How do you know whether your turntable is turning at the right speed? With most turntables it doesn’t matter, because if the speed is wrong you can’t change it. We’re rather in favor of correct speed being baked-in anyway, but sometimes it’s not. These two devices can allow you to check the platter speed. What you do with the information is then up to you.

Of course, you don’t need an expensive device to read the speed of a turntable platter. The simplest speed-check device is just a cardboard circle with strobe patterns on it, often included with the turntable. You illuminate it with a lamp (preferably neon, or something else that can go on and off quickly). However the 60 Hz (or 50 Hz in most of the world) frequency doesn’t mesh well with, say, 33 and a third r/min. The two SpeedNic devices include a beautiful aluminum strobe disc, but also a quartz-controlled LED light that will allow an accurate reading. LEDs, like neon bulbs but unlike incandescents, turn on and off instantly.

Yes, we know the SpeedNic is a one-trick pony, but so are Triple Crown winners.

Why wouldn’t your fixed-speed turntable be going at the right speed? It might not if it is having traction problems. Can it be that the drive belt is slipping? If so, the drag of the stylus in a highly modulated groove can slow it down intermittently. The SpeedNic can confirm it, after which you’ll do what you have to do.

Fortunately, neither of our turntables (a Linn LP12 and an Audiomeca J-1) showed any detectable speed variation on either the 33 or 45 r/min speeds (the SpeedNic has a setting for 78 r/min as well). Our J-1 turntable actually does have variable speed control, and the SpeedNic made adjustment easy. Just for fun, we also tried it on an old directdrive table with variable speed. Setting the speed was easy, much easier than with the turntable’s own neon-lit strobe display. Playing a busy groove or putting extra weight on the platter had no visible effect either. Because the strobe disc has such clear markings, any speed error would be obvious.

There is no external power supply, since the SpeedNic does not depend on the power-line frequency to generate its stroboscopic light. It runs in fact on batteries, namely three alkaline C cells. We wished there were a proper battery door on the unit, but in fact the batteries are accessible only by removing four Philipshead screws from the bottom plate. That’s a clear inconvenience, though LEDs draw little current, and the unit is typically used only a few seconds at a time. The batteries can thus be expected to last for years.

The SpeedNic is wonderfully wellmade, with a substantial cast aluminum case anodized in either silver or black. Its price of $399 reflects its luxurious fit and finish. You won’t buy one for looks alone, though. For a store that sells and sets up turntables, it is clearly a must. It may also be useful for anyone with a turntable that does not have fixed speed, like our Audiomeca. It could even have a permanent place next to the turntable itself. It’s a handsome product that will make a good-looking turntable look even better.