Valhalla Electronics Minos 33/45 rpm power supply
Most pre-owned LP12 turntables available in South Africa will probably come with a Valhalla onboard power supply. According to sources available, the Valhalla became standard equipment on all models from serial number 38 794 onwards, from about May 1982. This was a significant upgrade on the older style power supply where it came to the motor directly fed from the mains, its presence indicated by the large red power switch. The new power switch was more elegant – black with a single red LED. I remember in 1982 how Linn’s advertising buzzword was “Valhalla”.
Good as it was, there were still some issues. There were cases of the board overheating inside a chassis that today still does not really allow for proper airflow. In addition, changing the speed from 33 to 45 rpm required you to switch off the motor, remove the outer platter, put an 45 rpm adapter on the motor’s 33 rpm pulley, and then put back everything. Linn’s Lingo offboard power supply solved this by adding automatic 33/45 rpm selection via the power switch. This was significantly more expensive as well. Since then, there have been a number of efforts to add 33/45 rpm switching ability using an onboard power supply. There are those, like me, who just do not like the extra clutter and cabling an external power supply brings.
Valhalla Electronics, an apt name given that they focus on Linn’s Valhalla power supply, solves this problem with the Minos and Zeus power supplies. For this article, we will focus on one person’s experience replacing his stock Valhalla board with the Minos, the entry-level solution. You can read more about the Minos and Zeus solutions here: www.valhallaelectronics.com.
The Minos is a simple replacement board for the Valhalla that adds the much needed 33/45 rpm switching with a unit that is far superior to the original Linn item. With it you get a Lingo-style power switch with red and green LEDs. Simple? Not really. The Minos is packed with technology that moves it to a whole new level far above what the stock Linn power supply could ever hope to achieve. It is absolutely not merely a 33/45 rpm speed controller. Valhalla Electronics sells the unit for a only 249.00 GBP, which even with the current exchange rate is excellent for what you get. It is forward compatible, allowing you to upgrade to the more advanced Zeus later. Also, and this could be an important aspect to remember, it allows the latest Karousel bearing to be used as the hole in the board allows space for the larger diameter of the new bearing.
In this article an individual LP12 supporter purchased a unit from Valhalla Electronics and then installed the unit himself in only a few minutes. This is his story.
Installing my new Minos power supply
After once again making the mistake of buying a new vinyl album and not checking the speed and ending up with a 45 rpm record, I took the decision that it was time to upgrade the original Valhalla power supply to something a bit more modern and obviously a two-speed version. My LP12 originates from circa 1984 and is still the original Valhalla albeit the resistors and capacitors have been replaced and it still functions 100% but alas as we know, no 45 rpm.
After shopping around and looking at the Hercules power supply, I came upon a company called Valhalla Electronics based in the UK who now make a Minos two-speed power supply which from the onset looking at the pictures and reading the write ups looked a lot more modern than even the Hercules. The price was also a bit cheaper at £249.00 compared to the Hercules and the company also shipped via courier to South Africa. This is quite important as we know how bad the post office service is locally. Shipping was only £21.05 via DPD Laser. I opted for the internal version as I am a bit fussy about adding external boxes that I do not really have space for. There is also the option of upgrading to the version with speed indication included but to me this was not really a requirement.
Upon arrival, customs duties and clearance was required to be paid which was the normal 15% VAT and related fees.
After final delivery to my doorstep, the package arrived very well packed with the appropriate anti-static sleeve and bubble wrap and everything was in good order with no damage.
Installation was very simple. I just made sure to remove the outer platter and lock the inner platter into position to ensure the oil does not run out of the bearing and then turned the whole table upside down and took off the bottom plate. I took some pictures to make sure the power supply in and out positions are noted and the ribbon cable going to the switch.
Taking off the old board was easy as it only sits on six plastic pillars which you compress with a long nose plier and then remove the board.
Tip: Remove the old plastic pillars and install the new ones provided as the old ones go very hard from all the heat generated by the Valhalla over the years. Connecting the wires is simple and instructions are easy to follow. The new switch has some double sided tape around it and once installed it works 100% so no issues were found there.
I did not bother with the USB settings as the power supply came preset to 220V. All the other settings I left as per default as received.
After turning the turntable over again very gently, it was time for a test run. After reading the operating instructions carefully, operation is quite easy. A simple tap will start the motor and run up was definitely shorter than on the Valhalla. The default startup speed is 33.3 rpm with only the red LED on. Holding the button in until the LEDs start flashing and then releasing it switches on the green LED as well and speeds up the table to 45 rpm. Pressing and holding again until it flashes and releasing will take it back to 33.3 rpm. Switching the unit of is a press, hold, and release after a second.
From a sound perspective this is the warm fussy stuff but in my opinion there was an improvement in the sound quality and timing of the music as I think the speed controls on the new Minos are a more modern design and it also does not generate so much heat. Sound quality also seemed a bit clearer and it had a bit more definition but as I said this is the warm fussy subjective stuff.
For me in the end the biggest bonus was I could now play my new Mark Knopfler One Deep River album at 45 rpm and it has operated flawlessly for the last four months.
Nico Rust
079 525 6090
