Speed Box II - What a difference???

[Purgers]

Hello all - First post here. Like many others I suppose, I have started getting back "into" vinyl and after getting a Debut III, I am simply shocked at how enjoyable listening to music is compared to CD's, at least on my system.

This weekend I received a Speed Box II and have been A/B testing it and I think I'm in the minority when I say I prefer the sound w/o it. It makes a huge difference in the sound, much more than I would've expected. It seems to bring the vocals much more forward, tightens up the highs and clears up the bass, all positives, right? But it just seems to be a bit harsh, more like a digital recording.

What I don't understand is how a TT turning at the correct speed could sound, for lack of better words, less natural than one that is varying. Can someone explain that? Should I give up on the A/B testing and just listen to it with the Speed Box and see if I acclimate to it? I am also awaiting the Acryl-It platter and I have heard that produces a warmer sound so maybe the combo will be more to my liking?

Also (and sorry for the length of the post) when I use the wall wart supplied with the Debut, I have no hum at all. If I use the Speed Box, there is hum on 33 (none at 45) unless I reinstall the shipping screws in the motor mount. If I do that, no hum at 33 but some at 45! I don't really care about that, it is only audible between tracks at very high volumes, I just found that interesting.

TIA

[kalypso]

Hmm - funny, i've got the debut III, too, with the acrylic platter and my dealer lended me the speed box II SE for a try.

Honestly: I don't hear any difference at all, as my dealer promised. To me, its just a matter of comfort when changing speed.

It did as well not change the hum behaviour of the table in any way. Its audible only between tracks at extemely high levels, most when using headphones.

There is less hum audible when the dustcover ist removed. Most hum appears when its half open.

This difference between our both tables may be caused by the different mains frequencys in our countrys, resulting in other motor speed. (US: 60 Hz, Europe: 50 Hz)

regards, kalypso

[moon unit]

I had a very similar experience when I first installed a Speed Box into my system. I A/B tested it several times and thought it sounded more digital. I decided to listen to it for a couple of weeks and then test it again. I listened to one album side, then pulled out the Speed Box and compared. Half-way through the first song I pulled up the needle and re-installed the Speed Box - it sounded that bad in comparision.

In truth, if it sounds more digital it is simply more accurate. If you compare the vinyl version of an album to the CD version you won't think it sounds digital anymore. The Speed Box does not alter the platter speed, it only corrects the speed stability of the platter.

I did have a slight hum when I first installed it (the belt is tighter on the 45rpm groove) but after giving the belt a couple of weeks to stretch out it disappeared. You may or may not have the same experience. If it persists, there will be a suspension kit available soon in North America (with 60Hz pulley) that will take care of that.

[Purgers]

Thanks for the replies. I think you are right Moon Unit in that I am "getting used" to it. Last night I listened to two fairly disparate recordings, "Learning to Crawl" by The Pretenders and the incredible "Live at Massey Hall 1971" by Neil Young. The former is a very bright, loud album and A/B tests revealed it was much smoother and more fluid with the box. The vocals are just so obviously better. There was no need to A/B the NY album it was simply incredible.

I may blame it on the fact that I had the flu this past weekend and couldn't really comprehend what was going on!

Looking forward to the Acryl-It platter this week.

Moon Unit, I have seen TheAppleChap's write-up of the Euro suspension kit. What info do you have that the 60hz version is pending?

[moon unit]

A 60hz kit was available in Canada about four months ago, which I ordered. The problem was that the new pulley is slightly too small and the platter runs a bit slow. Kurt Martens (the Canadian Pro-Ject distributor) is still waiting for Pro-Ject to send him new and correct pulleys which will be shipped out to everybody that originally bought the kit. I was using a sliver of tape on the pulley to correct this but just received a NOS Speed Box SE (not the II) for cheap, so I couldn't pass it up. I pulled off the tape and started using the pitch control to correct the speed.

Sumiko has announced that they will distribute the kit as well, probably as soon as the corrected pulleys start to ship out. Even if you lose the hum it is still a very beneficial upgrade to the sound quality of any Pro-Ject table with a suspended motor.

[Purgers]

Great info. May I assume it will be posted here when this kit is available? As I mentioned, I am not having an issue but would like to keep my TT up to date.

[gofar99]

Hi I have a DB III with the Speed Box and Acrylic platter. A rather decent combination. I did not have hum or harshness issues but did have what sounded like bearing noise. It turned out to be a bad motor that Sumiko replaced. Since then (see my post today about hum with Grado Cartridges) I have managed to figure out how to use unshielded cartridges with it. The factory original platter has a problem that may fool new folk. If you have a cartridge (not the OM5E) that has sizable magnets (like a Grado) it will pull itself down on the platter. The tracking force will be way off (too much). If you use the acrylic platter it solves that, but then any unshielded cartridges or poorly shielded ones will hum quite a bit as they get close to the center spindle. My other post talks about using a piece of Mu metal sheeting to stop that (it works great). The DB III with a Grado Reference Platinum I is really nice sounding now. Not as good as the Dual with the Benz or Dynavector in it, but not going to embarrass anyone either.

[Purgers]

I am now enjoying the Speed Box but have noticed twice that it has changed itself to 45RPM, not during playback but between plays (I leave it on all the time).

Anyone else notice this?

[gofar99]

Hi, Mine stays put on 33, even if the power is turned off.

[Purgers]

The excellent folks at Music Direct say I should not put up with a ghosty Speed Box so they are sending me a new one. Cheers!

[gofar99]

Hi, I have dealt with them before and always had a good experience