TechDAS tonearm Air Force 10

TLi · May 11, 2023

TechDAS just announced new tonearm model, Air Force 10. It will make its world premiere at Munich High End 2023. So far no photo is released and provided information is limited.

Key Features of Air Force 10 tonearm:

- The Air Force 10 tonearm applies the air bearing technology employed in TechDAS Air Force turntables, for floating the arm body with no
friction.

- The armwand of the Air Force 10 tonearm has a hybrid 2 layer structure of magnesium alloy with DLC coating outside and CFRP (Carbon
Fiber Reinforced Plastics) inside.

More information will be available on Munich next week.

Ron Resnick · May 12, 2023

TLi said:
- The Air Force 10 tonearm applies the air bearing technology employed in TechDAS Air Force turntables, for floating the arm body with no
friction.

- The armwand of the Air Force 10 tonearm has a hybrid 2 layer structure of magnesium alloy with DLC coating outside and CFRP (Carbon
Fiber Reinforced Plastics) inside.

Is it a linear tracker?

TLi · May 12, 2023

Ron Resnick said:
Is it a linear tracker?

As far as I know, it is not a linear tracker.

shakti · May 12, 2023

Full Munich info:

New Product: TechDAS Air Force 10 tonearm TechDAS' new tonearm model, Air Force 10

will make its world premiere at Munich High End 2023 Key Features:

- The Air Force 10 tonearm applies the air bearing technology employed in TechDAS Air Force turntables, for floating the arm body with no friction.

- The armwand of the Air Force 10 tonearm has a hybrid 2 layer structure of magnesium alloy with DLC coating outside and CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) inside.

TechDAS team will demonstrate the working prototype of TechDAS tonearm in A4.1 Room F118 as the schedule below.

Thursday May 18th: 11:00-12:00pm, 2:00-3:00pm, 4:00-5:00pm
Friday May 19th: 11:00-12:00pm, 2:00-3:00pm, 4:00-5:00pm
Saturday May 20th: 1:00-2:00pm, 3:00-4:00pm
Sunday May 21st 12:00-1:00pm

TechDAS turntables are going to be demonstrated in the following rooms.

A3.1 Room D105: Air Force III Premium S
A4.1 Room E110: Air Force One Premium
A4.1 Room F118: Air Force One Premium & Air Force III Premium S
A4.1 Room F119: Air Force III Premium S
A4.2 Room E223: Air Force V Premium

TLi · May 12, 2023

Before COIVD pandemic in 2019, Nishikawa san explained to me his design concept for this tonearm.

The base is a conical dome, the wand is mounted onto an inverted conical cup which sits onto the dome. The two are separated by air, air bearing. He also mentioned air controlled wand movements, both upward and sideway. He contemplated automatic track searching and wand movement to a specific track by mean of an apps.

Can’t wait to see what he finally come up with. I shall go to Munich to see it first hand.

TLi · May 20, 2023

Air Force 10 tonearm prototype was demonstrated in Munich Highend Show. The final product will be ready at the end of year, probably during the Tokyo Audio Show in November, we will see the real AF10.

The sound was very good during the demonstration, but I cannot tell how much is contributed by the tonearm.

thekong · May 20, 2023

Hi TLi, do you have any idea how that airbearing operates? Only for the horizontal plane, or for both the horizontal and vertical planes?

Thanks

iaxel · May 21, 2023

The analog setup at the CH room with the AF1p and their new tonearm, was one of the best analog demonstrations in Munich this year.
Another one was the Vyger Indian in hifideluxe with Viva amplification and new Vyger speakers.

TLi · May 21, 2023

thekong said:
Hi TLi, do you have any idea how that airbearing operates? Only for the horizontal plane, or for both the horizontal and vertical planes?

Thanks

I have asked the TechDAS team. Vertical joint is tungsten carbide and ceramic. Horizontal joint is air bearing.

TLi · Nov 5, 2023

The final production version was demonstrated in Tokyo International Audio Show last weekend. Air Force 10's were setup in two Air Force One Premium's. They A/B compared the performance with another Air Force Three with Graham Elite arm. The sound AF1P and AF10 was obviously better than AF3 and Graham. But we didn't know how much was contributed by the tonearm and the turntable.

There are several changes in the production model compared with the one demonstrated in Munich. Vacuum is added. There are two pipes going to the arm, float and vacuum. The float is for the horizontal air bearing, the bearing is made in tungsten. Vacuum is for the vertical wand movement, ie the arm lifter. If the air pump is not turn on, the arm will not drop. Vacuum lowered the arm lifter to cue the wand.

The headshell is now detachable, making azimuth adjustment easy. Both 10" and 12" wands will be available. The air pump now has a full equipment width but a little reduced height, compared with the air pump unit in AF1.

Tracking force is set with a spring load system on the top. The counterweight is just to balance the arm and is not involved in setting the tracking force.

All and all, AF10 is a well designed, complicated, yet down to earth tonearm. The sound certainly lives up to the expectation.

mtemur · Nov 6, 2023

To hear both arms -Techdas Graham titanium and Techdas AF10- with same Lp (Jacintha - Here’s To Ben) was a great data point for us. Both arms were equipped with Techdas cartridges. IMHO AF1+AF10 combo sounded very resolving, like a summer breeze in a very hot day, vivid, Technicolor like tones with great dynamics. It was also silky smooth. The only area of improvement can be bass IMHO. As @TLi explained above turntable difference (AF1 versus AF3) was also in play but I believe AF10 tonearm is responsible for some of those qualities. I appreciate @TLi for helping us to pass language barrier when communicating with Techdas engineers.

Ron Resnick · Feb 7, 2024

Maier Shadi of The Audio Salon, in Santa Monica, California, will be hosting the North American launch of the TechDAS Air Force 10 tonearm this Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10.

Senior officials of TechDAS will be there to explain the new tonearm and the design philosophy behind it.

Michael Fremer will be there to play his new lacquers and to keep things entertaining.

RSVP to Maier if you are interested in attending.

I will be there on Saturday with Don Saltzman.

TLi · Feb 8, 2024

Ron Resnick said:
Maier Shadi of The Audio Salon, in Santa Monica, California, will be hosting the North American launch of the TechDAS Air Force 10 tonearm this Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10.

Senior officials of TechDAS will be there to explain the new tonearm and the design philosophy behind it.

Michael Fremer will be there to play his new lacquers and to keep things entertaining.

RSVP to Maier if you are interested in attending.

I will be there on Friday with Don Saltzman.

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