Valhalla Electronics Zeus LP12 motor speed controller and sensor

Most Linn turntables with Valhalla boards do not run at 33.33 rpm and have quite large variations in speed, some running as high as 34 rpm. Upgrading to the Zeus motor controller makes significant improvements to the listening sound stage, the sense of timing and rhythm of the track is far tighter. It’s like listening to the timing of a CD but with the pleasure of listening to Vinyl.

Key Features

• Electronic switching between 33.3 rpm and 45 rpm
• Automatic speed sensor calibration.
• Configurable Auto rotation on the application of main power
• Configurable low-power auto sleep timer when turntable idle.
• Combined black anodized aluminium switch/OLED display to indicate exact platter rotation speed and WOW.
• Automatic OLED display blanking (1-60 mins)
• Stylus and bearing run-time wear tracking counters
• Fits on the original Linn Valhalla cross brace mounting.
• Ready for Linn Karousel bearing.
• Class A motor drive circuitry.
• Less heat is generated than in the original Valhalla due to the redesigned PSU section (no more burned-out resistors).
• Can be installed in Linn Axis – just wire the motor and existing power switch to the Zeus (soldering required).
• Works with 50Hz and 60Hz synchronous Linn/Premotec/Philips/Airpax 110V motors.

Zeus is capable of a highly accurate and pure sine wave frequency generated for 50Hz or 67.5Hz controlled to 0.001 Hz. Featuring an internal platter optical feedback sensor to lock platter rotation at rock-solid speed. +/- 0.003 rpm. Optical speed sensing automatically compensates for worn belts, pulleys, bearings, motors and stylus drag utilizing PID control. Zeus also gives the user control over motor parameters such as frequencies, phase angle, and voltage amplitude via a serial interface. Adjusting these values enables the smoothest motor operation with minimum motor noise and vibration. Values may be written to EEPROM once optimum setup is achieved. The boards will ship with suggested default values but are fully configurable to suit your setup via USB serial connection.

For internal units, there is also a combined black anodized aluminium switch and an OLED display that provides information on rotation speed and WOW percentage. The display can be set to turn off after a few minutes to avoid distraction in dark rooms. No drilling or modification of the top plate is necessary as it fits in the existing square Linn power switch cut out.  An ultra-flat flexible cable connects without any soldering to the main Zeus controller PCB.

How to fit a Zeus?

The Zeus PSU can be fitted to any Linn LP12 or Axis turntable and can be done at home with moderate electronics skills. Please see the full instructions here.

HiFi Gear is a fully trained Linn LP12 & Valhalla Electronics specialists and can fit and calibrate your Zeus power supply for you. Please safely pack (removing the platter & tying down the tonearm) your turntable and bring it to us at HiFi Gear, 11 King Street, Hereford, HR4 9BW. A fitting charge may be applicable for standalone Zeus fitting but can be completed free of charge in some cases with existing Linn LP12 upgrades or cartridge orders, call us on 01432 354921 for a quote.

Who are Valhalla Electronics?

Owner, Engineer & Director Steve Cobham has been repairing and upgrading turntables & Linn power supplies (specifically the original, single speed and notoriously hot running Linn Valhalla) for years, after finally deciding to build a cooler running, more accurate, and overall better power supply for the LP12, and last but not least make sure it's compatible with Linn's latest innovation, the Karousel bearing (which the Valhalla is not). Introducing the Valhalla Minos & Zeus.

We all love our music and some formats sound better than others. The Linn LP12 and Valhalla controller are excellent but they can be substantially improved upon. Accurate, stable speed control is essential for extracting the best out of the vinyl format – without getting that right we are building our HiFi listening pleasure on shaky foundations. After repairing and servicing hundreds of Valhalla and Axis boards Steve decided he could do better. He, like most of us, was also fed up with having to remove the platter and change the belt every time he wanted to play a half-speed mastered LP or 12” single.

Wear of the belt, bearing and stylus drag also has a big impact on speed stability and most Valhalla boards and Premotec/Linn motor combinations actually run slightly off speed from the start and unless you resort to mechanical adjustment (Linn dealers know the time and effort taken to finely adjust old LP12 motors) there is no way to correct this easily and certainly not frequently as the mechanical and electrical components tolerances drift.

Enter the Zeus controller! The Zeus uses a speed sensor to detect the platter rotation speed and correct the rotation to achieve stunning accuracy down to 0.001Hz. this results in speed stability typically to three decimal places. Variations of belt, bearing, motor, vinyl condition and stylus drag are accounted for every two seconds. The improvement in pitch, rhythm and overall timbre are astounding. Available as internal or external versions. Also available without the optical speed sensor with the Minos PSU.

Supplied as UK 220V Only