3 New UBER Decks - Is this Turntable's SwanSong? 🦢

 Lewm9 wrote

But “best speed stability, etc” and “accurate reproduction of the master” are two different criteria. One is scientifically measurable and the other is inescapably a subjective judgement. However to reach the latter goal wouldn’t you want to have reached the first goal (absolute speed stability) along the way?

The man (lewm9) is correct – how could it be otherwise. If K3 was say 75% less accurate (a wobbly jelly) could it approach “accurate reproduction of the master.”  Don’t think so.

Another poster wrote:  every DD I have heard sounds thin, lacking body, are grainy or have a grey wash through the sound, possibly due to error correction servos.

Seemingly these DDs were not good examples of the technology ie made to a price, as the majority of  cutting lathes were/are DIRECT DRIVE.

If you are going to bash DD you have to throw out the DD cutting lathes and drive them with a rubber band.

Another poster wrote:  every DD I have heard sounds thin, lacking body, are grainy or have a grey wash through the sound, possibly due to error correction servos.

Seemingly these DDs were not good examples of the technology ie made to a price, as the majority of  cutting lathes were/are DIRECT DRIVE.

If you are going to bash DD you have to throw out the DD cutting lathes and drive them with a rubber band.

What you fail to understand is that most cutting lathes have a 70-80lb flywheel and significantly more drive power than most domestic direct drives. - even the Kenwood, Technics & Victor. The dynamics of a cutting lathe and its requirements are quite different to the dynamics of replaying a record.

And you appear unable to comprehend that critiquing specific examples of direct drive does not mean that direct drive is in of itself a bad thing.

"you fail to understand"  Presumptuous.

"cutting lathes have a 70-80lb flywheel and significantly more drive power than most domestic direct drives".   

Correct - the process is controlled by the DIRECT DRIVE motor.

'The dynamics of a cutting lathe and its requirements are quite different to the dynamics of replaying a record'.

It is the same signal - the lathe requires much higher torque to cut the disk – replay is a smaller load – proportionally how much different I don’t know.

"does not mean direct drive is in of itself a bad thing"

What do you mean?

Do you mean direct drive can be good? 

Or in K3's case a stunningly spectacular achievement: Michael Fremer tells us so, despite your take down of the man. He is a terrifically fit 74 - his apparent age likely isn't much different to you. Michael reports K3 is a cartridge differentiation champ eg "an utterly natural, transparent, and convincing presentation via the Anna D with airy flute roundness, sparkling, effervescent percussion, and zero overhang." 

"blows the chrome doors off the Caliburn" ... Michael Fremer.

My Thorens TD 124mkII, not even working at a full 100% is giving me readings of +- 0.04% speed variations. Wow 0.03. I’m confident i’ll be lowering those numbers even Further with a few mods. 1500 rpm 4 pole motor = no cogging. Same with lencos and Garrards. I suspect the EMT would measure even better because of it’s massive 16 inch platter. Also forget about noise. That problem has been solved years ago with high mass plinths and vibration transfer.

With regards to speed stability only 3 tables I believe take the crown.

Rockport Sirius III

Grand Prix Audio TTs

Wave Kinetics Reference

All in the 0.000~% (according to their measurements of course)

The OMA, Techdas and SAT measure measure rather poorly tbh