Power Supplies Upgrade For All Decks

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Acoustic Research Alpheson Avid Ariston Audio note Avondale Audio Basis UPGRADE Bluenote Clearaudio, CS products DNM Kuzma Linn Logic Manticore POWER SUPPLIES Michell Moth NAD Nottingham Analogue FOR ALL DECKS Opus Oracle Pink Triangle Project Rega Roksan Rock SME Source STD Systemdek Thorens Transrota Voyd VPI Walker Well Tempered Wilson Benech TURNTABLE POWER SUPPLY UPGRADES Universal DC motor drive The massive upgrade for your deck Reviews “T he single most important upgrade you can make concerns the motor drive...nothing can prepare you for the shock of going DC. In a word, gobsmacking.” COMMON GROUND MAGAZINE “T he difference the kit made to sound quality was remarkable” HI-FI NEWS MAGAZINE COMPARISON TO LINN LINGO “I ts value is nothing short of tremendous.” LISTENER MAGAZINE “Y ou will not be prepared for the difference the DC motor makes, or the magnitude of improvements made by swapping the partnering switch boxes and mains transformers....It’s been said before: the LP12 is all about notes stopping and starting ...the ability to hear the tune. But with the Origin Live components this really is the case....you become appreciative of the overall intelligibility, absolute stability of imaging. The way the music gains in continuity over the span of a piece is something I can only liken to experiencing master-tape replay at Abbey Road Studios. I strongly preferred the more powerful DC200 motor: even with the silver box it added definition to low pitched notes on strings and pianoforte. The Ultra box brought even more control, the bigger transformer then adding still more sound-stage depth, separation and apparent dynamic range. Now there was more expression, more graceful phrasing by the musicians, and the bass was still more extended, good though the basic combination had been. One noticed new details in performance .... which increased listening pleasure, sharpening concentration.” CLASSIC RECORD REVIEW “I f you are thinking of upgrading your system, investing around 400 Euros in the Origin Live dc-motor kit should be high on your list for consideration.” TNT AUDIO FOR FULL REVIEWS - SEE ORIGIN LIVE WEBSITE 2 Advanced switch box housing the voltage regulator and speed control switch Introduction N o one would blame you for being sceptical of an easy to fit, inexpensive dc motor upgrade. Especially one that improves on the best of other power supplies costing over 4 times as much. It is simply impossible to imagine the level of improvement attained by eliminating motor vibration that your Hi Fi amplifies 8,000 times. The Origin Live DC motor drive upgrade has been successfully fitted to the majority of turntable models such as Linn (Valhulla, Lingo), Roksan, Pink Triangle, Rega, Thorens, VPI, Michell, Heybrook, Opus, Oracle, Well Tempered, Acoustic Research, Systemdek and many more. No matter how advanced the existing power supply, the result of adding the drive upgrade has surprised and delighted owners. It simply produces massive improvements to all aspects of sonic performance. For over five years, these drives have been fitted to practically every deck ever built with spectacular results - it is extremely well thought out and highly refined. The performance value to your system is well over 4 times what you invest (in comparison to some upgrades) and the improvement is similar regardless of the type of deck you own. Risk free trial Time and again owner feedback says things like “for once the hype is true” - “does everything you claim and more”. This means that we confidently offer these drives on a 1 month money back guarantee basis. If it doesn’t outperform your current motor drive by a considerable margin, we will give an immediate refund. TURNTABLE POWER SUPPLY UPGRADES Motor drive outline The upgrade “motor drive”consists of a high-grade motor, external control box with 2 speed rotary switch and a transformer. The motor plate is designed for drop-in replacement of your existing turntable motor. Three levels of upgrade are offered - Standard, Advanced and Ultra. Reasons to upgrade your motor drive  It is makes an enormous, cost effective improvement to your system due to the central importance of the motor drive.  It is a relatively low investment in Motor drives include all you need  Fully built control box with 2 speed rotary switch - all leads and plug connectors included. 33rpm & 45rpm. (H x W x D) 50 x 110 x 180mm  High grade DC motor with precision bored, electro plated pulley designed for flat and round belts. The motor is supplied with a motor plate adaptor to enable fitting to your deck.  Transformer for either 240/230V, 50Hz or 110V, 60 Hz mains supplies  Strobe card for easy and accurate speed setting  Fitting instructions The upgrade motors and power supplies are fully built, no soldering is required - they are literally plug and play. Installing the motor in your deck is usually a simple procedure with full instructions provided. comparison to changing your deck. Why is the motor and power supply so influential on sound quality? The reasons why superior power supplies have such an audible effect on performance have been well documented - they reduce vibration and variation in motor speed - both of which have a huge effect on the signal generated by the “all sensing” stylus. What may not be so generally appreciated is that platters suffer a momentary slowing under load which is so small it can hardly be measured. The cartridge amplifies this effect 8,000 times, resulting in an appreciable loss of dynamic impact, especially in the bass region. To overcome this, some decks use a very high mass platter but this “solution” has its own drawbacks, producing a thick, clinical and lifeless sound. A better solution is to make the motor capable of responding powerfully and instantaneously to any increase in the dynamic load on the drive. This is one aspect addressed powerfully by the circuit design of the advanced and ultra upgrades. The results are obvious upon listening. Characteristics of a high grade power supply Control of motor energy fluctuation A high performance dc motor drive is dependent not only on motor quality but more importantly on a superb power supply. Motors are hard to drive evenly with absolute precision. Eddy currents within the magnets cause severe power fluctuations among other factors. Negative voltage is fed back into the power supply. If not controlled, this results in motor vibration and severe loss of dynamics. Origin Live power supplies absorb such dips and surges in load, while adjusting to deliver copious and precise power with great speed. Speed stability The motor requires load compensation to maintain the turntable at a constant speed. This is because the drag of the stylus varies between the inner and outer tracks of a record. Many turntables suffer from about 1% speed drift. Not only is there variation from inner to outer tracks - there is also localised variation when the stylus negotiates complex or heavy passages of music. To overcome these problems, the Advanced and Ultra power supplies have a load sensing circuit that maintains speed drift to a mere 0.1% (as measured by Hi-Fi News magazine - ten times better than the average turntable). The results are increased dynamics, better timing and pitch control, and a greater sense of drive and pace. It is worth mentioning that for motors, a well designed mains regulator far surpasses the performance of lead acid battery regulation (as used by a few high end pre-amps). 33 TURNTABLE POWER SUPPLY UPGRADES Low noise As well as delivering superb speed control, the regulator is designed to produce very low noise, thereby reducing vibration still further. This translates into increased transparency and better definition. fitted with precious-metal brushes and are highly reliable. The bottom line is that the major source of vibration in any turntable (i.e. the motor) is dramatically improved. The benefits are difficult to imagine and fully appreciate until you hear them. Speed switching Precision pulley The speed is easily switched between 33rpm and 45rpm using the knob on the speed control box. The pulley is precision bored (not reamed), polished and electroplated. Speed setting This is laser cut from stainless steel with mounting hole to coincide with the standard synchronous motor used on most decks. The single bolt fitting enables belt tension to be adjusted by rotating the motor - an important factor to optimize performance. Due to the lower vibration of the motor, it does not need rubber-band or other decoupling methods employed on some decks to isolate their existing motors. In fact this motor can be attached to the sub-chassis of a deck with no significant noise breakthrough! To cater for different sizes of platter or subplatter, you can set the infinitely variable motor speed for your particular deck using preset dial resistors. This has the added advantage of making the motor simple to transfer should you ever change your deck. Motor plate Common objections Features & benefits Motor Features The high-grade DC motors offered are the best at their price points and characterized by  Low vibration  Smooth, powerful rotation The motors are a breakthrough design with virtually no cogging effect due to ironless cores. Cogging is the ‘flick’ that occurs as straight rotor windings pass between straight magnetic strips, i.e. the power transfer varies as the coils rotate from one magnetic pole to the next. More expensive motors have ‘skewed’ coils to ensure a smooth power transfer as the rotor rotates between poles. This imparts a massive advantage over the inexpensive AC motors used in most decks, such as the Linn LP12, Thorens, Rega etc. These cannot run smoothly in comparison, no matter how sophisticated and expensive the power supply. The Origin Live DC motor is not only cogless but also ironless, which means that flux residue which occurs in cheaper motors is eliminated. Smoother, more efficient operation is the result. The Origin Live motors are also 4 Will upgrading the motor and power supply really make such a massive difference? - The reviews and owner Shop installation The other way to fit the motor is by a local dealer. The drive upgrades are available through shops and there are many specialist dealers who can install the kit for you if required. A labour charge will probably be involved, but the total investment is still far less than the cost of other products. Is the kit worth the outlay on a lower priced deck? - Many Rega owners say that the kit has utterly transformed the performance of their deck. Other owners of budget decks also testify to being deeply impressed by the results. Again - please see the Origin Live web site for owner comments on the sonic benefits to a large cross-section of decks. Upgrade versions Standard upgrade:  Fixes defective motors or power supplies to a tight budget.  Upgrades older or budget turntables. comments of the web site will put this concern to rest whether your deck is a Linn LP12 (Lingo, Armageddon, Valhulla etc.) or a Rega Planar 2. Will I be able to fit the kit without too much trouble? - All you need to do is fit the motor. The motor, external switch box and transformer simply plug into one another - there is no soldering or electronics assembly. Fitting is usually very straight forward as the motor plate is designed as a drop in replacement for the existing motors used in most turntables. Owners have little trouble once they have the parts in their hands, and we provide clear instructions on installation, dimensions, etc. covering almost every situation. Additional detailed accounts by owners on exactly how they fitted the kit to their particular deck are also posted on the Origin Live web site. Fitting on the LP12 can take as little as 20 minutes and is fully reversible. However, should you confront insurmountable problems in fitting the kit, please return it for a refund. Features Standard motor - The “Standard” dc motor is a high quality motor relative to the AC synchronous motors used in most decks. However it makes a slight “whispering noise” and does not attain to the speed stability or sonic performance of the DC100 motor used in the advanced upgrade. Standard switch box - identifiable by it’s red LED the standard dc power supply is built to a strict budget. Advanced upgrade  Reduce response time For all decks  Increase current delivery Further Options drive. This is particularly true in the bass region where there is a great increase in dynamic power and depth. Upgrade Transformer All upgrade versions come with everything you need, however there are options that can be added. These are, a better motor and / or an upgrade transformer Features DC100 motor - This is a higher torque, near silent running motor with even lower vibration than the “standard” DC motor. Due to higher torque it also has improved load compensation. These advances are well reviewed and result in a more integrated sound, better timing, rhythm and pitch, freedom from coloration, improved transparency and dynamics. DC200 Motor option A special upgrade transformer is offered as an option for all switch boxes. This features an extremely advanced, purposedesigned transformer housed in an outboard enclosure. If you have an existing standard Origin Live transformer, then it simply substitutes in it’s place. Advanced switch box - identifiable by it’s green LED, the advanced switch box has a much more sophisticated circuit design with improved load compensation and higher instantaneous power delivery. Ultra upgrade For mid to high end decks The DC200 offers the ultimate in terms of performance, delivering a clear improvement in dynamics and power of presentation over the DC100. With higher torque and smoother rotation, the results are clearly audible, with all the usual characteristics of an improved motor The vastly increased delivery of instantaneous high current results in improved transparency, dynamics and deeper bass. Which motor drive is right for you Increased dynamics, bass weight and power are just a few of the major benefits to be gained with the Ultra upgrade. Features DC100 motor as described for the advanced upgrade. Ultra switch box - identifiable by it’s black aluminium case and blue LED includes the following features: Component upgrades - Many aspects of component specification have been upgraded, including low impedance / low leakage capacitors, highly specified diodes, special LED Circuit upgrades - The circuit design has been refined to:  Reduce electrical noise Results of listening and comparing motor drives and power supply options are shown in the table below. To gauge total % improvement, add percentages together - e.g. the advanced drive upgrade with optional upgrade transformer is estimated at a 85 + 35 = 120% improvement. This outperforms the Ultra drive upgrade alone, shown as a 100% improvement. Motor Drive Upgrades & options Improvement % rating Standard drive upgrade (complete ) 40 Advanced drive upgrade (complete) 85 Ultra drive upgrade (complete) 105 Upgrade transformer (optional add on) 35 DC 200 motor (optional add on) 30 Origin Live have a policy of continuous development and reserve the right to change product specifications and appearance without notice. 5 TURNTABLE POWER SUPPLY UPGRADES Fitting methods Attaching the motor M ethods of fitting the motor can vary from screwing it on via it’s top plate or sub-chassis, to wedging it in position with pieces of hard foam - the motors run cold so there is never an overheating problem. It is worth mentioning that the motors sound best when the plate is mounted with a single screw / bolt - this also means that belt tension is easily adjusted by simply swivelling the whole assembly. It also means that you have considerable scope for setting the height of the motor. Nuts on the machine screw can be used to clamp the motor at any height along the thread. Motors with pods For motors housed in pods, you can adapt the pod to house the new motor - We supply a circular motor top plate for these applications which means that after unbolting the pod’s existing top plate, the Origin Live motor plate can usually be bolted to the pod using one of the redundant tapped holes - remember the motor plate only needs to be fastened using one bolt. In very rare cases you may want to request a machine shop to tailor your old pod to fit the new motor - e.g. it may need recessing to get sufficient pulley height. If you want to check that it’s worth the trouble, just set up a rigid temporary working mount for the motor to see what it sounds like. This immediately convinces owners to go ahead. One last method is to pack the motor into the pod by wedging it in position using pieces of hard foam, rubber, Plasticine or blu-tak - crude though this may be, it works. Height restrictions Sometimes the depth of the new Origin Live motor means that the deck needs taller feet to lift it clear of the surface. We 6 can supply taller feet or you can source them through Maplins or a hardware store. Specifications & dimensions Sometimes a hole needs to be cut in the baseboard of the deck to allow the motor to be fitted - hole saws mounted in a drill are the best tool to do this work. Alternatively you can leave the base board off altogether as the voltages are no longer dangerous (12V max) - Leaving out the baseboard will also improve the sound of the deck due to reduced resonance. Wow and Flutter will be less than 0.06%, DIN peak on most decks Plinths with thick top plates Upgrade Transformer is 7V ac. When the motor plate needs to be mounted on the top of a thick MDF top plate but would add too much height then a “milling machine” type of attachment in a pillar drill can cut away the motor plate profile to the correct depth and allow the motor to sink into the top plate. Alternatively a router or sharp chisel may be used to carve away the material. Dimensions Belts If you need a new belt we can usually provide this. Measure the belt’s circumference in mm. There are two ways of doing this: a) Put a length of thread round the belt path i.e. the motor pulley and Sub-platter, mark it, and then measure the length b) Take the old belt - Measure the length of the belt pulled straight and then double the figure. Height adjustment using a single bolt in a pod Specifications - Less than 0.1% drift 33rpm, ref 3150Hz Speed is infinitely variable via a dial resistance. Standard transformer output is 9V ac. Motor mounting plate fitted to motor is 70mm x 40mm x 2mm with mounting holes spaced 60mm apart. Only one hole is actually needed to fit the motor plate to your deck. The plate may then be swivelled to set belt tension. The motor plate can be fitted on top or underneath a turntable top plate as appropriate. Alternatively the plate can be omitted in some instances and the motor screwed directly to the deck or a motor pod. Optional circular motor plate is 64.5 mm in diameter x 2mm thick and mounting holes are spaced 57mm apart. Standard motor body is 40mm long and 29mm in diameter. DC100 motor body is 46mm long and 26mm in diameter. DC200 motor body is 46mm long and 29mm in diameter Pulleys Belt height: The pulley is set at approximately the same height as the surface it drives - i.e. the subplatter or platter depending on your deck. To adapt for various scenarios, there are 3 pulley options. Once we know your deck model we can supply the right pulley for it. However to answer a number of questions that are sometimes asked prior to placing an order the following information may be reassuring. The centre of a flat belt rides on the crown of the pulley (the crown is the fattest part of the curved section of the pulley). Round belts ride in the groove of either the top or bottom flange. Short pulley Used for decks where the motor is mounted close to top of the plinth. The height from the top surface of the motor plate to the centre of the crown is 6mm. Overall pulley diameter is 11mm. Long pulley Best for decks where the motor is mounted under a top plate e.g. the Linn LP12. In this case the distance from top of the motor plate to centre of crown is 14mm. Overall pulley diameter is 11mm Large dia pulley Designed for decks where the belt runs on the outside of the platter. This pulley is used in order to achieve the required speeds. Height options are not required as it does not need to fit under a platter. The distance from top plate to the centre of the crown is 14mm. Long pulley fitted to LP12 Brushed stainless steel plate to cover switch hole - or leave in old switch 7 TURNTABLE POWER SUPPLY UPGRADES Summary S pectacular progress has been made in the art of vinyl replay over recent years. Nowhere is this more realised than in the design of motor drives. If you have a cherished deck such as a Linn, Roksan, Michell, Rega etc, you can now take it’s performance to entirely new levels. The level of improvement will surprise you and probably have you listening to your record collection into the early hours. As Vinyl still represents the pinnacle of reproduced music in terms of quality, upgrading your motor supply is one of the best investments you can make, due to the higher benefits in performance. Unlike cartridges, a drive upgrade will produce a far more profound improvement and last a lot longer. It is also transferable to other decks should you ever decide to change in the future. Vinyl replay products by Origin Live include: Tonearms Power supply upgrades Turntables Phono Stages Interconnects Upgrades for existing decks Origin Live 8 www.originlive.com [email protected] Tel / Fax: 02380 578877