Anyone Have A KAB Strobe

[majick47]

Looking to purchase a KAB Strobe to check my VPI HW19MkIV turntable speed. From what I'v heard it's very accurate and the price is fairly cheap at $80-$90. As of now I have the 1st generation VPI PLC and someday down the road will upgrade to the VPI SDS. Did anyone find any downside to the KAB strode?

[markd51]

Looking to purchase a KAB Strobe to check my VPI HW19MkIV turntable speed. From what I'v heard it's very accurate and the price is fairly cheap at $80-$90. As of now I have the 1st generation VPI PLC and someday down the road will upgrade to the VPI SDS. Did anyone find any downside to the KAB strode?

Hello Majick,
Yes, I own the KAB Strobe, and have had it for about 5-6 years.

It is a definite must have if you have either the PLC, or the SDS. Since the KAB is slightly smaller than a LP, you can place it over an LP, put stylus in play and accurately adjust speed with Stylus Drag as well. You'll have a few minutes to do this, before the Stylus nears the Strobe Disc.

One trick I do, to enhance setting accuracy, and insuring I'm absolutely precise with the SDS, was I placed a small piece of masking Tape at the front end of the Strobe Light Case, and drew a line on it with Pen.

Thus, I can brace my hands against the Table Base, push the button to activate Strobe Light, and can then see any slightest drift one way, or the other, then adjust the SDS in small .01 hertz increments till it is absolutely nuts on.

Some things to remember, when re-lubing your Platter Bearing, and also as well, what type of Lube you might use, (I generally use Mobil 1) expect a minor change in speed. Speed as well can change over time with lubes getting dry, so a check every month, or so is probably a good idea. Mark

[majick47]

Mark thanks for the info and tips on the KAB Strobe. I havn't heard any negatives from anyplace re this item and feel that if I'v gone this far with the VPI table I should make sure the speed is as accurate as possible. I'v been keeping an eye out for a used SDS to replace my old PLC which is still very functional.

[markd51]

Mark thanks for the info and tips on the KAB Strobe. I havn't heard any negatives from anyplace re this item and feel that if I'v gone this far with the VPI table I should make sure the speed is as accurate as possible. I'v been keeping an eye out for a used SDS to replace my old PLC which is still very functional.

Majick, I've been seeing them pop up with good regularity lately on Audiogon. I paid $750 shipped for mine in sealed box, and this is about average what they go for, some even just a little less new sealed in box. Be sure to also look under any ads for top tier VPI (Aries-TNT-Scoutmaster-HR-X) Tables as well. Usually, the SDS comes with the better VPI Tables, and there's possibility of the seller listing the SDS as a seperate for sale item.

Forgot to also mention in my last post about Belt Stretch as well can have a slight affect on speed, so that's why it is a good idea to periodically check.

I had bought my KAB long before I bought the SDS, I always knew there was a slight error with my Table, running ever so slightly slow, but really wasn't that noticable, perhaps, due to very good speed stability-wow/flutter specs with such a heavy platter. Mark

[Billfort]

I have a KAB strobe, works as intended and the ability to use it while the stylus is playing is a nice touch.

It came in very handy when fine-tuning the speed on my Sota but I don't have an SDS (yet?) for my VPI Aries. So far, the KAB confirms that speed is dead-on but I do check it every now and then to make sure. I really want to try an SDS at some point but at the price I'd want to try-before-buy, especially since the KAB tells me speed is OK.

[majick47]

I installed a new belt on my HW19 when I upgraded from the MkIII platter. Noticed a big difference when I added the SAMA, the standard motor was taxed running the heavy platter. A local Audiogon seller had a VPI SDS for $600 obo and I was very tempted to grab it, next one I see in this price range I won't hesitate again. The VPI HW19 accessories show up on a regular basis since many thousands were sold over the years. As suggested I'll be checking the speed with the KAB strobe on a regular basis. Will be ordering one today and let you know the results, thanks for the suggestions.

[louisiii]

Let's remember how a strobe works; it is a variable flashing light. It has a dial for changing the number of time per minute or second that the light flashes. A mark is placed on the disk or wheel that we are trying to time. Depending on the power (how bright the light is, normally a xeon flash tube) you may need to lower the ambient light of the room. With the turn table or flywheel spinning the light is aimed at the mark. At this point we can change the rate at which the strobe is flashing and when the mark stops in relation to a second non rotating mark (on then spindal) you can read the rotational speed off the strobe dial. Or you can set the strobe to a desired speed (33 1/3 rpm) and adjust the turn table until the marks line up. There are many good strobes out there. The price depends on what you on ( analog scaling to digital read out and tape print out; incandescent lamp, xenon flash tube, or laser emitting diode) or there are a lot of good schematics to build your own. In the fifties we even us a hash marked disk that was calibrate to the 60 cycle flash of your household lighting. I like to us a magnetic tachometer. It is basically a magnetic reed switch, a magnet, and a event counter. The magnet is placed on the table or wheel, the magnetic reed switch mounted near by and connected to the counter. Every time the magnet passes the reed switch it activates the contacts of the switch which in turn triggers the event counter. Again price will depend on how many whistles and bells you want. But normally even the least costly will yield acceptable results for most audiophiles. We must keep in mind that the master platter may not have been spinning at the correct speed when it was cut. Remember "close" only counts with horse shoes, hand grenades, and maybe turn tables.

[majick47]

On monday I ordered the KAB Strobe from Acoustic Sounds, came to $95 with shipping and it arrived today Friday. Didn't take long to read the instructions set it up and check the speed of my VPI HW19MkIV with the first generation VPI PLC. According to the KAB disc my TT was running slow, the PLC was set at 60.0, I gradually increased the PLC to 60.5 and the KAB disc was then locked on solid and not moving in either direction. Was the difference earth shattering, I have to say no but with other "tweaks" that I'v added (VPI SAMA/VPI Derlin Stainless Clamp) the total sound reproduction has come a lot closer to "almost" perfect. All in all I would say it was money well spent if you want your TT speed to be right on.