SAT XD-1 Turntable Debut at The Audio Salon

bonzo75

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Dear TLi,

True but I beg to differ. At this level of arm development, a titanium tube inside the arm wand would very likely make only some variarion in sound, not a make or break difference. But surely if you want to hear what the tt designer want you to hear from his tt you should get the arm he used when developing the tt. I am sure Marc Gomez has mostly used the 1st and 2nd version of his arm during this tt development until now. Cost benefit ratio of improving the arm further is only for billionare to justify. The Apolyt also has a very limited all titanium Super Axiom made for the Billionare with exquisite taste. If I remember correctly $60,000 after discount. Without this Super arm, Dietrich is still confident his tt sounds best and cover all the bases in technical aspects.

From one fellow tt lover to another I wish to remind people one thing. The more complicated the tt is the more time it takes for the designer to bug out the tt. How long did it take for the Apolyt, the Caeles and the Vyger to sort out bugs before they get to today's level. Ask Airbearing what it took him before his Caeles got to this level of performance and reliability. So be patient and prepare yourself to go through bugs when you sign up as a forerunner owner of these tts.

Kind regards,
Tang

Yep. But Marc Gomez has chosen to name this XD1, as he knows many iterations to go....
 
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Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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There is simple flawed logic at work:

I asked a question about reviewer behavior guidelines
______________________ is a reviewer
Ergo, I asked a question specifically about ___________________ .

Fill in any published reviewer name you like. It's not deductive.

. . .

fair enough
 

airbearing

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May 2, 2012
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Munich - Germany
Dear TLi,

True but I beg to differ. At this level of arm development, a titanium tube inside the arm wand would very likely make only some variation in sound, not a make or break difference. But surely if you want to hear what the tt designer want you to hear from his tt you should get the arm he used when developing the tt. I am sure Marc Gomez has mostly used the 1st and 2nd version of his arm during this tt development until now. Cost benefit ratio of improving the arm further is only for billionare to justify. The Apolyt also has a very limited all titanium Super Axiom made for the Billionare with exquisite taste. If I remember correctly $60,000 after discount. Without this Super arm, Dietrich is still confident his tt sounds best and cover all the bases in technical aspects.

From one fellow tt lover to another I wish to remind people one thing. The more complicated the tt is the more time it takes for the designer to bug out the tt. How long did it take for the Apolyt, the Caeles and the Vyger to sort out bugs before they get to today's level. Ask Airbearing what it took him before his Caeles got to this level of performance and reliability. So be patient and prepare yourself to go through bugs when you sign up as a forerunner owner of these tts.

Kind regards,
Tang


Tang,

You know about completing TT-Systems as David does too! It is true that most innovative TT-designs need maturation, especially in details. As it counts for the AF-Zero (I was positively impressed in Munich at the current stage of development), the Apolyt (which underwent changes in design to the wishes of customers in Asia), as for the Caeles (much better air damping design right now) I rather like to compare all these designs at one place one day .

As for the SAT TT, which is basically a Technics with some modifications, I need to look into the table for the improvements. I could not hear it in Munich. On the platform issue I am rather on Mike Lavignes ´ side, using an Accurion active platform on my Continnum (with motor and TT based on the platform).

Best
E.



https://audiocirc.com/2019/04/07/improved-pneumatic-control/

FDFBAFB8-3445-49FF-984C-810CA6E624E2.jpeg
 

TLi

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May 27, 2016
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What happened to this DD turntable? Has anyone heard one? Are they still being made?
It is too expensive. I doubt how many have been sold?

For nearly the same price of TechDAS Air Force Zero, which one would you choose?
 
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TLi

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I really don’t know for sure the latest price. TechDAS raised its price due to low exchange rate. SAT turntable includes its titanium tonearm which is very expensive as well. My guess is Air Force Zero is just a little more expensive.
What are the prices of the TechDAS Zero and the SAT tables? I thought the Zero was much more expensive.
 

TLi

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Yesterday I was asked my local dealer to help them to setup SAT XD1 turntable and LM-09 tonearm. As they were not very familiar with SAT and knowing I am a SAT user, my experience might be helpful to them.

SAT is not very good with documentation. There is very limited instruction on the setup procedures for turntable and tonearm. We have to use our experience. Fortunately, XD1 is not a complicated design. The assembly and setup was fairly striaght forward. The bearing on LM-09 was replaced with a shipment bearing that needed to be replaced before anything else. The Minus K base needed some fine tuning as well in order to perform to its best.

Took us around a hour to have anything installed and some music was played. Although everything was not break in and some fine tuning was still needed, the sound was not bad at all. In fact, it was fairly good and showed topical direct drive character, i.e. bass was strong and dynamic. Resolution was high. I can see good potential in this system. One can argue that it is overpriced, but the built and sound qualities are top notch. Let's see some pictures.

IMG_2526.JPG IMG_2530.JPG IMG_2531.JPG IMG_2536.JPG IMG_2537.JPG
 

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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Thanks Thomas!
This is the first time I see the interior of a Minus-K. Interesting!

I read Michael Fremer's Stereophile review again.

Was the XD1 you installed identical to the one MF reviewed?

BTW it's expensive!
o_O
 

XV-1

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May 24, 2010
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Yesterday I was asked my local dealer to help them to setup SAT XD1 turntable and LM-09 tonearm. As they were not very familiar with SAT and knowing I am a SAT user, my experience might be helpful to them.

SAT is not very good with documentation. There is very limited instruction on the setup procedures for turntable and tonearm. We have to use our experience. Fortunately, XD1 is not a complicated design. The assembly and setup was fairly striaght forward. The bearing on LM-09 was replaced with a shipment bearing that needed to be replaced before anything else. The Minus K base needed some fine tuning as well in order to perform to its best.

Took us around a hour to have anything installed and some music was played. Although everything was not break in and some fine tuning was still needed, the sound was not bad at all. In fact, it was fairly good and showed topical direct drive character, i.e. bass was strong and dynamic. Resolution was high. I can see good potential in this system. One can argue that it is overpriced, but the built and sound qualities are top notch. Let's see some pictures.

View attachment 101805 View attachment 101806 View attachment 101807 View attachment 101808 View attachment 101809

Can't wait for the turntable shoot out between SAT and AF1
 

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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bonzo75

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Can't wait for the turntable shoot out between SAT and AF1

there was a video of SAT Vs AF1p Vs continuum all in the same room on a Cessaro gamma from Europe that did private rounds on WhatsApp with feedback
 

XV-1

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May 24, 2010
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there was a video of SAT Vs AF1p Vs continuum all in the same room on a Cessaro gamma from Europe that did private rounds on WhatsApp with feedback

Ked and? ........ or are you teasing us :p
 

bonzo75

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Ked and? ........ or are you teasing us :p

I think you are too used to porn. Try never ending soaps, you never find out
 
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mtemur

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One can argue that it is overpriced, but the built and sound qualities are top notch.
“Overpriced” is a little understatement for a 170k$ turntable that is basically a 8k$ Technics SP-10R in an aluminum-magnesium alloy plinth + 5k$ Minus k platform. Tonearm is a different story and not included. FYI those are the retail prices of Technics and Minus k
 
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bonzo75

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Phantom-Audio

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I had the SP10 for some time and did a side-by-side comparison to the Verdier and the J Sikora Ref,

Overall I prefer the J.Sikora Ref and then the Verdier over the SP10.
 
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bonzo75

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I had the SP10 for some time and did a side-by-side comparison to the Verdier and the J Sikora Ref,

Overall I prefer the J.Sikora Ref and then the Verdier over the SP10.

which SP10? With Oma plinth?
 

Phantom-Audio

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TLi

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Today I had a direct neck to neck shootout between SAT XD1 and TechDAS Air Force One. A friend bought his SAT tonearm and armboard to the showroom for comparison. Lyra Altas Lambda SL was mounted. This arrangement allowed easy movement of the tonearm and cartridge combo from one turntable to another. Everything remained the same, the only difference was the turntable. The difference in sound was well demonstrated.

After several ABAB swap between the two turntables playing the same record. The differences were obvious. Air Force One was a good turntable on its own right, everything was well presented. On comparison, SAT XD1 was a better overall performer. The midrange was warmer and bass was stronger with SAT, dynamics and musicality were clearly better. The margin was not small. Turntable did have a profound effect on the sound. I am convinced SAT is a better turntable.

ADBDDB51-1E7F-4880-85EB-51759DE83AD0.jpeg 39528128-D739-46BD-8837-8C0C846DD6E2.jpeg 2318226A-ECA8-4BB4-9351-1ADD935DD16B.jpeg
 

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