Trans Fi Salvation rim drive tt and Terminator air-bearing linear tracking arm

Finally after 22 long months, I get my analog rig reinstalled. If there’s any interest in it, I’m very happy to chat further.
To kick off, here’s the link to the designer’s web page:

www.trans-fi.com

 

Ked will be booking his plane ticket to you if that happens.

Let me think a bit more about yr situation and respond.

 

Anthony, one of the fascinating things about the Stacore is that because of it's sheer weight and mass, it hardly moves in normal use, and effectively feels like an inert support. This is SO different to my short Minus K trial.

I'm sure the arm "sees" a lot less jiggery pokery.

 

So Anthony, if yr new tt doesn't oscillate wildly on it's modded/integrated Minus K, I don't see Terminator install on it being an issue. And I can only assume that the esteemed design team must have taken this into account when refining the tt.

Take it from me that the Terminator is fine in everyday use if the "shimmy" in suspension is minimal and damps to zero instantly. That's pretty much my situation despite what could have been "Wobble City" with the combination of mag lev feet on tt, rollerballs and pneumatics in Stacore.

No, the critical thing w Terminator, way above all else, is need for absolute level, tonearm wire dressing and cart setup.

 

....No, the critical thing w Terminator, way above all else, is need for absolute level, tonearm wire dressing and cart setup.

Good (strong severe) tuning synthese.
It's music ...

 

Carolus, it is music indeed. Terminator so whips SME V arse, it's embarassing.

 

Anthony, one of the fascinating things about the Stacore is that because of it's sheer weight and mass, it hardly moves in normal use, and effectively feels like an inert support. This is SO different to my short Minus K trial.

I'm sure the arm "sees" a lot less jiggery pokery.

I have diy'd something similar to the Stacore. Similar pneumatic mounts, lot of mass, very inert platform. But mine are with steel and aluminium, not slate, different thicknesses in multiple layers sandwiched with an elastomer that instantly damps any ringing. The top layer is 20mm steel and the entire things weigh 70kg-80kg. If you do the knuckle test on these things it is your knuckles that ring. On top of this I use something similar to rollerblocks with the tungsten carbide ball and hardened tool steel cups...these can get quite active, mainly because I use a flat top plate rather than another cup. So although I've not seen a Stacore I do have a good idea of how stable they are having built four of something similar. The motion is more damped than the Helix I would suggest, but the Helix also has a greater range of motion.

 

So Anthony, if yr new tt doesn't oscillate wildly on it's modded/integrated Minus K, I don't see Terminator install on it being an issue. And I can only assume that the esteemed design team must have taken this into account when refining the tt.

Take it from me that the Terminator is fine in everyday use if the "shimmy" in suspension is minimal and damps to zero instantly. That's pretty much my situation despite what could have been "Wobble City" with the combination of mag lev feet on tt, rollerballs and pneumatics in Stacore.

No, the critical thing w Terminator, way above all else, is need for absolute level, tonearm wire dressing and cart setup.

Good advice. I think it will be ok.

 

One last important thing. When you order from Andrey, discuss him cutting back a bit where the two pieces of carbon fibre armwand join together. His stock design, in my situation at least, tended to snag or foul via the arm lift bar catching this join. I requested a replacement armwand w one piece cut back about 1-1.5cm. Mention Marc in the UK requesting this mod.

Other than the carbon fibre armwand, I am fascinated by his other main change to the original Terminator design, ie carbon fibre slider. I've not seen any reports directly ABing this to the original metal slider.

 

Looking at my wands here, it seems as though Andrey may have made this a standard feature now.

Are there any carbon fibre sliders out in the wild? My T3Pro is a recent purchase and I did not have the option.

 

Anthony, this comparison may not happen, or certainly not for a while. It's reasonably easy to work out how a 50%+ lighter carbon fibre armwand would be an improvement over stock metal, but less how the change to a lighter slider would.

Unless it's not just weight, but also superior vibration management qualities of carbon fibre.

 

So, I have it from the horses mouth that the MinusK in the Helix does not tilt and it stays level when it moves for the very reason of being compatible with linear trackers...so the T3Pro is a go to trial on my Helix.

 

Sure Anthony, that's v good news. Look fwds to yr trial of Schroeder Captive Bearing pivoted v Terminator. I have to say, the Helix 2 incl Schroeder CB at £25k in UK looks a Helluva proposition.

 

Anthony, I'm pretty close to ordering Andrey's updated Terminator. Just waiting on feedback from a customer who is a l/t user of Vic's original (as I am, since 2013) and feels the new version beats the old in many ways.

The main difference is that it's changed from all-Aluminium to Brass manifold/Aluminium slider. According to Andrey the discontinuity in metals aids resonance management (minimises build up/disperses energy?), and Brass is easier to fabricate allowing smaller holes, less turbulent air flow from pump and thus lower pressure needed.

Audiophile Bill here tells me brass is one of best materials for audio use.

He's also helped me with a suggestion re tonearm wire. Ikeda silver w Cardas silver cart tags, terminated in Bocchino RCA jacks.

About £2k total, stupidly low ball for pricing in this hobby.

 

The feedback I'm getting is that the arm is "calmer", allowing more low level info and detail thru. Both in terms of less arm-borne resonances and gentler air flow.

This extra detail is natural ie alongside realistic warmth, not the kind of hyper etched detail one gets w some audio components.

Just waiting on Bocchino RCAs availability, and I'll fire off the order to Andrey.

 

That's interesting @spiritofmusic apparently mine was the first with the brass manifold. I also purchased two different tonearm wires: one balanced and one single ended. Eichmann rca and Neutrik xlr plugs, standard copper litz wire. Litz seems a good fit in terms of if being so flexible and hence not interfering so much with the air bearing.

Hyper-etched is not detail...it is a flaw, a lack of resolution and texture and sometimes a sign of a higher noise floor. I love detail, the more the better, but it's gotta sound right and sometimes with some gear it just doesn't. With my SETs/horns the detail is off the charts compared to box speakers I've used/heard before, and it sounds way more real. When things 'sound right', I find myself listening to more and more slow music, relishing how the notes are fleshed out, the space in between them, in a kind of rapture.

 

Anthony, completely concur. I have been dallying w the concept of moving to horns. But the combination of funds just not being there for the serious outlay required, and ongoing love for my Zu full range driver/high efficiency sound means horns are not gonna happen.

I'm a little wary of copper tonearm cbl so gonna stay silver and Bill's suggestion is how I might proceed. The amazing Bocchino RCA connectors are from yr very own Aussie.

Can I ask, do you detect any softness on transients or overt euphonic warmth in the arm's sound? I know brass can veer to warmth, and am just a little concerned I might trade some neutrality from my all-Aluminium original Terminator.

 

I've not hear my tonearm yet. The Helix should be here in 6 weeks or so and I can set it up then. Was going to rebuild an L75 and put it on that but just don't have the time, hence I purchased the Helix 2.

 

I met Carmine Bocchino at an audio get together some years ago and we talked about his products but I've never tried them. Likewise with Keith Eichmann, but his stuff seems more popular in this neck of the woods, and I do have some cables and speakers that use his plugs/connectors.

 

Anthony, Bocchino stuff is magical. I just need to work out a way to connect 0.3mm silver wire to RCAs 2x the usual size and weight.

I may take a punt on the new Terminator. The impvts I'm hearing about are strictly in the "music" camp, not "hifi".

 

Anthony, what's the rest of yr system?
Dohmann Helix
Terminator
Schroder CB
...?