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Torqueo - any info or updates?

Dear fellow Audio hobbyists,

just entered the forum, so a quick intro: Erik, 43 years old, living in the Netherlands. Have enjoyed a decent TT, amplifier and box setup, but now looking to take the next step.

This next step, is very much looking at great audio quality but also the looks. And I now ended up at these beautiful machines from Torqueo in Italy (torqueo-audio.it). I really REALLY like their design, but there are so little reviews, or even info, available on their assortment. With price tags that are pretty steep for my standards, of course one would first like to listen to a setup and just 'see' in real life, but no distributor in the Netherlands.

So my question:

- does anyone have experience with Torqueo equipment, and what are your findings? 
- do you own a Torqueo? Would love to hear about your setup and experiences?

Thanks everyone, greatly appreciate any response!

Best, Erik 

ek1977
ek1977 OP
6 posts
 
Hi Tablejockey,

have you seen it in action or based on other info? (which I find so hard to get)? 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Been watching their stuff for a long time, great finishing, I like the way they pain a turntable plinth with solid satin color instead of a wood veneer. I like grey color. 
 
Tonearm pot is probably not a good idea for any turntable, some of their models have a tonearm pot near the plinth.  

While most of the modern turntables from many manufacturers are ugly, this Torqueo design is superb just like vintage turntables that we like.  

Any turntable platter look much better with copper mat like Micro Seiki CU-500 and Micro ST-20, here is mine.     
ek1977 OP
6 posts
 
Thanks Chakster,

agree with the finishing and looks, isn't that one of the key trades of these Italians?! :-) 

My only worry (still is) is to buy something I haven't heard nor physically touched before. Wondering why there are so little reviews and people owning these beautiful machines, online...

The copper looks great!
lewm
13,108 posts
 
The text on the website is not very informative, while on the other hand it says a lot. Only from the photos, it seems that this is an idler drive turntable, with the motor driving two idler wheels, one on either side of the motor shaft. each idler wheel must then engage the inner rim of the platter, although that is not clearly shown or mentioned.  I would like to know what Chakster meant when he mentioned “tonearm pot”. At first I thought he meant to write the word pod, as in an outboard tonearm mounting structure that is physically separated from the main chassis, but I don’t see that in the photos. An idler Drive of this design would provide very rigid control of speed and lots of torque potentially, and won’t be much subject to stylus drag at all. However, the trade-off is noise coming from the motor and being transmitted into the platter. This is an issue with any idler drive, and it depends upon careful design and build to minimize noise. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Hi Erik,

I looked at the web site. It is pretty but I am not impressed. I do not like idler wheel drives and the table is not suspended. They sell an "isolation platform" but they do not mention exactly how it isolates the turntable do I am dubious. If you like wood which I certainly do go here https://sotaturntables.com/products/cosmos-eclipse/
and have a look. This turntable has a great suspension and drive, vacuum clamping and you can have it in any wood you want, Zebra wood included.
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