BTW, the record the Mike referenced is a veritable analog unicorn: the mythic creature combining a great performance, well recorded, on quiet vinyl and relatively inexpensive. A must for even a casual jazz fan:
I prefer the Nautilus pressing to the standard East Wind pressing.
What! Now I have to find the Nautilus. I thought I was done searching for this one...
FWIW: I took this LP with me to the show. Every time I played it the cell phones came out taking pictures of the cover and some systems got a serious workout on the drum solo. I was selective in which system got to play it in order to save the vinyl and the speaker/amp from crying "uncle".
Dre
You will also need the Great Jazz Trio's East Wind (rather than the Inner City) pressing of "At The Village Vanguard". Tony Williams' drum solo on Parker's 'Moose the Mooche' is a real system torture test. Another great live performance, well recorded on a quiet slab of vinyl...
Mike, It looks like you are providing us with the world premier/announcement for this new arm. Perhaps this is off topic, but it is very interesting to read about a new launch like this in a forum thread started by an owner describing his personal unit in his own system. In the field, so to speak. This is a big departure from the more conventional/traditional channels like a formal announcement at CES, RMAF, Munich or some other show, or even in a press release in some industry magazine.
This introduction provides the opportunity for interactive dialogue with the public. It's a novel approach and I wish Joel luck with his latest arm.
hi David,
i do not know what type of Sapphire is used for the Sapphire parts of the Sapphire Telos. my understanding is that it's some sort of industrial grown crystal product. whether that is what is known as sapphire glass or not i don't know so i don't want to speculate. i know that getting the sapphire bearing tower built is very expensive and takes time.
the sapphire bearing tower does incorporate the actual bearing itself. it's an inverted cup at the top of the tower. with the normal Telos with the unobtainium metal tower the bearing cup is some sort of sapphire cup inside the armwand. whether that bearing cup in the armwand is a jeweled sapphire or not i don't know. maybe you do.
Mike
I prefer the Nautilus pressing to the standard East Wind pressing.
Thanks Mike for the clarification. I understand that its also unclear to you as what the designer means by Sapphire, neither do I nor is there any explanation on his website, thought maybe you'd know. The term jeweled doesn't mean precious, its synthetic corundum that can be used to either cap the bearings or used as a hole and cap. What I was wondering if that new translucent tower is made from some kind of resin or is from a block of sapphire crystal. Don't know about his metallurgy but both of these "sapphire" materials are industrial and readily available at little cost. Anyway, ENJOY!
david
PS If you find out I'd still like to know what he's calling "Sapphire"
I thought Joel was a member here at WBF. Maybe he can shed some light on the materials and construction.
Would be nice if he chimed in.I thought Joel was a member here at WBF. Maybe he can shed some light on the materials and construction.
nautilus was the importer/dist at the time and often put their sticker on the back, they didn't press the records they were all D2D pressed in Japan. I have seen a Jpn reissue of "the great jazz trio in LA" cut from tape and there's a RBCD mastered from the same tape.
I prefer the Nautilus pressing to the standard East Wind pressing.
Interesting...I have both. The Nautilus is a lovely gatefold while the EastWind is a regular jacket with OBI. I have compared the two and prefer the Nautilus pressing. The photo in the gatefold is interesting...what was Ron Carter doing just before the photo???
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It's interesting that some of what you describe with this new arm is similar to what is described with the new VPI composite printed arm. The Schroder LT arm wand is also composite I believe. Perhaps this will be a new direction for tonearms. Would you say the composite arm tube or the Sapphire bearing makes a bigger difference?
Very nice... current price?
My guess, between $30-$40k. I could be wrong though, but I think I am in the ballpark for the fully pimped out sapphire model.
I don't know about that. Isn't his record weight $3k-$5k?
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