Esoteric Grandioso T1 turntable arrives; G1X Master Clock coming.

[Mike Lavigne]

Very curious as to whether it at least superficially resembles the sound of your previous idler Saskia.

too early to nail down. but first impressions are somewhat (expectation bias?.....slightly?) more propulsion, more flow, quieter and smoother. and all four of these things are strengths of the Saskia. the foundation and ease are equal at least. more space. how much of those perceptions are the arm and cartridge? or are they limiting what i'm hearing? too soon to know. my perceptions are provisional.

not yet played with the torque knob on the front. which i think is a gamechanger.

i'm very happy with what i am hearing. my concern was to go backwards from the Saskia with the shiny new toy. i think i've moved past that concern, anyway.

 

[bonzo75]

it's an idler, on steroid's. a rim drive specifically.

So like Marc's TT then. He will be thrilled you finally came round to what he has been saying.

 

[Elliot G.]

too early to nail down. but first impressions are somewhat (expectation bias?.....slightly?) more propulsion, more flow, quieter and smoother. and all four of these things are strengths of the Saskia. the foundation and ease are equal at least. more space. how much of those perceptions are the arm and cartridge? or are they limiting what i'm hearing? too soon to know. my perceptions are provisional.

not yet played with the torque knob on the front. which i think is a gamechanger.

i'm very happy with what i am hearing. my concern was to go backwards from the Saskia with the shiny new toy. i think i've moved past that concern, anyway.

Congrats Mike. I hope to hear it in your systemat PAF but it is for sure the best looking TT ( IMO) along maybe with the Basis Transcendance, it is certainly a looker and the drive system is very cool tech. Enjoy it!!!!

 

[spiritofmusic]

So like Marc's TT then. He will be thrilled you finally came round to what he has been saying.

Hey, Mike's a reasonable guy.

 

[marty]

not yet played with the torque knob on the front. which i think is a gamechanger.

Some years ago I was considering a Kodo Beat TT by Steve Dobbins. He made the point that he had the option of adjusting the torque to the user's preference. I had never been made aware previously that torque could be an important factor. Nor am I aware that there is any TT now other than the Esoteric that allows the user to adjust this variable to the user's preference. Will some torque settings be better suited for different genres? Or will it be that one setting preferred for everything? Very much looking forward to your observations here. Enjoy the ride.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Primary Control Kinea DD has adjustable torque. I believe the forthcoming Wilson Benesch GMTOne also will.

 

[spiritofmusic]

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Johan, you have NO idea *quite* what Mike is gonna say, lol.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Some years ago I was considering a Kodo Beat TT by Steve Dobbins. He made the point that he had the option of adjusting the torque to the user's preference. I had never been made aware previously that torque could be an important factor. Nor am I aware that there is any TT now other than the Esoteric that allows the user to adjust this variable to the user's preference. Will some torque settings be better suited for different genres? Or will it be that one setting preferred for everything? Very much looking forward to your observations here. Enjoy the ride.

Is the Beat still made?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Johan, you have NO idea *quite* what Mike is gonna say, lol.

my intentions for that post #4 will be links to T1 information, which i wanted to have on page 1 of the thread for reference. so his 'like' will be relevant by the end of the day.

added note/Thursday the 16th-----yesterday i did fill that post #4 with links and information.

 

[jeff1225]

Congrats Mike! A truly impressive table in terms of fit and finish and technology. Hopefully it turns out to be the first class table you've been looking for. I think it will be.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Mike, that TT is crying out for the Kuzma Safir arm. You know it makes sense (says the man in virtual charge of your bank account).

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike, that TT is crying out for the Kuzma Safir arm. You know it makes sense (says the man in virtual charge of your bank account).

so i retire in 2 months, or buy a Safir?

cuz i gotta choose. if i want to stay married. i've cashed in all my chips already.

 

[bonzo75]

so i retire in 2 months, or buy a Safir?

cuz i gotta choose. if i want to stay married. i've cashed in all my chips already.

Mike your wife is not going to leave you after 50 years of marriage provided you spend on a habit of yours she is familiar with. I bet you cannot prove me wrong

 

[marty]

cuz i gotta choose. if i want to stay married.

Now that's funny. Who among us has not used that line before? It's a page right out of the audiophile playbook! I think its on the first page somewhere. It's also generally accompanied by bullet point suggestions such as "But honey, if i do this...then I'll do (that) for you!"

 

[spiritofmusic]

so i retire in 2 months, or buy a Safir?

cuz i gotta choose. if i want to stay married. i've cashed in all my chips already.

Mike, in my case, the temptress who must be resisted, the monster that must be fed, is a 150+ year old building, not my partner. You try and tell a chapel you're not going to spend on it to spend on audio toys instead.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Some years ago I was considering a Kodo Beat TT by Steve Dobbins. He made the point that he had the option of adjusting the torque to the user's preference. I had never been made aware previously that torque could be an important factor. Nor am I aware that there is any TT now other than the Esoteric that allows the user to adjust this variable to the user's preference. Will some torque settings be better suited for different genres? Or will it be that one setting preferred for everything? Very much looking forward to your observations here. Enjoy the ride.

thanks Marty.

i owned the first 'Kodo Beat' tt by Steve Dobbins and it did have plenty of torque. as i recall (12 years ago) i told Steve to use his best judgment about the setting for me. at the time my Dobbins Garrard 301 with the Loricraft Power Supply was even torquier. an idler obviously. but the 'Kodo Beat' was a higher level all around tt.

agree that playing with that torque dial might be pretty awesome. maybe tonight i might get a chance to investigate.

 

[dminches]

Mike, congrats on your new purchase. It is fun watching you navigate the cutting edge of audio.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike, congrats on your new purchase. It is fun watching you navigate the cutting edge of audio.

thank you David.

 

[Lagonda]

Some years ago I was considering a Kodo Beat TT by Steve Dobbins. He made the point that he had the option of adjusting the torque to the user's preference. I had never been made aware previously that torque could be an important factor. Nor am I aware that there is any TT now other than the Esoteric that allows the user to adjust this variable to the user's preference. Will some torque settings be better suited for different genres? Or will it be that one setting preferred for everything? Very much looking forward to your observations here. Enjoy the ride.

Is adjustable torque maybe a fancy way of describing the function of slight voltage adjustments after initial startup, something that a few controllers are capable of ? Yours included Marc ! Awesome TT by the way !

 

[spiritofmusic]

Milan, some TTs start up at high torque before "idling" at lower torque. The Kinea DD is one such.