait a bit longer before dropping the needle on your favourite record. However, having a belt-drive eliminates motor noise and gives you a more natural sound.

One issue with belt-drives is that, over time, the belt can stretch or slip meaning that the speed of your platter is more likely to change.

So, now you know all the background and basics about record player speed and how it all works. But how do you check that the speed is correct? Read on! One day you might be listening to a record and feel the speed is a little off. So, how do you test the turntable speed?

Below, we discuss the two main methods. You can download strobe discs for free from many sites on the internet, such as from here on the Vinyl Engine Forum. Download and print off the disc with markings and place it on your platter. Depending on your country, the lines on your strobe disc will either be set for 60hz North America or 50hz Europe.

You will also need to purchase a strobe light for this method. Start the platter spinning and, once up to speed, direct the strobe light at the revolving strobe disc. This is a neat optical illusion that helps determine if the speed is correct. Although strobe discs have been used for years, mobile apps have become a much easier, quicker and cheaper method — although some argue might not be as accurate.

All you have to do is open the app and set it on the stationary platter whilst making sure the counter on the phone screen says zero. Then start spinning! As a side note, some turntables, especially ones for DJs where speed is so essential, have a strobe light attached, such as on the Technics SL This strobe is directed at the small dots surrounding the platter.

Depending on whether the dots are moving or stationary is how you can determine the speed of the platter, just like on the strobe discs previously discussed. Oh no! What do you do? You have two options….