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 Step009.jpg
 
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Is it not possible for Andrey to sell you the manifold and slider rather than a whole new T3Pro. The manifold itself is quite easy to attach and adjust.
 
Anthony, what's the rest of yr system?
Dohmann Helix
Terminator
Schroder CB
...?

Well, it's mostly a diy system, quite similar in constitution to that of @kodomo with a lot of channels, mostly round, straight tractrix horn, and very big and very black. I've integrated six channel SET amps into each horn stack such that it is an active system with one amp per channel. It is not yet finished, but the end is in sight. Currently I am listening in mono and it smashes my previous pair of stereo box speakers so handily that I've packed them up and moved them on.

I have a couple of decent SS phonostages that I've built, one RC passive, another LR passive, but am currently underway with an all-out LCR passive build based on E810f and D3a tubes and all the foo components inside, iron from David Slagle and Black-Art Audio. I have high hopes for that when it is done.

Preamplification at this stage is various SS but I am also gathering parts to build some DHT pre's. These will be simple one stage amps aiming for optimal gain, low distortion and perhaps a little of that DHT extra that those old tubes can provide. The speakers sound fantastic with SS preamplification, so I am not entirely sure that the DHT pre's will be what is required, but I think they are worth a shot.

Digital source is Phasure NOS1a G3 r2r dac. I love it, couldn't find anything better when I tried.

Analogue sources are a Sansui TU-X1 tuner, which I rate as the single most beautiful piece of audio equipment I've ever seen, and the upcoming Helix 2 with Schroder CB and T3Pro. MC Anna as primary cartridge, although I will have to find a second if running two arms.
 
Anthony, the left field systems that I see here and on forums elsewhere never fail to astound. Likewise yours.

You'll be in good company once other members here read yr last post.

Re the arm, it might be possible to purely get the "add-on" components leaving the spine of the arm as is.

My main consideration is gauging whether my current non specialist silver tonearm wire, one uninterrupted piece from cart tags to phono jacks would be bettered by a new lash-up of Ikeda silver wire w Cardas silver cart tags, terminating in the new arm RCA block, and Bocchino Sablon RCA cbl from arm block to Straingauge energiser (ie phono).

Will altogether better wiring counteract the discontinuity in going from Ikeda to Sablon?

Indeed, what is the likely internal connection in the Terminator block btwn the tonearm wire IN > phono cbl OUT?
 
Haha, the old coulda, woulda, shoulda conundrum! We are all struck by it. Personally, I would be happy with one wire from cart to phono. 0.2mV is a tiny signal and all kinds of things can mess with it not the least a less than ideal connection. By including the Sablon you are adding four connections: rca-rca, rca-wire, wire-rca, rca-rca. I do not know the signal level from the straingauge, but I cannot imagine that it is profoundly greater...but I may be wrong.

Personally, for my way of thinking, and how I would nut through the issue, is with simpicity. Interference and resistance/capacitance are the big ticket items for phono cabling, which is why I had Andrey make up some balanced wiring for my T3Pro. If interference is an issue in my setup, it will probably be improved/remedied with the balanced wiring direct to SUT. If not, then happy days and single ended wiring will be fine.
 
Andrew, simplicity. High end audio doesn't always lend itself to this concept LOL.

I kinda agree w you re possibility of introducing discontinuities at that RCA junction box. The superlative Bocchino Sablon can't reproduce any info lost coming off the break from the tonearm wire.

Additionally, and most critically, I am so happy w my current sound. So if I do go down Andrey's route, I'll simply transfer my wiring loom over from my current arm.

Just have to ascertain whether Andrey's new brass/aluminium arm is truly and advance over Vic's all-aluminium original.
 
Btw, hugely impressed w what I'm reading wrt Helix 2. That a Helluva lot of tt, in terms of tech and materials.

I would be chuffed if Terminator could excel on this player. There's all the chance that it could. I can tell you that I've had 6 years of flawless service from my Terminator, it does everything you would want from a tonearm. Nothing less and nothing more.
 
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Just have to ascertain whether Andrey's new brass/aluminium arm is truly and advance over Vic's all-aluminium original.

I can't help you with that, but I reckon Andrey should be able to just provide the manifold and slider as an upgrade...would save most of the expense I would think.
 
Btw, hugely impressed w what I'm reading wrt Helix 2. That a Helluva lot of tt, in terms of tech and materials.

I would be chuffed if Terminator could excel on this player. There's all the chance that it could. I can tell you that I've had 6 years of flawless service from my Terminator, it does everything you would want from a tonearm. Nothing less and nothing more.

A new review of the Helix 2 from a couple of days ago...https://www.soundstageaustralia.com/index.php/reviews/309-doehmann-audio-helix-two-turntable

Notice anything in the reviewers other analogue sources? Yes, he personally owns a T3Pro. I spoke with Edgar and he thinks the T3Pro will give the Schroder CB a run for its money, but of course he's not made the direct comparison. Mark Dohmann is actually able to add a second armboard to the Helix 2, and I am currently trying to decide if that is the direction I wish to go...very tempted.
 
Small world. Edgar owns the tt I used to run. Michell Orbe/Pederson upgrade/OL motor.

Cannot compare to Vic's Salvation tt which I currently own.
 
Btw, hugely impressed w what I'm reading wrt Helix 2. That a Helluva lot of tt, in terms of tech and materials.

I would be chuffed if Terminator could excel on this player. There's all the chance that it could. I can tell you that I've had 6 years of flawless service from my Terminator, it does everything you would want from a tonearm. Nothing less and nothing more.

Helix 2 http://zero-distortion.org/analog-shoot-anamighty-sound/

Helix 1

http://zero-distortion.org/phono-shootout-thrax-vs-fm-123-vs-audio-tekne-vs/
 
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Ked, I get more useful information from people's lived experience. Not from flying visits. Others may love yr snapshot impressions. Hopefully Anthony can report in detail once he's up and running w Helix, and Terminator on it.
 
Ked, I get more useful information from people's lived experience. Not from flying visits. Others may love yr snapshot impressions. Hopefully Anthony can report in detail once he's up and running w Helix, and Terminator on it.

Thanks, I don't get anything from your sZu system and those NATs which are totally non dynamic but you like them because you own them, so I might do a flying visit to Phil to listen to a proper set up

Fyi, there were two whole day visits to Anamighty with three expert people setting up and set up time in between, and two visits to the other place where the guys reached a day earlier to ensure proper set up.

Would definitely prefer that then an owner who cannot match his gear, does not have the right amps to match 101 db speakers, and incorrectly sets up cart and arm
 
Ked, you really should just have stuck w the reasonable criticism that I didn't have my analog optimally setup. That's my admission, so you're just repeating old news. But guilty as (self) charged.

But saying I can't match gear, or have the wrong amps for my Zus, well what I can't decide is whether you believe what you say or you're just trolling for kicks. Not that it matters because yr comments are just so much more fake news.
 
Anthony, have a solution for the tonearm wire I'll use for the new Terminator arm.

Bocchino RCAs use a grubscrew rather than lossy soldering, so will run Ikeda silver wire w Cardas silver cart tags, one piece from cart to Bocchino RCAs.

Prefer this to breaking the connection half way at RCA junction box.

The Bocchinos into my Straingauge energiser unit will match the Bocchino RCAs I have on my Sablon Reserva ICs, so maintaining a family sound here.

Just awaiting the user report of a customer who has switched from old to new Terminator.
 

Thanks for posting those links Ked.

One interesting thing I learnt about the Helix tables is that from this production run right now, the original Helix 2 motor and controller are set aside, and the Helix 1 motor and controller are used in both tables. It's done to simplify things, but I sure won't complain about the upmarket drive system being used in my Helix 2.
 
Anthony, have a solution for the tonearm wire I'll use for the new Terminator arm.

Bocchino RCAs use a grubscrew rather than lossy soldering, so will run Ikeda silver wire w Cardas silver cart tags, one piece from cart to Bocchino RCAs.

Prefer this to breaking the connection half way at RCA junction box.

The Bocchinos into my Straingauge energiser unit will match the Bocchino RCAs I have on my Sablon Reserva ICs, so maintaining a family sound here.

Just awaiting the user report of a customer who has switched from old to new Terminator.

Sounds like a good solution to me.
 
Marc, Kedar:

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Back to your corners, gentlemen; have a drink; and come back cheerful.
 
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