Cold temperatures and bearing oil?

[KenCalgary]

My listening room is cold during the winter (being in Canada and with poor air circulation) but yesterday was warm and the few records I listened to sounded superb. It could have been the record quality or many other issues.

I was reading an article on Arthur Salvatore's web site and he mentions selling his "(original) Townshend Rock in 1982/3. The Rock, for years, withstood all challengers, but I eventually sold it because my listening room lacked a stable temperature. This, in turn, meant that the Rock (with its high viscosity oil bearing) would have variable RPM speed day-to-day, which drove me crazy." This got me to wondering if the widely variable temperature in my listening room has an impact on the sound from my Technics SL1210 since the bearing is oil lubricated (Please, no arguments on the sound of the Technics versus other makes).

Would temperature have a sufficient impact that would be audible?

[JaS]

I suppose a temperature that is way different to expected room temperature (in the UK it's an average 17.5C/63.5F) may make a difference? In theory extremely low temperatures could affect the cantilever and loudspeaker drive unit suspension too though. There may also be an increased likelihood of mains noise from heating in winter? So many variables...

Regards,
JaS

[bauzace50]

Hi,
another variable of interest is Density Of Air changing because of temperature swings. These can theoretically affect loudpeaker tuning, particularly of the vented variety.

But this is probably too small in magnitude to be significant.

Regards,
bauzace50

[KenCalgary]

I suppose a temperature that is way different to expected room temperature (in the UK it's an average 17.5C/63.5F) may make a difference? In theory extremely low temperatures could affect the cantilever and loudspeaker drive unit suspension too though. There may also be an increased likelihood of mains noise from heating in winter? So many variables...

Regards,
JaS

Yes, it's too easy to focus on one issue when there are many variables to consider. I forgot about cantilever actions, loudspeakers, etc. At least I can rule out the heating system because THAT is audible.

[analogaudio]

Yes temperature will affect the oil in a 1210mk2 bearing, but the effect will probably be inuadible if there at all, the Technics motor drive corrects for drifts in rotational speed and friction.

I have a 1600mk2 that has the same platter, motor and bearing, when spun up to 33rpm and then the power switched off, the platter continues to spin about 4.5 revolutions, that is with the Technics stock oil which is very light.

[steve195527]

point an angle poise lamp at your TT(not too near though):-it'll warm things up enough to let cartridge track ok as well as letting bearing oil thin down a bit(if you're worried about that!)also has the advantage of helping you see to cue

[Smengy1]

"I just wanna be a Anglepoise Lamp there!" - Robyn Hitchcock- The Soft Boys. can of Bees


Anyways posts say in other places that even the Technics DD turntables need oiling after 2000 hours. I just wrote about my Hitachi Bearings on post that is
close to this one. I have pretty pictures too!! It did make a difference as i was hearing noise from the motor, into the cartridge on the lead in silent passages. Not really loud, you would have to turn up the volume, sort of like a low amp hum, rumble.

Now after re-oiling the base sound level is much better!! No rumble!!

Singer oil is so thin, I can't see it gumming up even at lower house tempuratures. Though if your stereo is out in a out house, well just
go look at a sample of oil at that temp and see if it is flowing slower.

When was the last time you oiled bearings? 2,000 hours = 1,000 hours for one stylus, so around 2 styluses ago. Course if your vinyl is in nice shape they
last longer than 1,000 hours.

Ok thats all I can think of.

[pogo]

My listening room is cold during the winter (being in Canada and with poor air circulation) but yesterday was warm and the few records I listened to sounded superb. It could have been the record quality or many other issues.


Would temperature have a sufficient impact that would be audible?

Ummm, how cold is cold? I can't really imagine a temperature swing that would make an audible difference -- OTOH, I don't know what your listening room is like.