Reed Muse 3C Friction Drive Turntable

Whether you are fan of friction-driven turntables, like that famous Garrard, or if you think that the right way to build turntables is to use a pair of motors and a belt, Reed Muse 3C should catch your eye.

Reed spent over three years designing, prototyping, programming and real-life testing its first commercially available turntable. The Reed Muse 3C is a friction drive, but it can be changed to belt drive in a few minutes.

After extensive prototyping and long-term experiments, Reed chose a reverse sliding thrust ball bearing for the main axis. The ball bearing is made either from steel or ceramic, and lateral stability is achieved by using very durable and low-noise polymer sliding bearing. The symmetrical drive system is designed to avoid radial bearing load, hence minimizing mechanical noise and ensuring longevity of a master bearing.

The Muse 3C is powered by two DC motors. To prevent possible mechanical vibration, Reed uses traction rollers of different diameters, spinning at different velocities and having mathematically non-multiple diameters. Platter velocity is stabilized by quartz-based phase locked loop (PLL) system, and the drive is equipped with both mechanical and electronic protection systems.

The turntable also features an electronic inclinometer, which allows user to achieve perfect horizontal alignment without using additional tools. The Muse 3C can be equipped with one or two tonearms with effective length ranging from 9.5” to 12”.

Specifications

Drive: Friction or optional belt (optional), two DC motors

Speeds: 33-1/3 RPM, 45 RPM

Max. Speed Deviation: 0.05%

Supply Voltage: 12 V DC

Inclinometer Accuracy: 1 mm per meter

Dimensions (LWH): 21.65″ x 16.5″ x 9.4″ (550 x 420 x 240 mm)

Weight: 55.1 lb. (25 kg)