[sharpsuxx]

Hey ACers, trying to consolidate some information I am going to be gathering to improve the sound quality of my belt driven turntable.  I am going to start with my completely stock Project Debut 3 and go from there.  Please any experts or long time vinyl junkies chime in, I am a relative newbie to the vinyl world so I will simply be consolidating other folks inputs and attempting to evaluate the improvement or lack thereof' of all the different tweaks and mods re comended to me in this thread or that I find in other threads.  Based on the year and half of listening to this turntable, here are my main goals in improving the sound.

1. Reduce vibrations impact on the turntable (walking around the room causes the turntable to make LF noise and in extreme cases skip or scratch records)

2. Reduce surface noise and all turntable dependent noise, (not just the noise of playing bad records)

3. Reduce motor noise at 33.333 rpm, (the 45 rpm pulley seems to be quieter than the 33.333 rpm pulley?) possibly due to torque, or power fluctuations, or possibly just a bad motor.  The noise is not always audible but sometimes I have to restart the table multiple times to get it to run without the noise.

4. Increase torque of the motor, the Project does not have a particularly strong motor, it can not even keep spinning with a carbon fiber brush run over it.

5. Improve sound stage and tracking, probably going to toy with a few new cartridges.

6. Reduce Platter resonance without reducing the stability of the speed.  (Might try Acrylit platter, already added a Music Hall Cork Mat, big improvement.)

7. Better isolate the motor from the platter and tonearm.

8. Improve phono cable quality for more snug connection and better quality cable.

9. Improve speed stability.

10. Better clamp or weight the record.

11. Improve Bass extension.

12. Reduce noise floor.

Thanks in advance for your input, as tweaks and mods are recommended, I will try to get to them within reason.  And I will try to post my listening impressions as I go.

[WireNut]

Hey Sharpsuxx,

Check out this thread here.
Lots of great info and help from members.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=112933.0

[Ericus Rex]

That's a tall order for that table!  I think you'd be better off in the end just buying a better table.  I mean, there's only so much you can do to a barebones table like that.  If you're talking about swapping motors and platters then you'd probably have to swap out the bearing too to eliminate your noise and then what are you left with?

[Minn Mark]

I agree with Ericus. One of my TT's is a Debut III (ortofon OM cart). It's an OK little 'table, but I wouldn't throw any extra money at it when I'd have the option to sell it and move up-market.

Put it on a level, stable platform with decent AC supply and that's about the best it'll get.


Mark

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Yup, with that long list sound like you are better off just getting better TT.

   If not in a hurry, look around for a nice used TT in excellent condition. This will give more more bang for the bucks than trying to pimpin' out the Project you have now.

   Than you can throw money on a better cart.

Take care,
Buddy

[Ericus Rex]

If you're looking at it from a modding/learning perspective, I'd recommend getting something from the 70's/80's.  Something like an Empire, Dual or even Micro Seiki BL series would be a lot more mod-able than the Project.

[putz]

I had the Debut 3 for a while and agree that a better table is the best route to take. Acrylit platter & Speedbox are worthy upgrades if you do want to keep the Debut but cut your losses now is my recommendation.

One upgrade that will help the Debut and any future table you get is to buy/build a wall mounted shelf that attaches to the wall studs. I use a Target which may not be sold anymore but there's others out there or threads on building one.

See my gallery for Pics of my Debut and the shelf (Aries pics).

[toocool4]

If you like tweaking go for it, but like everyone has said already sounds like you need a new turntable.

[galyons]

One upgrade that will help the Debut and any future table you get is to buy/build a wall mounted shelf that attaches to the wall studs. I use a Target which may not be sold anymore but there's others out there or threads on building one.

+1...Do this before anything else!!  Until you solve the footfall and prevent room vibrations getting to the table, you will not hear the real impact of any mod and/or tweak. If and when you get a better table, an isolated support will remain to make the improvements audible.

Cheers,
Geary

[sharpsuxx]

I totally understand I have an underwhelming turntable, thus the mods.  My next turntable I am eyeing is a clearaudio concept or rega rp3.  Neither of which I suspect will need any mods save for eliminating room vibrations.  This is more of a learning experience for myself rather than anything else.  I am new to turntables but I am enjoying it so much I have quickly amassed quite a vinyl collection.  I see many mod threads for direct drive turntables from empire and technics, trying to see what belt drive folks are doing to improve their sound.

[orthobiz]

You should tinker with your turntable to your heart's content, build it into a monster if you can. have fun doing it, no matter what anyone says! Good luck to you...

Paul

[LM]

Whilst it may seem obvious, do remember that the room vibrations you need to manage come both from mechanical footfalls etc. and airborne vibrations.  Not a lot of point in installing a level, rock solid shelf directly in the speaker firing line.

It might also be a good time to review your system basics as getting your room and speakers (positioning) just right before adding a shelf will ensure optimal results now and no rejigging later.  You may not have any layout/room options but I do think your idea of getting as much out of your system before major component upgrade is a great way to go.

Finally, a good phono stage can be a great early investment.  Yours may be fine but if it is a weak link, it might make it harder to pick up or hear the improvements from your tweaking.  Just a thought.

[vanderstephen]

Hi. I am in a similar boat as you with wanting to do lots of mods and mainly just for the fun of it. A higher end ($1500 range) table is not currently in the cards for me, but I would like to get the most out of what I have now- an older Rega Planar 2. You may want to consider making sure any mods that you do are reversible and that the mods would have resell value on their own. For example, you could maybe get the Speed Box, platter as you mentioned, cartridge, and isolation base. You could then switch your table back to stock and sell the other items separately when you are ready to switch tables. I've made myself a new heavyweight, very inert plinth that I'm getting ready to veneer thats only costing me $15 (core material left over from work). If you're handy, you could do something similar. I have saved the old parts so I can return it to original when it comes time to sell. I say go for it as long as you do it in a way that you can get a reasonable amount of your money back out of it. Have fun.

[sharpsuxx]

Looks like I will start with a good shelf and I guess a recabling to allow for a long phono cable.  Any suggestions on a high quality low cost cosmetically good look shelf, or should I DIY one.  Are there any specific considerations to make with a DIY shelf or is simply anchoring it to the studs reducing mechanical vibrations from the floor.

[putz]

Looks like I will start with a good shelf and I guess a recabling to allow for a long phono cable.  Any suggestions on a high quality low cost cosmetically good look shelf, or should I DIY one.  Are there any specific considerations to make with a DIY shelf or is simply anchoring it to the studs reducing mechanical vibrations from the floor.

http://www.musicdirect.com/c-540-wall-shelves.aspx

Special consideration should be to make absolutely sure it's anchored securely to the studs.