Debut III Wobble

[wgb113]

I just picked up a used Debut III with the stock steel platter and noticed that there's an ever-so-slight wobble to it. I played a few different albums and haven't heard anything that sounds off but I wonder if this is acceptable. I put the platter on a flat surface and didn't see any gaps around the edge but that doesn't mean that it's not warped in the center or maybe it's the hub/sub-platter?

Any thoughts?

Bill

[Bob_in_OKC]

I would suspect it was damaged - perhaps a force on the subplatter that bent the spindle or broke the bearing well. Have you checked the bottom of the turntable for damage?

[kalypso]

Is the wobble equal ore less than this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zBcKcpau5Q

If its much less than this, i wouldn't worry.

Perhaps you've got the possibilitiy to take the platter (and sub-platter, simply pull it out) to a pro-ject dealer and try against another one.

regards, kalypso

[wgb113]

It appears to be less severe than that Rega:


http://youtu.be/dQF7f9Vahy0

http://youtu.be/CKTReQ9lW6A

http://youtu.be/EE5VO1LkAe0

Not sure if it's the spindle being bent, the sub-platter being warped, or the bearing being shot.

Not sure if I should throw good money after bad. The seller's been great and is willing to refund the money. I've sent these same videos to Needle Doctor to see what they say as they sell the replacement parts.

Bill

[kalypso]

Yes, that seems to be too much.

Just to compare, this are videos from my own debut:

http://youtu.be/D09FSHKpbpU

http://youtu.be/gmt1lWNuWW0

I think it would be the best to take the refund, as the seller offers this and get another table instead of buying spares. This might be costly as long as you don't know that exact what's wrong with the table.

regards, kalypso

[Bob_in_OKC]

It looks like the subplatter must be tilted, which makes it seem to me like the bearing well must be tilted. Maybe it cracked at the screws that attach it to the underside of the plinth.

[wgb113]

The guys at Needle Doctor recommended trying a replacement sub-platter (comes with spindle) for $25. If that doesn't work I can return that part for full refund and then talk to the seller about returning the entire table.

Here's to hoping that's all it is.

Bill

[Bob_in_OKC]

My wife has a Debut III. I decided to listen to an LP on it and watch for a similar wobble. I would estimate it wobbles half as much as yours.

[wgb113]

I took a measuring tape to it last night and the up/down variation is less than an inch. The guys at ND said it shouldn't wear out records or the stylus any quicker but it is kind of like playing a warped record every time. I'm going to wait until I get the replacement part before playing any more albums, just to be safe.

Bill

[wgb113]

Here are two clips from a couple of days ago. I haven't played anything else yet:

http://db.tt/y43m5P4u
http://db.tt/6GRRgQzb

First one is an original pressing of Paul McCartney's "Heart of the Country" and the record's only been cleaned once in a Spin Clean and is only very slightly warped.

The second one is an orioginal pressing or Pearl Jam's "Better Man" and the record is mint.

I can't hear anything I'd attribut to the wobble but then again I'm new to this.

Bill

[kalypso]

I cant hear something wrong either.

regards kalypso

[wgb113]

I took a measuring tape to it last night and the up/down variation is less than an inch. The guys at ND said it shouldn't wear out records or the stylus any quicker but it is kind of like playing a warped record every time. I'm going to wait until I get the replacement part before playing any more albums, just to be safe.

Bill

Correction - it's less than 1/8 of an inch in variation.

Bill

[wgb113]

***** UPDATE ******

The new sub-platter arrived today and the wobble is gone.

Bill