Torqueo - any info or updates?

Aesthetically interesting, but that's about it. Very Italian.

Hi Tablejockey,

have you seen it in action or based on other info? (which I find so hard to get)? 

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.     

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!

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. 

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.

Mijostyn,If you would stop selling Sota turntables on this website, maybe then you would be able to evaluate some other brand of turntable on its own merits. If you don’t like idler drives, and we know you don’t like unsuspended turntables, then obviously you would not choose the turntable that this OP is asking about. So really you have nothing to say. Idler drive is not my first choice either, but the OP is asking about this singular product. And for all I know it might be a great sounding turntable, or not.

@lewm there are different turntables available, here is the one with tonearm pod or pot :)

This is something new, reminds me an old broadcast turntables.

It’s an eye candy. My Ikeda IT-347 in satin finishing it better match that glossy one on their site. 

Thanks everyone, for your quick insights and viewpoints. From a design point of view I don't like the sota. 

It's such a shame that there isn't any info or a dealer nearby in order listen to the noise the idler makes. Big bet, hence I hope there might be more forum members who are able to point me in the right direction, or have actually seen the Torqueo machines in action....

Thanks, Chakster. Working on my cell, I didn’t see that page on their website. That pod does not inspire my confidence for many reasons. I do like the model where the arm is mounted on the plinth much better. And I did notice they are partial to Ikeda tonearms. What is the price range of these products? If over $5000US, I would not make a purchase without in person viewing and especially listening. Maybe the OP can wait until the pandemic subsides enough to permit traveling to Italy or somewhere else on the continent that is perhaps closer to the Netherlands, so he can see, hear, and feel these turntables in person before purchasing. It makes a lot of sense to do that.

Hi Lewn,

yes, it 10k plus EUR... and I indeed had the idea to travel there when Covid allows. By the way, they custom make the base of the tonearm, specifically for your tonearm. So I have a Jelco and a Ortofon, they can be custom-fit. So that’s nice, because it is all bespoke. 
Large investment, hence my research. Everytime I think maybe go for a Dr Feickert, and look at the Torqueo’s design again, and fall in love with the Italian looks. Can’t help myself :-)

I would go for the T34 with indeed the tonearm on the base, not the compact version where tonearm is separate.

Separating the tonearm from the plinth has many issues.  You can find a whole thread on this subject, if you search here using the word "Copernicus". I and everyone else who posted there said about all that one can say about arm pods, up and down, sometimes heatedly.

As regards the Feickert, that is a very well done belt-drive turntable. (And I think it is much less expensive than the Torqueo.)  Whereas the Torqueo is an idler-drive, or so it seems from photos. Those two types are fundamentally different in sonic signature, although all good turntable designers strive to have no sonic signature of any kind. Nevertheless, the drive system makes an inevitable difference per se.  While you wait to try out a Torqueo in person, you might want to acquaint yourself with different drive types, so you get an idea what you personally might like best. 

If you like idler then you could search for fully restored Garrard 301 by AudioGrail.  

Hammertone is my favorite finishing.

There are many companies that do a superb job resurrecting and improving upon the original Garrard 301 or the 401.  This is also true of the Lenco idler.  My personal bias is in favor of a tweaked Lenco over a Garrard, but what I like makes no difference here.  I agree the OP should investigate these examples to see if he likes the sound of an idler.

Torqueo is based on a Rek-O-Kut Rondine design. Erik, idlers can be wonderful but do come with drawbacks. You can read online about Art Dudley's experiments with idlers. Among other  things, he renovated a ROK. This one should be way above any DIY project...

@lewm, did you get out of the wrong side of bed today? I gave the OP my opinion which does not change with the weather. Actually 
The OP does not like the looks of the Sota which is also fine. He wants something which looks cooler. In that case I suggest an Avid Actus. No wood but a good turntable. He might also look at the Transrotor Turntables. Actually there are a host of cool looking turntables out there.
I find it interesting that the market is bent on coming up with the coolest looking turntable instead of the coolest performing one. But hey, everyone is entitled to spend their money any old way they want and I am entitled to have my own opinion whether you like it or not.

a member on What’s Best Forum, gian60, who lives in Italy, has a Torqueo turntable and knows the builder. as i recall, Gian ordered one model of Torqueo turntable, then later upgraded it.

Gian is a really nice guy (has multiple very interesting systems) and i’m sure would answer any questions.

here are a couple of threads he started about Torqueo. there are others.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-power-supply-torqueo.30917/

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/torqueo-tonearm-base.28235/

All I said in response to your post, is that the OP asked for info on one specific turntable.He did not ask for suggestions on what to buy. And yes I confess I am a little tired of reading that you suggest a SOTA  turntable for everyone. On the other hand, this election process is stressing me out. So maybe I am prone to over reaction. Of course you are entitled to your own opinion, 

Even the "entry level" model looks like you shouldn't have anything LE$$ than an entry level Lyra,Koetsu etc cartridge, along with a proper phonstage. No cheaping out.

Nice looking stuff. Maybe nicer than some of those custom Garrard?
Having one of each in the system would be nice. Website could be more detailed.

I'll take a T34  Zebrano with 2 arms. For kicks, I would have the company fit a really nice linear tracker before that arm pod setup.

@lewm, yup this election mess has a lot of people mess up which to me is a little scary as the threat of violence has come up from both sides.
So much for modern sophistication. Humans have no changed much in 150 thousand years.
The Sota is an easy turntable to recommend especially to someone who seems to like wood. It outperforms turntables many times it's cost. I am sorry if you are tired of me recommending it however, I shall not stop. Best not read my posts in the analog section. At least I am short and sweet. You should be glad I'm not Millercarbon harping on swarm subwoofers:)
EK1977 it is a nice looking turntable that appears well made but it is idler driven and these turntables particularly with a heavy platter are prone to rumble, wow and flutter down the line. It is not well suspended so it will be prone to foot falls and other environmental disturbances and noise. 
The SME 30/12 is a very cool turntable in person. It's pictures do not do it justice. The AVid Actus comes in several flavors and is a very good turntable. The very best turntable and the one I lust after is the Dohmann Helix but it's looks do not suit everyone although again it's pictures do not do it justice. Is that better Lewm??

Also asked on a Dutch forum, and got some interesting responses. In case you are interested, and you can of course always use google translate to translate this crazy Dutch language into proper English :-)

https://www.high-endforum.nl/topic/16312-torqueo-draaitafels-ervaringen/