not so wow (and flutter)

I've been an avid listener to vinyl recordings for many, many years now.  Certainly way before the trendy "hipster" vinyl revival!

I just prefer the format.  Not for its sound quality, I mean a Compact Disc will beat a vinyl record all ends up unless you spend an absolute fortune on a record player and equipment, but instead for the whole overall experience.

Putting the record on, listening to an album the whole way through as the artist intended, holding the sleeve and examining the artwork and liner notes.  It's a whole tactile experience that a CD or God forbid a stream simply cannot match.

That is if your record player doesn't start playing up!

My multi-year-old Teac record deck (pictured below) has been superb.  Well, up until very recently that is when I noticed the playback speed varying to a degree way outside the acceptable wow and flutter limits you would normally expect.  A downloaded app on my phone revealed speeds between 28 and 36 RPM (it should be a constant 33 and 1/3rd).

in the words of Bucks Fizz: "you gotta speed it up, then you gotta slow it down"!

I adjusted the speed adjustment screw on the base of the plinth as well as cleaning the platter and replacing the drive belt.  All to no permanent effect.

So, I bit the bullet and bought a new one made by a company called Audio Technica who I believe are quite good in this sphere.  If it lasts as long as my Teac, then I guarantee it'll see me out!