The longer that a platter can freely rotate the better quality the bearing as less drag. How much longer makes a difference is not clear. Is it that 5 mins is sufficient or 30 is required.
American Sound, "The Absolute Nothing"
- Thread starter PeterA
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The longer that a platter can freely rotate the better quality the bearing as less drag. How much longer makes a difference is not clear. Is it that 5 mins is sufficient or 30 is required.
And some turntables add friction as part of the design, either by adding heavy oils in the bearing or some kind of friction clutch in old idlers.
just know from changing bearings in the studer A80s, that the bearings with the least friction aren´t necessarily the quietest ones.....
Yes most of the Studer A 80 motors are somewhat noisy in the bearings, even when all friction parts are new. I own 3 of them.
I will modify one with a air bearing at some point.
that's secret stuff.
the CS Port 'air float' approach is a version of the same approach as the American Sound, and has a guide sleave the platter fits (is gently set down) into when it's installed. then when the air pressure is engaged the platter lifts with a film of air and is lifted off the base of the sleave too. not sure the details of the American Sound approach but 'guess' it's something similar.
it's not logical that there would not be a locating sleave of some sort for the American Sound. is this technically a bearing? don't know. on the CS Port, the 'air float' floats the whole bottom platter surface and the air escapes around the edges. but the platter does not touch the outside of the plinth, so it's the inner sleave where it is guided. does the air pressure also provide that air film around the sleave? so 'no touch'. probably. or maybe the air is guided to the platter bottom after the sleave.
CS Port is 'air float', not 'air bearing'.
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VYGER is air bearing vertically and horizontally so I’m guessing (have not seen or experienced an American Sound table) is like American Sound based on Peter’s reporting.
Sub-chassis of VYGER has a spindle with holes where air escapes, platter rests over this spindle. The air escapes evenly around this spindle and escapes out the perimeter of the platter/subchassis interface. In this way the platter floats and is separated from the spindle by a cushion of air a few microns thick. Really nifty thing about the VYGER is while doing this there is also vacuum hold-down of the record. Give the platter a spin without the belt attached it’ll go on seemingly forever as there is essentially no friction. I haven’t timed it but did that test when first setting up the table and taking a break for lunch. Came back later the platter was still going.
The same pump is used for platter and linear tracking Vision tonearm, with the new Titan digital controller allowing for adjustment of air pressure and vacuum hold down suction.
Sub-chassis of VYGER has a spindle with holes where air escapes, platter rests over this spindle. The air escapes evenly around this spindle and escapes out the perimeter of the platter/subchassis interface. In this way the platter floats and is separated from the spindle by a cushion of air a few microns thick. Really nifty thing about the VYGER is while doing this there is also vacuum hold-down of the record. Give the platter a spin without the belt attached it’ll go on seemingly forever as there is essentially no friction. I haven’t timed it but did that test when first setting up the table and taking a break for lunch. Came back later the platter was still going.
The same pump is used for platter and linear tracking Vision tonearm, with the new Titan digital controller allowing for adjustment of air pressure and vacuum hold down suction.
Deja Vu (or as they say in audio, Deja voodoo).
This whole bearing discussion has been had
Post in thread 'The American Sound Turntable- Beyond's Minimalist!'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...urntable-beyonds-minimalist.18161/post-962085
This whole bearing discussion has been had
Post in thread 'The American Sound Turntable- Beyond's Minimalist!'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...urntable-beyonds-minimalist.18161/post-962085
This is the Audio Tekne approach. The “spindle” is about 10” diameter and has all the tiny holes for the airflow. The platter is basically an inverse of this that drops over the top. No metal or bearings.
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Don't see how an air bearing platter wouldn't wobble even if just a very small amount unless the air column surrounding the bearing shaft is so dense that it cant. And wouldn't' a wobble be just as bad as cogging? I can't imagine this kind of design would have absolutely no wobble...
on a nano scale air bearing design can affect true of the platter turn, but doubt it's audible. what is audible is how air bearings effect linear tracking arms, mostly in terms of variations in dynamics. it's always a balance with levels of air flow and pressure, and the pulse of the compressor. a matter of tuning considering the whole chain.
but mostly air bearing linear trackers have outstanding subjective performance, but vary in character. i've owned three different ones.
Had but never entirely resolved … Perhaps the owner of the AS 2000 turntable could answer unequivocally and with specific regard to the AS 2000 turntable :
Upon operational condition of the air supply to the AS 2000 does *Any* other singular part of the turntable make physical contact with the main platter ? Ergo does the main platter operate entirely in free space other than contact with the drive string conected to the motor .
Hmmmm , I am not entirely in step with you there Mike , Once a true air bearing tonearm is entirely free of contact of it’s sleave in relation to the main horizontal rail , once the arm has in effect achieved ‘Take Off ‘ does any micro fluctuation in applied bar have any real term effect on the accuracy of the arm wand > pickup > Stylus ? Apologies If I have misconstued your point as I am three Rusty Nails down at this point.
yes. for sure.
the degree of air pressure can in effect, harden or soften the dynamics, relative to a hard solid metal bearing. and the flow and method of feeding the tube can influence the calmness or energy. not all air delivery approaches or tube designs or air orifices are created equal. and of course the metallurgy of it and the arm wand design makes a difference too.
not saying there is one perfect way, but a few different good designs.
just like how different pivoted bearing designs vary. for instance, one of my pivoted arms uses a field coil to steady the unipivot.
i understand.
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Can we get David a 1 day pass to help answer these questions?
I should have been more specific Mike , I was referring to your observation above, as for my part I havn’t experienced this phenomenon with the VYGER Vision air bearing LT , and it would seem that you have more experience of this effect with disparate ABLT’s than I .
in the case of my CS Port it's low flow, low pressure; so it is calmer and more subtle that some others. the compressor can have an effect, how that goes is part of the design. some designs have had some ripple effect from the compressor.
i know of no current designs with those type issues. cannot say about the VYGER but from what i read they have the new design really dialed in.
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