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New TW 3 Motor Pod

I don't know what else to call TWs new 3 motor single pod unit intended for use with the Raven. I received mine a couple of weeks ago and with sufficient break in time I'm prepared to comment on its performance v/s the single motor I have been using for several years.

The new unit is the very same motor now marketed with the TW Black Knight except without the scalloped edges around the motor base. If anyone out there has been thinking about moving up to this unit I would say don't hesitate. The depth of field, expansive side to side staging, more natural leading edge transients, explosive dynamics without glare, and ultra quiet vinyl playback is worth the price of the motor. Anyone now owning a Raven using one motor cannot imagine what they are not hearing in their analog system. I've had many skeptics tell me that the added motors would only lead to more audible noise but I have found the result to be absolutely the opposite with very dark backdrops and much more 3D images. Did I mention the terrific tight integrated bottom end? This completion of the Raven has left me wanting for nothing from my analog source.

For those of you using the original motor controller and not the Reference model, the improvement with the Reference is big. It's also less expensive than the new motor. I would say move up to the Ref MC first and the new motor after that. You can see pictures of the new motor on Facebook at High Water Sounds' site. If interested, contact Jeff Catalano at High Water.
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in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Sutteetat TW seem to have gone the root of VPI with a constant upgrade path, bearings, platters, feet, motors, ect however nothing wrong with that business plan.
After I purchased my two motor TW AC a motor controller and feet upgrade were offered which I got a great discount on from Cantolano, then a third motor option was offered shortly after which was praised highly in online reviews and TAS I believe including audio blog owner testimonials like here on Audiogon.
Now I'm not sure what MK version that I owed however reading the testomonials above including elsewhere owners seem to agree with everything said ,for the going price is the TW now a mature product or is it something else?, just asking.

I noticed you use Lamm amplifiers, I was an early adopter of Lamm ,with these few watts of power it's fantastic at driving certain speakers with a sensitivity approaching a 100 or more, just saying.
latinsamba1
74 posts
 
Really enjoying my recent 3 motor pod upgrade but I suppose I will have to spring for the BN platter eventually :) The 3 motor pod was a very big improvement for the $$$ so if the platter even gives another 2/3 of that it is certainly worth it.
suteetat
435 posts
 
In_shore, I take a slightly difference view as far as TW and upgrade path is concerned. After introducing the Black Knight which uses basically the same platform (dimension wise at least) with improvement in controller, feet, motor, platters etc, I think it is nice that TW lets you buy bit and pieces of BN to use with Raven AC rather than not making it available and make you buy the whole new BN table if you want to upgrade Raven AC. Great business plan perhaps, but also friendlier to consumers' wallet as well, I think :)
I heard Lamm the first time when I was in college at Summer CES in Chicago. If I remember correctly, it was the first CES that the high end stereo stuff at the Hilton was opened to the public and it was the first time that Lamm launched itself at CES. I remembered hearing this amp I think it was with Wilson Watt/puppy and it sounded so great that I wished I could afford. Well...almost 20 years later, I did.
I love their SET amp as well but never had speakers that would be suitable but even the hybrid one is still great.
zermatt
13 posts
 
I updated my AC with the "3 Motor Pod in December. This week I update the Stilpoint feet to the BN feet. In my system, the feet are allowing a more musical presentation along with better low level details. I highly recommend the BN feet.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Just got BN platter upgrade Suteetat is on the money great upgrade big improvement in sound makes my Q3s sing!!
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