DPS/Ayre Turntable does anyone know anything

As MMike84 noted, we are preparing the first batch of turntables for production. We have finalized all the details of the new power supply design and they should be ready to ship to the dealers by early August.

The main impetus for designing a different power supply was simply to reduce the cost. We felt that the existing 3-phase unit was too expensive to sell well in the US, especially given the weak dollar. We have sent a prototype for Willi to compare against the original 3-phase supply, but he has been too busy with a show in the UK to have a chance to listen to it yet. (However, it is clearly better sounding than the 2-phase unit that we have in-house.)

Even though the official DPS website is in German, they have the Hi-Fi+ review (in English) of the DPS that includes both the 2-phase and 3-phase power supplies.

We will stock the turntable with the DPS/Rega arm. It will also be available pre-drilled for other arms, but these will be special orders with a wait involved. Final pricing is yet to be determined.

Charles, thanks for the helpful update. And again congratulations on picking one of the best tables around for your lineup. Everyone I have had over to listen to the DPS was always highly impressed.

I am looking forward to hearing your 3 phase power supply. Any chance it will be offered as an upgrade option separately?

With best wishes,

Rene

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Yes, but we will have to work out the details. One issue is that the drive level of each phase is adjustable. By carefully trimming the drive levels to each phase, the motor vibration is significantly reduced.

So maybe we will be able to figure out a way for the end user to do this. Another possibility is that you would send your motor to the factory so that the power supply could be properly adjusted to optimize it.

Give us a while to figure this out -- we're still just getting started with the whole project.

Nice review of the Ayre/DPS by Art Dudley in the latest Stereophile...

I've heard the DPS/Ayre turntable twice, both during mfr's open house demos hosted by my local high end dealer, one Feb 2009 and the other last month. The first demo had the modified RB250 arm; the second a DPS arm. The turntable sounded great both times and I think a little better the second time with the DPS arm.

Thing is, this 'table is targeted for about $10K and it reminds me strongly of a $30K SME. It's a *really* good-sounding turntable, neutral in all the right ways. Great delicacy and nuance, but outstanding pace, bass extension, and slam as well. Both rigs had a Lyra (Helikon?) cartridge, which was a good match.