Dover,
I am using the original Active Dynamic Servo Tracer with two interchangeable wands, medium weight in S-shape and low weight in straight shape. It is a kind of Sony Biotracer Arm but really good!
I also use the SME 3012R and the ToXiom.
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Sdrsdrsdr,
I am using the Ortofon 309, also with a heavy weight for taking up the Neumanns. And the SME 3012 (I), first version.
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Dear Halcro,
I still love my belt driven tables. As I am „walking“ from one to the other I recently found out that the two mentioned favorites attract me most. Nevertheless the AS equipped Brinkmann Anniversary and the Victor are very close to the Denon. I regard the big motor of the Denon, the 4cm aluminum chassis as well as the platter (which I improved by a 1000 USD ceramic overlay) running by the new Furutech connectors as very stable and quiet. The AS cartridge is a good match.
Caeles II, the Micro and the Continuum are not far away as well.
best
E.
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Hi,
I am using three DDs: Victor 101, Denon DP-100M, Brinkmann Oasis 10th Anniversary. My running belt driven tables are: Continuum Criterion, Micro Seiki SX 8000 double platter and Caeles II. The idler table is an EMT R-80 (Prototyp of 927).
all units are in a state of art condition wearing excellent tonearms and carts (AudioCirc).
you may now ask me what is the best sounding table?Of course all have a specific sound and character. I am playing them all but my favorite at the moment are two vintage designs: the Denon DP-100M and the EMT R-80.
best
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I am using an original Micro Seiki gunmetal mat on my DD Brinkmann. Nevertheless I prefer the TTW carbon fiber mat on my DD Denon, quite an heavy item.
best
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alexberger,
unfortunately I have no experience with EMT DD drives.
the Airforce tables are well designed, they do not have an airbearing concept like Caeles or the Apolyt.
best
E.
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Mikelavigne,
the TechDas tables do have an air cushion feature and air dampened feet. They do not have a real air bearing! You may look it up at my Caeles II report on AudioCirc.
best
E.
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Mikelavigne,
just look under „Air Bearing“
maybe you see one the first time 😀
best
E
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Mikelavigne,
these are all airfloating designs but not using a real airbearing.
For a real airbearing you need a powerful compressor, it is 1m x 1m like the DUERR Technik. You need to put it into a separate room.
but these designs are very nice too!
best
E.
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Mijostyn,
i guess you never heard an air bearing table, of which only two brands exist today. You do not have any noise from the compressor as it stays in a different room. Do you know about the advantage of air bearings towards other bearings? Of course it depends how far you are going with your system, most people do not like big compressors (maybe they never worked with a DUERR Technik).
Accepting a good design is ok as far as you do not like to reach „the moon“ 😀
Best
E. |
lewm,
i love complexity! It needs to be handled and somehow in price not overloaded. Without complexity in the turntable/tonearm/headshell/cart/SUT/phonopre issues what would we do in our hobby?
Also a compressor is something you can handle easily today, nevertheless I understand people not getting into it.
best
E
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agree Lewm!
i should send you a compressor, no? 🤣
best
E.
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Lewm,
you are always welcome. Nandric has some difficulties taking his feet over the Dutch border 😂
in four weeks I will be confronted with a new highlight in Phono.
will report later.
best
E. (Without D but T)
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Regarding air bearings I am wondering that many friends around here mix air floating devices with a real air bearing design. Even Mike Fremer mentions air bearings with an air floating deck.
To my knowledge only two designs (in the world) are running on air bearings. May I have overseen a development?
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Miyostin,
you are right comparing air bearing and magnetic designs.
nevertheless what counts are bearing hardness, batch braking moment and energy transmission by the bearing.
E.
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Mijostyn,
Do not agree on your vintage design comparison. EMT R80 and Denon M100 outperforms most of the other modern gear. You need to keep them in a very stable and well serviced condition.
E.
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Axelberger,
you need to have a look at real good belt designs, not a platter transported by just one small motor as the most are. You need to have two big motors to the left and right steered by a control unit where you may change the pitch slightly. If you have the chance listening to one or the other table comprising these features (also tape) you will open up your eyes ☺️
E.
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Dear Lewm, from your description it looks to me you have never experimented with two motors and a serious belt (tape). Forget three motors! Four motors is an option if you put it in a design like Burmester does. Having implemented a serious 2nd motor in a proper way (use a very good steering appliance) you may reduce additional sources of noise and you have counterfighted the source of drawing the power to only one side! Think about it and maybe do it!
E. |
Dear Mijostin,
Clearaudio make some very good cartridges. Just take the Goldfinger II. They are famous for that, much more than their tables and arms. So I do agree with you on that. But not on your old/new comparison. I do have new stuff, no problem about that. This is the reason why I am able to compare. If you go for an old and perfectly looked after vintage R 80 you end up at about 50 mios. I would not call it a bargain. Comparing a D103 against an Atlas is very easy, not forgetting that we have some very nice improvements on that cart. If you end up with subtle differences you really should change your amps and speakers. So we are talking about good systems and a serious approach to compare units in your own room.
E.
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...not mios but thousands. Sorry.
E.
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Dear Lewm,
got you! 😀 there are many products with three motors which is just a waste of energy, time & money. When I went to Burmester in Berlin I had the chance to look deeper into their new 4 motor concept. Brilliantly implemented!
E.
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As you know me I am a lover of Vinyl, at least owning 8 turntables..
I just have compared the 1971 Whisbone Ash -Argus UK pressing with the SMH Japanese Platinum CD pressing. On my dCS chain, including an atomic time module, the CD is winning the comparison.
Best
E.
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Spiritofmusic,
very true. It depends on the mastering and which kind of format you are using. In my case they took the original tape, mastered it with the JVC mastering process and put it on SMH disc. Much better than the original vinyl pressing.
The much I love vinyl it is not always the best format.
Lewm made some interesting findings as well.
best
E. |
I have to put a word on belt driven tables. The biggest mistake in my eyes is that most TT-builders only use a one sided configuration regarding the motor issue. You need to have at least two motors on both sides to counterbalance the drift of the belt. On smaller tables you might not hear a difference but in the field of excellent High End tables it does! From my three belt driven tables two incorporate a both sided motor design. Just imagine you go for the most expensive TT, the Techdas Zero for 400 K and it does come only with one motor? No one mentioned the vector issue etc. I have now implemented the most expensive tonearm on one of my designs. You may have a look under AudioCirc.
best
E.
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looscannon,It is a proofed hypothesis AND simple mathematics.
just imagine you have a vector from only one side and then you need to compare it with two vectors from two sides, ideally - if you check properly. The distinctions of the two vectors should make a difference. Do ´nt you think so?
best
E.
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Lewm,
you are right. 1 motor + passive flywheel on opposite side to nullify any side forces on the bearing. As I do with my original Micro Seiki flywheel. In case of the two motors you need to have an intelligent adjustment incorporated in the motor steering, as VPI or Sterling do.
Unfortunately VPI is not producing their SDS steering anymore, but they developed the ADS.
p.s. I am wondering why TechDas did not incorporate such a solution, the Apolyt uses an inbuilt passive flywheel
best
E.
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Loosecannon,
do not understand what your are saying, why more mechanical noise by using a passive flywheel? Can you explain?
idler wheel is a great technology but not easy to build and implement. It is much easier to build a „very simple design like the Acoustic Research“ your are promoting. Thorens had similar suspensions as the AR but much better arms.
Have you heard an EMT idler wheel (e.g. 279) or the latest Garrard models - all excellent idler wheels!
best
E. |
