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Trans-Fi Terminator Tonearm: 2019 Update

In reading a few related posts on linear tracking tonearm, in general,  and Trans-Fi Terminator , in particular, I thought I would give a brief update of the Terminator.

I purchased the arm directly from Andrey in Moscow two months ago. From what I understand, Andrey has taken over production after Vic's retirement. What I received is the most up-to-date version of the arm with the carbon fibre wand and brass counterweights, the direct wire leads from cartridge to  phono amp, and a new brass manifold ( not evident from the main web-site). Both the wand and the new manifold are Andrey's contribution to the continued refinement of the Terminator.

Also,  please visit this site: https://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/2017/04/15/terminator-tonearm-new-arm-mount/. This gentlemen from NZ has developed a new arm mount for the Terminator which advanced the arm's sonics even further. It was reading through the the development of this new arm mount that convinced me to order the Terminator after much prior research. I did not purchase the arm mount from NZ as it would not readily fit my Verdier La Platine, instead Andrey made a custom arm mount. It is in essence a two point support mount rather than a single point support rod that is commonly used. 

My previous arm was a SME V of 1990's vintage mounted with a ZYX airy. The Terminator is several notch above the SME V. All the accolades given to the Terminator seem justified. My main point in writing is that the new developments by Andrey, i.e. the carbon fibre wand and the newest brass manifold, seem to improve upon the Terminator even more ( see link above ). This is the news that I wanted to share with existing Terminator owners. I asked Andrey to start a blog on all the new stuff that is happening with the arm, but it seems that he is busy making 'things'!




ledoux1238
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ledoux1238 OP
295 posts
 

@qwin 

Finally figured out how to post photos. Here's how I dress my wire.

qwin's avatar
qwin
24 posts
 

Hi @ledoux1238
Been away for a few days. What gauge and type is that wire, looks like thick, Silk wrapped Litz?
I hate that stuff with a passion and is the reason I almost gave up on the Terminator, horrible, horrible wire. Kinks and twists and isn’t very flexible.
That "O" ring crimp looks suspect, an unnecessary weight dangling on the wire.
Your bundle of four wires, seem to be fouling the slider and possibly the manifold, there is no slack to allow for vertical Wand movement.
I’m not surprised your readings are not consistent.
Wrapping or twisting all four leads together makes a stiff bundle, better to let them separate. Get rid of that crimp and put a small piece of heat shrink on there if you have to, but I leave them loose up to the top of the slider. It will be difficult to put heat shrink on without removing the cartridge tags.
Is that "O" ring not meant to be a ground wire, connected between the pivots?
I don’t use a ground, just the four wires from the cartridge, to keep things light and flexible.
Without seeing it in action, that’s my best assessment.

qwin's avatar
qwin
24 posts
 

The best sounding wire I ever had, was the original pure Silver wire that Vic used to supply with the Terminator. Unfortunately his supply dried up and its no longer available, I've searched myself. This was, in my opinion, a little to stiff/heavy, but when you got the dressing right, sounded phenomenal.
The varnish layer on the Copper Litz just makes it to stiff for me. My current 36AWG Silver plated Copper is very, very light and flexible. The PTFE coating is very thin and soft, so the wire is free to move and offers minimal resistance.
If I could find something similar in pure Silver I would use that.
Andrey seems to coil the bundle of wires like a spring, to me, this is not a good method. The fact that the Litz wire will stay in that form and not relax confirms my thoughts on it.

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