Trans-fi Terminator T3PRO opinions please...

Go4vinyl, I've moved through several iterations of Terminator to what is essentially a modified T3Pro. My version includes a custom pivot with a built-in socket that accomodates standard removable headshells. Vic has on occasion offered this set-up.

The optional uninterrupted screened silver RCA wiring sounds great and eliminates multiple solder points and metal contacts. The outer screen is also effective in eliminating cartridge hum.

The Rena pump is fine when smoothed through a 1 gal. tank as described on Vic's web site. I built an insulated plywood enclosure to reduce pump noise, but ideally the pump belongs in a closet or adjacent room.

As noted by others, working with this arm becomes straight-forward after the somewhat painstaking journey toward precise zenith and level. I've been able to deal with any remaining tracking problem by weighting the headshell to manipulate vertical effective mass.

Terminator easily surpassed Graham 1.5TC and SME IV in my system. Others I know had similar results vs. VPI 12.X arms. However most owners of hi-zoot pivot arms won't give it a chance for whatever reason.

PS. I wouldn't bother with the digital caliper. The VTA tower calibrations are sufficient to obtain precise repeatable adjustments. And with this arm your ear will tell you EVERYTHING.

I’m confused by some of the above comments about measured pressure.

Rated pressure for these pumps is inverse to air flow. Max flow occurs at min pressure(ie. with free-flowing air unburdened by tubes, tanks, or air manifold). For example, the paralleled dual outlets of Rena 400 are claimed by the manufacturer to produce 4 psi max. Under full load-- with a pressure gauge placed at the end of my 20' silicone hose whose output is stopped up at the outlet to block air flow to zero-- my Rena 400 produces 3 psi max. After connecting the hose to the Terminator air manifold, max measured pressure drops to around .3 psi. Then with the Rena’s output adjusted downward to the point of obtaining the minimum pressure required to prevent skipping(which is Vic’s recommended set-up to minimize turbulence) measured pressure falls to around .1 psi.

However this is not the way that I measure or regulate pressure. I position a high-quality brass needle valve close to the Terminator air manifold, downstream of a co-located 5 psi Wima dial gauge. This way the dial reads the back-pressure behind the needle valve instead of pressure between the needle valve and the air manifold. With the Rena’s outputs turned wide open, the dial now reads across the full sweep of 0-3 psi. As the needle valve is opened up to introduce flow to the tonearm, the pressure drop below the base line of 3 psi measures the pressure lost through the manifold to float the tonearm slider. The minimum pressure drop required to prevent skipping is 1 psi. This is indicated on the dial as a drop from 3 psi to 2 psi. Simply put, it takes 1 psi of pump pressure to operate the tonearm.

Why is this significant? First, it demonstrates that a pump with a 1 psi output is necessary and sufficient for Terminator. Second, it demonstrates that the Rena loafs at one-third of its capacity in this application. A higher pressure or higher flow pump need not apply. The only remaining meaningful variable is the smoothness of the air flow.

It’s conceivable that the Hi-Flow pump pulses less or that a leaky flow tank with cotton balls inside further smooths pulsing. Other differences may include the quality and positioning of the pressure regulator. I can hear the difference in turbulence between a smooth brass needle valve and a cheap plastic aquarium valve. I like positioning the brass needle valve as the most downstream link in the chain. This might help filter pulsing of the spring mechanism of the upstream dial gauge.

I may try the Hi-Flow pump, but am first inclined to add more and larger smoothing tanks-- only a gallon plastic can so far. There seems to be a wide range of opinion in the fish community about whether the Rena is loud or quiet. YMMV. There is a youtube video of a guy quieting pump vibration down considerably by hot-gluing the pump motors to their chassis mounting points. I may try this.

Terry9 wrote "I have measured the pressure in the line, after regulation, and this is clearly different - the saddle floats at a much lower pressure, and so my measurements are approximately 10% of yours."

As I noted in my post, I too measured around .1 psi after regulation-- so on this point we agree. The 1 psi drop upstream of the regulator merely indicates how much pressure is needed from the pump to produce .1 psi at the arm. At 3 psi max capacity the Rena can make .3 psi at the tonearm. So unless you want more than .3 psi at the tonearm you don't need a stronger pump.

I believe the basic math is that at margin of air pressure necessary to float the slider, the volume of air flowing through the manifold is identical with either pump. The pressure/flow relationship is a function of the pressure drop through the system-- not of pump output. The slider doesn't care about the air flow-- only that sufficient vertical force/pressure is applied to conquer gravity. However, the pressure/volume relationship changes when you introduce a leaky tank or air line. A larger pump may be needed to make up for that loss.

I can't conceive how a leaky tank could help, unless this somehow smooths pulsing.