Speed Control
The method a turntable uses to establish or regulate its platter’s playback speed.
Speed control describes the drive’s operating principle. It differs from electronic speed selection, which concerns changing between speeds, and from a pitch control used to adjust the target speed.
Speed Control — Turntable
For a Turntable, speed control may rely on mains frequency, an electronic motor waveform, feedback from the motor or feedback from the platter. A mechanical governor is another distinct method of regulating rotation.
Read which part of the system is controlled or measured. Motor feedback does not necessarily measure the platter itself, and an electronically generated drive signal need not use feedback. Quartz or phase-locked control should be identified from an explicit design description rather than an electronic speed-change button.
Compare architecture with measured accuracy and wow and flutter. The method alone is not a quality score. Platter feedback, motor regulation and user adjustment describe different aspects of the deck’s operation.