Just come across this one, and it seems like Thomas has put a lot of thought into it. Marrying the unambiguous benefits of the legendary idler drive Garrards 301/401/Lencos in terms of high torque, w.modern day tech/engineering/materials, to get around the negatives of the day, and maybe even get to a point where the 14 may outperform our old favourites.
Sooo...he has a lab grade motor providing tons of torque, but apparently w/vanishingly low noise so that rumble is nr non existent.
An outsize (14") lightish cast Al platter, to provide max flywheel effect, light in construction, so that the torquey motor really drives on the lp past all that stylus drag, whilst minimising momentum speed up.
Plinth material of a special material, which apparently dampens vibrations but doesn't deaden the rig, apparently impervious to atmospheric changes like temp and humudity.
He seems also to have done away w/a whole lot of springs etc, so streamlining the construction/suspension etc.
All at a tentative price of Euros 15k.
For my part, idler makes a lot of sense. I cannot see how high torque/driven platter can be anything but an advantage. Admittedly, the rumble issue has been a downer, but if Thomas has incorporated a motor that really has gobs of drive but minimal noise, and a plinth which really deals w/vibrations (maybe a la Merrill elastomer tech tt), he could really be on to a winner.
Esp at a true real world price.
Sooo...he has a lab grade motor providing tons of torque, but apparently w/vanishingly low noise so that rumble is nr non existent.
An outsize (14") lightish cast Al platter, to provide max flywheel effect, light in construction, so that the torquey motor really drives on the lp past all that stylus drag, whilst minimising momentum speed up.
Plinth material of a special material, which apparently dampens vibrations but doesn't deaden the rig, apparently impervious to atmospheric changes like temp and humudity.
He seems also to have done away w/a whole lot of springs etc, so streamlining the construction/suspension etc.
All at a tentative price of Euros 15k.
For my part, idler makes a lot of sense. I cannot see how high torque/driven platter can be anything but an advantage. Admittedly, the rumble issue has been a downer, but if Thomas has incorporated a motor that really has gobs of drive but minimal noise, and a plinth which really deals w/vibrations (maybe a la Merrill elastomer tech tt), he could really be on to a winner.
Esp at a true real world price.
