1. The thrust box is hung from threads connected to the center post. Do you need to assemble the thread or is it pre-assembled.

I see that I did not fully answer this question - apologies. The hoists, their toggles, and bias apparatus arrive pre-configured and ready to go. Each arm is tested by actually listening to it (!) before sending out, so you should find that it is close to a correct set-up straight out of the box, but of course different cartridges have different heights and different compliances, so some small adjustment of the hoists and bearing may be required to reach an optimal set-up. The bearing mechanism can also settle a bit when first installed, so it’s important to keep an eye on it until you’re happy that nothing is changing.

Everything arrives as ready to go as I can make it, so for most people it is a surprisingly easy installation. If you read the first review at hifiaf.com Adam expresses surprise that installation was not as hairy as he had expected, and a customer in Germany was helped to install by a friend who is a dealer and who "dislikes" ’uni-pivots’, and apparently he was pleasantly surprised that there is much less back-and-forth during set-up than a typical uni-pivot. With some uni-pivot designs achieving reliable azimuth can be tricky as it depends on the position of the counteweight. In a SUPA azimuth is much less dependent on counterweight position because the hoist lengths are the main determinant of azimuth, so it's very easily adjusted with the supplied Allen key.

Good questions.

Richard, Manufacturer of SUPATRAC

1. The thrust box is hung from threads connected to the center post. Do you need to assemble the thread or is it pre-assembled.

Normally the arm is supplied separated from the pillar. To install you have to connect the five electrical contacts in the pillar and insert the two hoist toggles into holes in the thrust box. Description and diagrammes of the installation process are available in the manual. I don't know if I am allowed to provide a link to that here but please contact me by the obvious means if you would like to know more.

2. The tonearm mount seemed to be drilled from under the arm boards. Can you drilled directly from above?

I have supplied bases with through holes. These are standard for Jelco/VPI/Rega bases, but if a customer requested through holes in a Linn-SME-type mount, that can be provided at no extra cost.

3. Can you provide a SME adapter to your mount?

Yes, the Linn base has six bolt holes. Three are 120 degrees apart for a standard Linn arm board. One of those joins the other three in forming two pairs at 30/150 degree intervals which clamp an ABS bracket under the arm board, compatible with an SME capsule-shaped hole. The SME spindle-to-pivot adjustment is slightly less than the full range but there is plenty, and it works well. Again, if you contact me privately I can provide images of this arrangement. In brief the Linn/SME base is compatible with both kinds of arm board.

4. How extensively have you tested the arm with various cartridges? I am thinking of pairing it with a low compliant Koetsu. Any problem?

The arm is designed for the widest range of compatibility with half-inch bolted cartridges. Adam at hifiaf.com is currently using a Miyajima Mono on one, a cartridge which has zero vertical compliance, and he has added half a kilogram of ballast to the arm to achieve the desired natural frequency. I have heard the arm with a Koetsu Rosewood Signature and a My Sonic Lab Eminent and I hope I'm allowed to say that all seemed to function correctly. One curiosity of the arm design is that however much mass you pile onto it, the load on the bearing barely changes, since the bearing is horizontal. You may need to tighten the hoists slightly, but that is a normal part of set-up.

I hope these answers conform with site policies - if they don't, please let me know and I will edit or delete them.

Richard, Manufactuer of Supatrac

@twoleftears gives fantastic advice:

I suggest you look at a selection of audiotroy's posts to see how to do it wrong.

And a selection of atmasphere's to see how to do it right.

I don't think there's a way to add auto-signature. It's good practice to end every post with something like "Richard, Manufactuer of Supatrac".

Cheers,

Spencer

@supatrac Now that you have identified yourself as the maker of the SUPATRAC Blackbird. I have a few questions:

1. The thrust box is hung from threads connected to the center post. Do you need to assemble the thread or is it pre-assembled.

2. The tonearm mount seemed to be drilled from under the arm boards. Can you drilled directly from above?

3. Can you provide a SME adapter to your mount?

4. How extensively have you tested the arm with various cartridges? I am thinking of pairing it with a low compliant Koetsu. Any problem?

They're supposed to identity themselves as such.

I have always wondered how do you identify members who are manufacturers or dealers.  Maybe I missed something.

I have always wondered how do you identify members who are manufacturers or dealers.  Maybe I missed something.

....hmmm...’transgress’.....*multiple clicks later*

Ah...."Bad apparel choice by one in-between."

I believe that’s ’transdress’...!

Welcome, supatrac. You’ll quickly find that I personally rarely have any input of substance, and mostly just post foolishness like this.

Sadly, this is one of my better ones.

Cheers fellas, it seems like a very friendly place. Every forum has its flouncers and curmudgeons, usually me ;-)

I've visited Audiogon many times over the last decade - you can't miss it - and there is always interesting knowledge shared here. 

Wondered why Dudley rarely visits me, in my dreams, anymore.

Anyway, welcome to the forums and you have an interesting (to me) product from what I've read.

DeKay (YFC)

Welcome to Supatrac.  Along with advertising, I've found that even the mildest of cusswords will get you deleted.  Even if it is just an adjective.

@supatrac... Welcome.

There are certain individuals here who you should not engage (some of whom you have already). To do so is to encourage them to go on and on... Ad Nauseam

Welcome , I had a Audio store in St Neots for a number of years until 08 .

Transgress literally means 'step across', usually a line at the edge of acceptable behaviour.

Welcome! 

....hmmm...'transgress'.....*multiple clicks later*

Ah...."Bad apparel choice by one in-between."

*tsk* Happens...

Hi, Richard. *S*  Welcome to the zoo...*L* ;).

What is transgress?

@supatrac 

Audiogon is both an audio market place and a forum. There is no income from the forum. Therefore if folk like you come on to promote your own product, but try to sell it by inserting links in your forum posts, then Audiogon would have no income and the forum would not exist.

You can sign up for the dealer Program or place ads.

It would be good etiquette if you comment about product that you manufacture and sell that you would at least put a dealer disclaimer in your moniker.

I have heard your arm and appreciate the ingenuity that has gone into it.

Cheers jond! Will do.

Welcome Richard and your deleted post was well intentioned despite being against the rules. We appreciate respectful non shilling manufacturer participation if you need a guideline check out the posts of Atmasphere.

I don't have an internal Derek or Clive. I have an external Derek & Clive and they keep check on me. It's the worst job they've ever had.

Richard:

Keep a close check on your internal Derek & Clive and you will do well.

DeKay

Welcome Richard.

According to what I have read here from time to time  :

I'm being a bit thick because I can't work out where to add a signature or bio/profile. Maybe its browser incompatibility. Any clues?

You are not allowed to say anything about my mother, otherwise have at it.

I’m one of your mother’s most ardent admirers!

After my last thread was removed it might be better if I answer these questions in an email sent to me via the product web site. My username should be a big clue!

I suggest you look at a selection of audiotroy's posts to see how to do it wrong.

And a selection of atmasphere's to see how to do it right.

@supatrac , which tonearm do you make? It is alright to say just don't push it here or trash other arms. The Brits are good at this stuff. Certainly better than we here in the US. Are you doing the machining in house or are you specifying parts and assembling them yourself?

Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring.

Thanks - I will enter a sig now.

I don’t think there is any rule prohibiting manufacturers from promoting products in the forum, just always a good idea to be as transparent as possible. People come here to learn about new things including new products.

My only word of caution would be to remember it is an open forum so you never know where things might go, so you just have to be transparent and prepared at all times to avoid things backfiring.

be helpful and courteous and to encourage the same in others

Common sense but very good advice!

Welcome.

My own opinion is that it is fine to be a manufacturer or distributor. But to identify yourself as that (best done by adding a signature line at the bottom of your post). And never sell in posts. Great to help answer questions in general ways. Add knowledge and value.

By identifying yourself it allows folks to understand where you are coming from… good or bad. In many circumstances I think it can be good… as you probably have larger exposure than many forum members. But some folks may believe you will be bias towards what you sell. Through identifying yourself and the words you use in your posts you can earn credibility.

More than once I was puzzled by someone praising one brand and trashing others… and I found out they were manufactures of the brand they were talking up… that is not cool.

I don’t pay attention to the rules. I have been a high end enthusiast for 50 years. I try at all times to be helpful and courteous and to encourage the same in others. I would hope I never get near to violating any rules.

There is also a place to show your systems under your UserID. I show mine. This is a great way for everyone to see where you are coming from. I always try to show people where I am coming from, so they can decide if my advise is pertinent to them.

I didn't know that manufacturers can't mention products in discussions. I joined up because my product was discussed in somebody else's thread, so I thought I would say hello and offer to answer questions. Forums all seem to have slightly different rules, and since I'm not an Audiogon regular yet, I'm not too familiar with the rules here. I'll do my best not to irritate anyone, but apologies if I get a few things wrong!

+1 @lewm

Didn’t your earlier OP contain an advert for your tonearm, which you apparently manufacture and sell to the public? That’s why it was censored. Audiogon will accept ads via a different pathway and for $. But I think you know this.

Welcome ... 

Welcome from your many new friends here...

I wish you the best there is....

Are there any special forum rules I need to observe as a manufacturer? I still don't really know why my previous introduction was removed. What is the definition of spam? Perhaps that's the line I stepped over.

No deal. The Amadeus is probably my favourite. It's a triumph of good engineering over expensive manufacturing. An engineer is someone who can do for two bob what any fool can do for a quid, and I admire Firebaugh above all the other turntable engineers.

If you give me the Well Tempered, we can be friends. LOL Welcome.

Cheers fellas - after my previous introduction was deleted I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention tone arms, but I'm currently listening to a borrowed My Sonic Lab Eminent, an OC9 MkII, a 2M Black, an AT520EB, and a Shure M97xE. Phono stages are Linn Uphorik and Parks Audio Puffin. Creek ALPS volume controls, Linn Tuneboxes, Behringer A500s, active 242ii. I have a second system with DACMagic Azur - Creek ALPS - Behringer A500 - EPOS ES14s.

I've had a hifi problem for about 40 years - I think I bought my Sondek in 1984. My Amadeus was 1400GBP used, my SL-1210 was 200GBP with an RB301 arm from Cash Convertors, and my Garrards were free as they were about to be thrown out! I seem to have accumulated my system on a fairly limited budget - only some of the Behringers were bought new.

If you keep a look out for vintage bargains you can assemble a very nice system for not much outlay.

Welcome to the forum. An observation from one forum member here (me). People don’t mind being opinionated, some overly passionate about their opinions. I always liked the civility I had seen in GB when one did not want to offend another (haha). Maybe that’s not what you will always find here. And yes that is a fine TT collection.

Hi Richard,

You are not allowed to say anything about my mother, otherwise have at it. It would appear you have found the right place for a guy with so many turntables. Which one do you use the most and what tonearm and cartridge are on it?

welcome!

That's a real nice TT collection! Welcome to this always entertaining - and contentious! - forum!