My Clearaudio Emotion only has an On/Off button for the motor. My question is what do you recommend when I want to put on a new album. Turn off the motor, or just lift up the existing record while the platter is still spinning?Is it a bad idea to switch the motor off every time I switch side. Your recommendation? Cheers.
I believe it was Linn (of course ;-) who first recommended leaving the platter spinning. No problem on the Sondek, as it had a felt mat. But who uses those anymore?! If the platter is acrylic, it obviously could damage the LP surface if spinning during removal. Those of us with threaded clamps have no choice, but I would turn it off anyway, just out of common sense.
Your observation is noted. I used a ET arm for years. This arm is more sensitive to record flatness.
During this time, I experimented with different thickness, center washers.
I had Herbies make a .08mm washer for me during this time.
It worked very well! One thing that is not very much noted.. the record label thickness. This is one other aspect that is of notable consideration when thinking about these issues.
Record flatness. This (IS) the main issue when approaching this topic.
If your dealing with a "flat lp", and using a .08mm washer on a platter that has a machined relief for the lp label thickness, (shew!) ..a center (weight) is appropriate. In this scenario, a clamp is not the best option.
Obviously removing a clamp with a spinning disc is a recipe for trouble. And if your deck is designed for a clamp then sure use one. My experience is however that for decks not designed for clamps they can deaden the sound making it slow and heavy. The one thing I do do is to use thin washers to ensure the center of the label is supported as my deck has a label cut out and depending on the disc and label thickness the center may float. This makes a subtle difference
I agree with all those who have suggested not changing records or sides while the platter is spinning.
What I've never understood, though, is why so few people seem to use a record clamp (as I do), which of course would make the question moot. Having a record coupled to the platter only by virtue of loosely resting on it, and perhaps also via some unknown amount of pressure between it and the spindle, just doesn't seem to make a great deal of sense to me.
If you feel the need for the motor to fully "speed stabilize" , then by all means, take this route... any user imposed faults to your prized vinyl, well, that's on you.
(By the way, I concur that it does take a while for the speed to fully stabilize.) This isn't enough of a concern for me in order to make any adjustment in my normal routine that takes into consideration, ("Vinyl First").
I can always visualize any removal of a vinyl record from a spinning platter...if not done (precisely) will always be a negative. I can think of no other situation in which this action can be a positive. Therefore, regarding preserving your vinyl, how can anyone confidently say, this would be of no negative consequence for a vinyl record? To do so, would go against any sort of logical reasoning!
I think folkfreak's situation may be not "the norm" of most of us here.
One of the beauties of direct-drive or idler-drive is that the platter gets up to speed much more quickly than does that of a belt-drive turntable. In that case, the choice for me is clearer; I shut the motor down not only between LPs but also when flipping the LP in play. On a practical level, the sluggish start-up of most belt-drive turntables is partly what drove me to experiment with other drive systems. Still, no matter what type of turntable I have owned, I shut the motor down between sides. But as others have said, there is no "right" or "wrong" on this issue, IMO.
If the main argument is saving the motor /switch vs. saving your vinyl?
Neither, the argument for leaving the motor on is that the vast majority of motors take a long time to fully speed stabilize and hence you are best of to avoid turning them off if you can avoid it. Provided your mat is not "sticky" then there’s no real risk to the disc in taking it off a moving surface. In the case of my deck where the platter is coupled via magnets to the motor I can stop the platter while leaving the motor running so I tend to leave it on
I've really never understood from a vinyl lover's perspective and from a logical standpoint why those that choose to leave the motor on between lp changes, do so.
If the main argument is saving the motor /switch vs. saving your vinyl?.. I'll always go for saving my vinyl.
If the main argument is being "cool", I'd rather save my vinyl.
If the argument is one less "step" in the playback of vinyl, I'd recommend those that adopt that option to quickly get out of vinyl reproduction.
To the Op's reasoning, Is the TT motor more important that the vinyl? I think you came to the appropriate conclusion.
Thanks, everyone, for your insight. I used to do the On/Off thing and then lately, I began to wonder if the mechanical switching will go bad sooner or if the TT is designed for continuous operation (part of audio-related OCD, no doubt). The motor does get hot on continuous though. Will go back to On/Off cycle from now on.
Dear millicurie999: I think that some way or the other all of you are " right " and each advise with its trade-offs. Nothing is perfect.
I'm with Spencer that in off position we protect the records because if when spining we take out the LP the record surface can " suffer " from micro-damage because the graze/skim between the platter mat and LP underside. Is't that a real fact?, I don't know but could happen. In the other side could be that when in on position if we don't take out firmly the LP can goes down to the floor with clear damage.
Normally I left on all the time especially with my BD TTs where the on/off button is in the TT power suply that seats in the floor and the TT at the top of the rack. With my direct drive TTs normally I set the button off because it's in the same TT/motor and its start/stop movement is really fast where in the BD ones is really slowly and we need patience that I have not.
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