Phoenix Engineering Falcon PSU Turntable Speed Controller

No Longer Available

$449.99

Free Lifetime Technical Assistance
SKU: Falcon PSU

Description

This product is designed, manufactured and shipped from the USA.

The Falcon Power Supply Unit from Phoenix Engineering is a microprocessor controlled digital AC power source, used for accurate speed control of a turntable motor. The Falcon PSU will work with any AC Synchronous motor that requires 5 Watts or less. The output is 115VAC nominal, but can be used with lower voltage turntables by plugging the motor’s wall adapter directly into the Falcon output. The Falcon uses Direct Digital Synthesis to create an extremely accurate and clean sine wave that improves motor speed stability, and allows the user to precisely adjust the turntable platter rotational speed. DDS technology allows the Falcon power supply to generate signals with very high resolution, less than 35µHz steps.

Falcon Video Users Manual from Walnut Creek Productions on Vimeo.

Analog Planet Falcon & RoadRunner Full Review. Here

Analog Planet AVID Ingenium TT w/ Falcon & RoadRunner Review. Here

Rob Ono, Honolulu HI, product review. Here

Read the Operators Manual Here.

The Falcon power supply is extremely easy to use and set up. All of the operating parameters are stored in non-volatile memory and the device always power up with the last-used speed and frequency offset displayed. The Falcon is powerful enough to start up in either speed selection, so there is no need to start in 33 RPM, then switch to 45 RPM as in other units, all in a package about the size of a pack of cigarettes.

The Falcon has a serial input for use with the optional RoadRunner digital turntable tachometer (sold separately). The RoadRunner tachometer (sold separately) precisely measures the rotational speed of the turntable platter to 3 decimal places and provides the speed information to the power supply via a 3 wire serial cable. When connected to a RoadRunner tachometer (sold separately), the Falcon power supply automatically synchronizes its output frequency to maintain a constant speed on the turntable, within ±0.005 RPM. No user setup or intervention is needed; plug the cable in between the tachometer and the power supply, and the Falcon immediately locks to the correct speed, even if speed offsets are selected, such as 33.4 RPM.

During Normal Operation, the user can alter the speed in 0.1 RPM steps; this is used primarily for “tempo” control. The Falcon also has a frequency calibration mode to precisely adjust the output for each speed in 0.01 RPM steps, 10x finer than the Music Hall Cruise Control or Pro-Ject Speed Box II.

The output frequency of the Falcon power supply is extremely accurate. On belt drive turntables, there are many variables that can affect speed, such as belt tension and slippage, and even the position of the belt on the motor pulley. To compensate for these variables, the Falcon power supply allows you to precisely adjust the output frequency in 0.01 RPM steps. The fine adjustment is done in Frequency Calibration Mode, and there are separate adjustments for both 33 and 45 RPM settings

The Falcon PSU also has a Voltage Calibration Mode that is used to adjust the output voltage the power supply reverts to, after the platter has reached operating speed. The motor requires much more torque at start up than it does once the platter is on speed; by reducing the running voltage once the platter is moving, vibration and noise are greatly reduced. The power supply will always assert the maximum output voltage when starting or changing speeds, then revert to the programmed lower voltage after approximately 3 seconds. Voltage Output Mode has separate adjustments for 33 and 45 RPM; both can be selected, displayed and adjusted while in Voltage Output Mode.

  

Falcon Comparison Chart

Feature

Falcon

Music Hall
Cruise Control

Pro-Ject
SpeedBox

VPI
SDS

Power Output

5W

3W

3W

5W

Speed Adjust Resolution

0.01 RPM

0.1 RPM

0.1 RPM

0.01 Hz1

Soft Start (Ramps Speed)

Yes

No

No

Yes

Starts in 45 RPM mode

Yes

No

No

Yes

External Tach Option2

Yes

No

No

No

Built In Speeds

33/45/78

33/45

33/45

33/45

Reduced Voltage Output

Yes

No

No

Yes

Calibration Modes

Yes

No

No

No

50Hz/60Hz Operation

Yes3

No

No

Yes4

Size (L x W x D) in

3.5 x 2.5 x1.1

6.0 x 4.2 x 2.1

5.7 x 4.1 x2.8

12.0 x 19.0 x3.0

Retail

$379

$299

$599

$1199

Notes:

  1. Depending on the pulley/spindle you use, 0.1 RPM=0.18Hz, 0.133333Hz, 0.15Hz, or 0.11111Hz
  2. RoadRunner Tachometer synchronizes turntable speed to ±0.005 RPM regardless of belt tension, slippage, etc.
  3. 78 RPM requires 50Hz pulley
  4. Front Panel Selectable
  5. User must compute frequency output for different pulleys/spindles

Specifications:

Physical: 
Dimensions: 3.565″l x 2.50″w x 1.1875″h.
Weight: 4 oz.
Case: 1 piece Extruded Aluminium.

Operating Modes:
Standby, Sleep, Normal, Voltage Calibration, Frequency Calibration, Factory Default Programming

Power Requirements:
DC Supply 15VDC 600 mA nominal Normal mode; 20mA Standby; 5mA Sleep

Output (5W Max):
Voltage: 115V RMS nominal, adjustable from 85 to 115VAC 
Frequency: 60Hz Motors: 60.0 Hz (33.3 RPM) and 81.0 Hz (45.0 RPM)
50Hz Motors: 50.0 Hz (33.3 RPM) and 67.5 Hz (45.0 RPM)
Distortion: Less than 0.5%
Speed Adjust: ±1.0 RPM in 0.1 RPM steps Normal Mode
±1.0 RPM in 0.01 RPM steps Calibration Mode
Min Freq Step: 35µHz
Freq Stability: Crystal Controlled ±100PPM
Freq Accuracy: ±0.01%

Options: (sold separately)
RoadRunner Tachometer input; synchronizes output frequency to digital tachometer reading to within ±0.005 RPM with 2.5PPM (±0.00025%) stability. Serial input on 3.5mm jack, 9600N81.

Optional: RoadRunner Digital Tachometer $235

The RoadRunner is a microprocessor controlled digital tachometer used for monitoring turntable platter speed to 3 decimal places of resolution. The internal time base is a temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) accurate to 2.5 PPM (±0.00025%) with less than 1.0 PPM aging per year.

The tachometer uses a hall effect sensor and a small magnet attached to the underside of the platter to sense the platter rotation.

Tachometer Operation: The PSU can be connected directly to the RoadRunner digital turntable tachometer Sensor via a 3 wire serial cable in order to synchronize its output with the direct measurement of the platter speed. Operation is completely automatic with no user intervention needed. The tachometer outputs the speed reading once per revolution. The PSU compares this reading to the speed on the display and can make micro-fine adjustments to the output frequency to lock the turntable speed to within ±0.005 RPM. The adjustment is done slowly and evenly over the entire next revolution and is inaudible to the listener (in most cases, the adjustment is <0.0005 RPM per step). The turntable remains on speed independent of the belt tension, bearing oil viscosity, drag from the needle or any other variables that cause the table to drift over time with speed.

Additional information

Weight 0.00000000 lbs

3 reviews for Phoenix Engineering Falcon PSU Turntable Speed Controller

  1. Andy Phillips (verified owner)

    I recently installed the Falcon PSU connected to the RoadRunner and am very happy with the results. My turntable, Music Hall mmf5.1 SE WAS RUNNING AT ABOUT 33.4– before the installation. With the addition of Phoeneix’ s product, the platter spins at 33.334-33.338. Definite sound improvement with the bass and mid ranges.

  2. JL in MI

    Fantastic! Does just what it says on the tin, and worth every penny. Finally, a small, unobtrusive, well-built micro-adjustable TT power supply that accepts a three-prong plug.

  3. New York

    A few things. First, the unit is a brilliant piece of engineering, it’s finally made my turntable sing on tune. Second, as long as you get the right voltage converter (with low wattage), the Falcon PSU can be used to turn 50hz (European) turntables into 60hz (U.S.) turntables, meaning that you no longer need to seek out obscure pulleys etc. This is huge gift to the audiophile world.

    Finally, the folks at Phoenix Engineering are fantastic. I stupidly broke the unit within the first couple days and they repaired it quickly and graciously. Plus they followed up with some very helpful advice. Really a good experience.

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