The Air Force and the Dragon - Mon, 19th Nov 2012

garylkoh · Nov 4, 2012

The TechDAS Air Force One is the most amazing turntable I have laid ears on. I got an inkling of how good it was during the launch of the Genesis Dragon in Hong Kong some months ago, but we didn't use it much because it was new, and not perfectly set-up.

Over this weekend, I was at the Tokyo Audio Show and I met the designer Hideaki Nishikawa. When he played an original pressing of Miles Davis - Live Around the World, I had chills going up and down my spine almost constantly throughout the one track he played. Belafonte at Carnegie Hall sounded like we were in the audience live - including hearing the audience, which I had never heard before.

IMVHO, it's the best turntable in the world. I'll post more details of the turntable later.

In the meantime, Nishikawa-san and I will be in Hong Kong for the meeting of the best with the best. Forthwise will present the Air Force and the Dragon Monday, 19th Nov.

puroagave · Nov 4, 2012

very cool. Miles Davis Live Around the World is an interesting selection to demo a TT since its a digital recording live to DAT from shows during the late eighties to early nineties.

Steve Williams · Nov 4, 2012

What's MSRP on the TT Gary

FWIW, to my eyes it looks strikingly similar to the Wave Kinetics

What arm and cartridge with it

garylkoh · Nov 4, 2012

The TechDAS Air Force One brings together past know-how (from Micro-Seiki), present electronics technology as well as machining technology and evolution of materials science to develop the top-of-the-line analog turntable. It is no exaggeration to say that the Air Force ONE is the State of the Art.

garylkoh · Nov 4, 2012

Steve Williams said:
What's MSRP on the TT Gary

FWIW, to my eyes it looks strikingly similar to the Wave Kinetics

What arm and cartridge with it

Retail is $85,000.

Arms were both Graham Phantom II - one was a 12-inch. Cartridges were Brinkmann EMT and Pi.

garylkoh · Nov 4, 2012

puroagave said:
very cool. Miles Davis Live Around the World is an interesting selection to demo a TT since its a digital recording live to DAT from shows during the late eighties to early nineties.

Since I heard it, I've been trying to find the LP, but no luck so far. One of my favorite LPs is the Oscar Peterson Nigerian Marketplace and that was also a 1982 digital recording.

cjfrbw · Nov 4, 2012

I have Miles Davis "Live Around the World". Has Miles' last known public performance. It was played by Mike Grellman at one of the BAAS shindigs with Rockport Sirius III turntable and Rockport speakers.

Yes, it was kind of a bootleg type thing recorded by on site DAT machine which obtained permission later to publish as a record. However, like the first Cowboy Junkies album, also recorded in a church by a humble DAT apparatus, it seems to have transcended its origin, the record is very nice.

Love Kei Akagi's keyboard playing on Tutu suite.

DaveyF · Nov 5, 2012

Gary, for that price you can almost buy two Wave Kinetics TT's. Just saying.

JackD201 · Nov 5, 2012

What is the footprint of Hideaki-san's table Gary?

garylkoh · Nov 5, 2012

JackD201 said:
What is the footprint of Hideaki-san's table Gary?

Minimum footprint for setting-up is 600mm (W) x 450mm (D)

However, you need to add 430mm x 232mm for the power supply unit and 260mm x 230mm for the air condenser unit. This is the first vacuum table with a pump I couldn't hear, so no problem having the air unit on the rack.

garylkoh · Nov 5, 2012

garylkoh · Nov 5, 2012

DaveyF said:
Gary, for that price you can almost buy two Wave Kinetics TT's. Just saying.

You could.... but when I heard the Wave Kinetics, the music didn't move my soul. With the Air Force One, it did.

Peter Breuninger · Nov 5, 2012

I know the guys bringing this table (the Air Force, not the one below-the Triangle Arts Signature) to the States. I believe there are two AFs here in the eastern US. The first reviewer, to my knowledge, is slated to be Fremer. I think we are in the queue next or soon at bat. I have this outstanding table set up now:

garylkoh · Nov 5, 2012

The US importer is Bob Graham - yes, that Bob Graham. He also designed a 12-in version of the Phantom II Supreme arm for the Air Force One.

What was interesting was that when I was talking to one of the engineers/technicians behind the turntable, I mentioned to him that I liked it because you couldn't hear the air pump for the air bearing and vacuum hold down. He gave me a puzzled look, cocked his head, and said "Gary-san, if you can hear pump, record can hear pump."

Peter Breuninger · Nov 5, 2012

Cat out of bag.

garylkoh · Nov 5, 2012

Peter Breuninger said:
Cat out of bag.

Why don't you fly out to Hong Kong, review the Air Force One, interview the designer, and scoop Fremer?

Peter Breuninger · Nov 5, 2012

Don't have to... the AFO is 45 minutes away

XV-1 · Nov 5, 2012

Steve Williams said:
FWIW, to my eyes it looks strikingly similar to the Wave Kinetics

Yea both are primarily white

A.wayne · Nov 10, 2012

Sweet looking table , what electronics are you using with the Dragon's Gary ..?

garylkoh · Nov 12, 2012

A.wayne said:
Sweet looking table , what electronics are you using with the Dragon's Gary ..?

Electronics are likely to be the Viola Labs. Phono stage will be Nagra or Goldmund. We also have the option of a full Goldmund line. I'll have a listen to the two options when I get there at the end of the week. Nishigawa-san would probably also have an opinion. When I was there last, I marginally preferred the Viola to the Goldmund - but the speakers weren't well broken in at that point.

The Air Force and the Dragon - Mon, 19th Nov 2012

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