Bottlehead Forum

Other Gear => Phono => Topic started by: Grainger49 on January 25, 2010, 08:05:57 AM

Title: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: Grainger49 on January 25, 2010, 08:05:57 AM

Paul, poster Paully, was down a couple of weekends ago.  We listened to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.  It sounded slow to both of us.

I have a strobe disk but no light to produce the stroboscopic effect short of bringing a fluorescent lamp from my workshop.

Any suggestions for an easy strobe light for my TT?

Thanks in advance,

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: Doc B. on January 25, 2010, 08:39:17 AM

Just pick up a cheap neon bulb from RS.

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: JC on January 25, 2010, 09:01:10 AM

Neon seems to be the preferred lamp for any table I've ever seen with a built-in strobe.

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: Grainger49 on January 25, 2010, 09:25:21 AM

Somewhere I own a neon test lamp.  I don't know where.  Maybe I should get another and put a plug on it.  When I do the first one will reappear.

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: 2wo on January 25, 2010, 10:25:47 AM

Any light will work, even an incandescent bulb has a 60hz flicker. Or try one of those new fangled CFL's...John

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: JC on January 25, 2010, 12:10:07 PM

The CFLs seem to be running at a higher frequency to me, at least the ones I've got.  I haven't dissected one yet, but I get the impression that there is a little electronic "ballast" in the base, which tends to make noise somewhere in the several thousands of Hertz.

Of course, I doubt that they all are the same.

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: Grainger49 on January 25, 2010, 01:03:16 PM

I have a high intensity lamp above the TT now.  I'll try an incandescent light bulb.  

Title: Re: Light For Strobe Disk
Post by: Grainger49 on February 22, 2010, 12:03:34 PM

I brought around a desk lamp and checked with the VPI strobe disk.  It was about 1.5% slow.

Then I lugged the VPI PLC up from my work room and tweaked till it looked good.  

It sounds better now.  Strangely, with increased speed the bass seems tighter and more present.