TechDAS Air Force Zero in Hong Kong AV Show 2019

[mem916]

I had dinner with Nishikawa san during the show. He wants to design a tonearm system to go with his turntables. It is going to be a high tech system. Since it is still on drawing board, he doesn‘t want me to tell too much about it. One thing I can said is it uses air bearing which is natural given his Air Force series turntable.

Now this is very interesting. Every time I think about replacing my Versa Dynamics with a TechDas I have been wishing they had an air bearing tone arm. Has there been any news on it since this post?

 

[Gregadd]

So that is a sore spot. IIRC you might want to ask Bob Graham that question. I did.

 

[Gregadd]

Tech Das is imported by Graham tonearms
They were I initially paired together. It is a pivoted bearing design.
I am not sure he is anxious to replace his arm with an air bearing design.
IMO

 

[PeterA]

Xs150 is basically Class A amp, the current drawn is fairly constant. Unless pushed hard, it consumes fairly stable power.

Xs150 sounds much better with P20, Xs150 is connected to P20. That's why I uses 3 P20's. One for each Xs150 and one for the front end.

I think CH M1 will also sound better with P20. The output impedance of P20 is very low, actually lower than most wall socket. The dynamic will be enhanced, not restricted with it. You should give it a try. BTW, P20 is much better than P10, so forget about P10.

When you write that the XS150 sounds better with the P20, what do you mean? Can you describe how the sound changes? For example, blacker background, or what? Thank you.

I've always liked Pass/Magico. Congratulations.

 

[Gregadd]

Air Tangent2002

 

[redandgold]

Looks similar to the Bergmann Odin tonearm.

 

[TLi]

When you write that the XS150 sounds better with the P20, what do you mean? Can you describe how the sound changes? For example, blacker background, or what? Thank you.

I've always liked Pass/Magico. Congratulations.

Basically Xs150 sounds smoother and more dynamic with P20. Background is certainly darker. The difference is easily noticeable. I demonstrated the effect to a few audiophile friends, they all agreed with the improvement.

 

[TLi]

Now this is very interesting. Every time I think about replacing my Versa Dynamics with a TechDas I have been wishing they had an air bearing tone arm. Has there been any news on it since this post?

I have not heard any further news for TechDAS tonearm. The information I got was it is going to be a pivot arm, not linear design. The base of the pivot is conical in shape, the ward and its mount rest on the cone like a baseball cap. The space between the cap and the base is the air bearing.