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Serial #33 - Jun 23 2002, John Wray - Chelmsford, MA


I'm using one of the "cosmetically-challenged" round-one platters, with a controller of my own construction, but closely based on Manfred's. My overt reason for not using the standard controller was because I wanted support for 78 RPM, but that was really more of an excuse to get to play with a microcontroller myself.

I wanted a bit more feedback about what was going on inside the controller than offered by the standard Teres one-button&two-LED controller. I have three illuminated push-buttons (one for each speed), a speed-adjust pot for the 78 speed, plus a red LED and a tri-color LED to indicate the internal state of the control algorithm.

I'm using a piece of round cross-section neoprene as a drive belt, as I didn't want to run into any belt slippage issues when debugging the controller algorithm.

My base is basically Thom Mackris' tear-drop base, made from 4 layers of MDF, sitting atop three vibrapods, on a 3-layer MDF plinth (which also supports the motor pod and the controller). The plinth uses four more vibrapods as feet, and is sitting on a wall-mounted shelf. I'm using the Teres with an Acos Lustre arm and a AT440ML cartridge.

At a total outlay of around $550 this turntable was an amazing bargain, as well as an incredibly fun project.
-- John