^ its gorgeous. what do you do with the old platter??
Win,
I have extremely fond memories of the Saskia at RMAF a few years ago; especially spinning Prince and Barbra Streisand back to back :^0 !
Hope to hear the Saskia II at RMAF (hint, hint). Are you at liberty to discuss the changes??
I'm a little late to the party for RMAF, but I think I'll get there with it.
One addition is 78 RPM, which is especially nice with the new releases out there. I admit that isn't a big deal for most people, but those few records will knock your socks off, so I had to include it. Another change is a redesigned spindle and bearing assembly. The spindle is ceramic, so it will never wear, and it has more drag than the original. That's because the new motor has twice the torque, so it needs more drag by my way of thinking. (It's one place where I agree with Verdier, although our ideas differ in other ways.)
The motor also produces a lot more eddy current, three times more than the original, which brings us to the big change, and that is eddy current management. Eddy currents are tweaked at various frequencies as needed for optimal performance. I don't know of another turntable that does that. In fact, the new controller is wild with innovation. It has a service mode, is user upgradeable through a USB port, and it maintains accuracy to satisfy a Sutherland Timeline, regardless of conditions without a lot of constant feedback that might get in the way of the music. It even accounts for wear on the idler surface, as well as temperature, humidity, etc. It also regenerates new three-phase power with three linear amplifiers that get their power from a linear supply. It was designed by Bryan Edewaard who truly gets speed control. It's amazing what he can do with a microprocessor.
Really, everything has been improved from the tip of the spindle to the bottom of the feet. I don't believe there is a single thing that isn't refined in some way. Even the linkage has been totally redone. I did try to keep the overall look as close to the first as I could because I prefer that traditional look.
I'm really proud of this one, so thanks for asking.
I always thought it was Bill Firebaugh who popularized the concept of adding drag to the drive system in order to achieve a more stable platter speed?
In actuality though, Linn did ithe same thing accidentally with what they called at the time their static electricity discharge piece
lead weight
I would have normally traded it in, however got a very good deal so it will sit of the floor. I guess I could sell it to someone who wanted an upgrade for a Raven One or GT.
I always thought it was Bill Firebaugh who popularized the concept of adding drag to the drive system in order to achieve a more stable platter speed?
In actuality though, Linn did ithe same thing accidentally with what they called at the time their static electricity discharge piece
allen perkins current tables use resistance for this rerason. the versa dynamics 1.0 had a greased ceramic bearing, which wouldnt spin more than a couple rotations with the belt off and a good nudge.
The Elite arm will not be ready until the fall. The Supreme 12" is 3 weeks out. I may have the table w/o an arm for a week or two as my current arms are not sme mount. Patience is a virtue.
I'm not familiar with the Versa Dynamics, but Allen Perkins makes a very good turntable. The concept is a valid one, maybe even necessary for top performance, but it can be a hard sell to some audiophiles because they have been sold the notion that a platter needs to spin freely. Whenever I see some manufacturer's copy claiming a seven minute spin-down time, or whatever, I cringe.
Mosin, will you keep the previous model as well in your product line?
offer it to syntax, it might improve the sound of hi his micro seiki
Nope. The original Saskia is discontinued. Progress marches on. Still, Saskia II retains the original look. It is better in most ways, though.
Beyond everything else, Win is a true gentleman and "discontinued" is a rather kind summation of what led to his current table. I've heard both now and while I've always coveted the first I'll go on record as saying that Saskia II is the only table I know that would tempt me to trade one of "my babies". I know this thread is a show and tell so here's one of mine.
View attachment 10847