The Vertere Imperium Precision Motor Drive is based on the Reference Motor Drive and utilises some of its most advanced control circuit design, including a simplified power supply and control functions. The Imperium enhances musical performance, bringing the experience of listening to vinyl on the RG-1 or SG-1 closer to the original master. The music produced when playing vinyl records, in reality, comes from the motor, which is the only source of energy in the system. This energy drives the record past the stylus, producing the sound that is heard.

Impact of Noise and Fluctuations

Any amount of noise or fluctuation in the drive system adversely affects the music. Detail, dynamics, timbre, timing and musicality are some of the qualities that can suffer as a result. The Imperium takes control of the record player motor, providing smoother drive with minimal noise and lower distortion. Its internal circuit is microprocessor-based, generating a pure sine wave digitally, which is then converted to analogue via an on-board DAC. Two waveforms, a cosine and a sine, are amplified using two bridged amplifiers to power the motor.

Exceptional Circuitry and Components

Exceptional attention to detail is applied to the entire design. A gold-plated two-layer PCB with extensive ground planes, fully regulated voltage rails, and carefully selected components ensures controlled and ‘clean’ delivery of power to the motor. The PCB combines SMD and thru-hole components, shielding the entire digital, microprocessor, and DAC circuitry first with copper foil and then with a stainless-steel shield plate for secondary protection.

Precision Output and Connectivity

The double-screened, programmable microprocessor digitally generates the sine and cosine waves, which can be switched to ±0, 0.25%, or 0.5%, and feeds the equally double-screened DAC. The DAC output powers two clean supply ‘power amps’ to provide approximately 17 V required by the motor. The motor drive output is a high-quality, gold-plated 7-way thread-locked DIN connector, connecting the Imperium power to the record player via a dedicated motor link cable.

Specifications

Technology:	Microprocessor controlled, programmable motor drive, power supply and main circuit on gold-plated PCB
Input Power:	100–120 V or 220–240 V AC (50/60 Hz)
Internal Power Supply:	Linear, internally switchable, fully regulated main power rail, plus two further regulated supplies
Output Drive:	Bi-phase bridged amplifier
Output:	Precision sine and cosine waves
Speed Selection:	33 & 45 rpm
Speed Adjustment:	-0.25%, -0.75%, 0.0, +0.25%, +0.75%
Output Adjustment:	33 & 45 phase angle and level
Output Voltage:	17.5 V AC rms (two phases)
LED Illumination Output:	12 V DC (fixed)
THD+N:	<0.08%
Circuit Shielding:	Triple shielded
Motor Link Cable:	Dedicated two-phase + LED power
Power Consumption:	<30 watts max.
Dimensions (D x W x H mm):	245 x 214 x 58 (including selector and feet)
Weight:	2.6 kg
Supplied With:	Motor link cable, Redline mains cable (2 m)

Turntable Upgrades & Accessories

Vertere RG-1 | SG-1 | MG-1 Dust Cover

Vertere Imperium Precision Motor Drive