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    TechDas Air Force One

    This will be my last post on this particular matter....because life is too short. I entered this debate months ago by simply pointing out that the most sensible course was to wait and see how the Tech Das measured-up in the market place. I honoured the spirit of that remark by going to the...
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    TechDas Air Force One

    If you mean by 'not interested' that I won't be buying one, you are correct. I couldn't afford one, and having heard one, would not be in a rush at the very high price. But since you ask, I am interested in high end decks, and have access to quite a few of them. It is one way in which I can try...
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    TechDas Air Force One

    Can't help noticing from the picture, that the Tech Das appears to come in a cardboard box.....whereas my SME deck, at a third of the price, arrives in a well-built wooden crate. For $100,000 I'd hope for something a bit less basic. That's a truly huge amount of cash. I'd want all the trimmings...
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    HRS M3X Isolation base

    Isn't the fact that the vibraplane is designed for scientific work a 'good thing' ? Scientists have to do real things that matter, and they use equipment that works.Of the items mentioned in this thread, the vibraplane is probably head and shoulders above the others. But I agree that the pump is...
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    Interview with the Designer of the Sonority Tonearm

    To misquote 'Monty Python: ''he's not an arm designer, he's just a very naughty boy.'' But you really want it to work, what with the world vibrating beneath our feet and all that. (Incidentally, if tonearms are destabilised by vibration, what about the deck itself?) Again to paraphrase an...
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    TechDas Air Force One

    No, I heard one with a 12inch Durand. The Cobra seems an interesting arm.BTW, I think the first, historic, use of the cantilevered board was perhaps on the Thorens 124 where special 'outrigger' board were offered. Very neat they looked too.. I'm surprised that such boards haven't been offered...
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    Tech Das Air Force One....auditionedThe very long thread against the cream of decks

    Yes, that's it, pictured last week at Mik's house. The colour has a metallic flek in it, which isn't caught here. He has two black Rockports, so the vivid colour is a bit of fun. This machine is all new, has the Tim Sheridan motor and speed control unit, which was apparently modelled from work...
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    Tech Das Air Force One....auditionedThe very long thread against the cream of decks

    Sir, you are a true gent (as we say in the UK). Not that there was any need for an apology as none of us thought you had anything but the very best intentions. In fact Mik (the owner of Rockport 2012) just telephoned to say what a nice man you are!
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    Tech Das Air Force One....auditionedThe very long thread against the cream of decks

    I didn't bother with pics, not least because they were all 'standard' decks, with pics all over the place. And, shamefully, I don't actually know how we post a pic on this (or any other) forum .But I am going to work that out and will get pics next time I go round. I did post on this forum about...
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    Tech Das Air Force One....auditionedThe very long thread against the cream of decks

    To be honest I don't know which model of Durand it was, I don't know much about them. but I will find out, i'm pretty sure it will be the more expensive model, knowing the chap who owns this stuff...he likes the best. But I will check. The Rockport was an original Sirius Three from the year...
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    Tech Das Air Force One....auditionedThe very long thread against the cream of decks

    The long thread speculating about the Tech das really whetted my appetite; now I have had the chance of a thorough listen against some other world class decks. I'l try to give a brief outline of the findings. Four of us listened for a long day; the decks where the Air Force One, fitted with...
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    I'm just curious :: Opinions, etc.?

    The Verdier is a classic deck; well designed and good sounding. Interestingly, it is (was) often used with one of the 12inch SME 'S' shaped arms, such as the 3012. Add an Ortofon SPU and away you go.
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    Nakamichi Dragon

    'Regrets, I've had a few.......' Over 45 years (and counting) I'd list the Krell KSA 50, Apogee Duettas, Audio Research sp10, Original (1985) Koetsu Red. And two original 1930s Voigt Domestic Corner Horns, with original Voigt field-coil drivers. The best speaker I have ever used... Strange...
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    Your "World's Best Audio System" . . . 2012 Edition

    Don't you think this was inevitable? The hobby just destroys itself . As for 'justifying' the cost...I thought the whole point was the cost (I've got the biggest toy).
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    Reflections on cable pricing insanity

    The last thing I want is to get into the cable wars; but there has never, to my knowledge, been any 'proof' that decently specced cables sound different. Any of us can insist we hear differences (I think I hear differences) but every time there is a double blind test, we flunk it. We do...
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    Reflections on cable pricing insanity

    The logic is fine...but only if consumers have sufficient knowledge to make rational choices. Cable manufacturers won't give it to them. Quite the opposite. There is an even greater problem....none of us audiophiles have ever produced solid evidence that well-made cables sound different. Us...
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    Brinkmann Balance vs. Spiral Groove SG1 vs. TW Acustic Black Night

    I would imagine that will be excellent; I think it wise with this type of design to include in the budget the cost of world-class isolation. Should sound fabulous.
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    Brinkmann Balance vs. Spiral Groove SG1 vs. TW Acustic Black Night

    Always tricky because no two people have identical taste; I can't help noticing that all three choices lack any attempt at a suspension, and thus cannot deal properly with issues of isolation I've compared several none suspended decks, by themselves and then on a vibraplane. It was clear that...
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    Reflections on cable pricing insanity

    I think people like Andre Marc have done a real service to the hobby. Of course manufacturers and dealers can charge whatever they like in a free market. By the same standard, we consumers have every right to be well-informed about the market...that's how we can make rational (well, sort of)...
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    To clamp or not to clamp

    Just to make matters worse. I find with my SME that the sound varies depending on how tightly you screw the clamp (my preference is for light clamping on my particular deck.) There are no 'definite' answers. All is confusion. Still, as long as we know what we like.....
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    Reflections on cable pricing insanity

    So many claims about cables; every manufacturer/distributor has a different narrative. As far as I know, none has ever produced any solid, generally accepted, bit of scientific proof. Just endless talk, endless claims. With reference to Transparent, I have a simple question. If their account is...
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    Early Classic Records boxed sets

    On a more 'sombre' note', I can't help reflecting that this collection represents one mans' lifetime collection.....and some of it hasn't even been played. As far as I know, you can't take anything with you. What you don't experience now, the records you don't play, is never experienced. And all...
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    TechDas Air Force One

    I am still puzzled about the 'air bearing.' It doesn't seem an air bearing in the usual sense. In fact it is all starting to look a bit less ambitious. No pure air bearing, no air bearing arm, no air suspension. Compared with something like a Walker it all seems just a touch mundane. It really...
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    Who makes the simplest circuit? And does it sound great?

    Einstein said, make things as simple as possible...but no simpler. It is judging where the 'no simpler' bit starts that is so hard.Surely a single ended triode amp wins for simplicity..easily. But there is a price for that simplicity...a price not everyone wishes to pay. As for crossovers, just...
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    TechDas Air Force One

    Of course he loves it; what did you expect? One thing really puzzled me, this is apparently an air-bearing design, but Mr Fremer includes the following : '....the platter does float on an air bearing, there is also a centering bearing that rides on grease, and that produces the needed friction...
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    New Jadis prototype turntable

    My partner comes from the region of France where Jadis live and work; they take nice long lunch breaks and don't seem to worry too much about life. As for the turntable, I wouldn't hold your breath. They are a small company that doesn't hurry and doesn't try to jump aboard fashionable trends...
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    Time & an inactive Benz may force my hand ...

    Benz cartridges are readily available in Europe; Could there be some issue over distribution in the States? I am told that Benz recently made changes to their stylus shapes, could that have caused delay ? I've asked around, here in the UK, and no-one seems concerned over the future of Benz. Why...
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    Rockport to Release Mother of all Turntables

    A fair point, but I am glad someone is daft enough to do it. Look at it this way, it's his money, not ours. I like a bit of silliness.
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    Rockport to Release Mother of all Turntables

    I know it sounds unlikely, I adore my 30-12 and will probably never replace it. It sounds wonderful. But I have heard the SME in direct comparison with the Super Rockport. I've also heard direct, lengthy, comparisons between the Rockport and a variety of other super decks (not the Tech Das). The...
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    Rockport to Release Mother of all Turntables

    It was never a commercial enterprise; rather a no holds barred attempt to see what could be done if you ignored all normal financial factors. Andy Payor agreed to the project, but the actual design work and engineering was done by the consultant, a world-class expert on air bearing...

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