Maplenoll Mailing Discussion List

this is the most VIVID tt ive ever heard in my system. between a noisy stock pump and a slight mishap, it needs some work.
it is one of my THREE straight line trackers, i just love tangential tracking. the spring suspension is defeated and i may just use my toysRus tweeeeek/mod to suspend it although, the air seems to be all thats necessary.
the arm is awkward to cue because of the wood side right next to it but its worth adjusting to for the resultant sound.
someone here is selling one for $700. kinda high, dontcha think?

Seven Hundred might be a little high for a used Athena, however, it is hard to dispute what the seller states, that the table is better than nearly everything under $4K. I know that I'd paid $2500 (used) for my Airadne Signature right after Bob Dilger had slipped off the face of the earth, in the early 1990's. Right now, there are few 'tables I'd consider an upgrade. Think about it.

I used to own an Athena, (actually I still have the remains of it stored away) until I designed and built a new body and tonearm for it. And before Bob Dilger dissappeared I acquired the Ariadne arm spindle block, the air bearing sub platters and a 1/2" thick lead plate. Anyway, it was a five year project and it payed off. I call it the Deconstrata named after the deconstructivist school of design and strata for its six 1/2" layers of corian laminated together. It was used by Bluecircle Audio as a front end component for the '97 CES in Las Vegas. If anyone is interested in getting more details or finding out why I undertook this project in the first place feel free to contact me.

Hey roymio, why don't you tell share it with the class? Sounds interesting. Why did you DIY instead of finding a stock Ariadne signature?

Sorry Piedpiper, I guess I should be checking this forum a little more often. I wanted to reduce the inertial mass of the tone arm. It's now under 2" long. So I had to move the arm block to the right side of the platter. Therefore I had to make a new body.
Does anyone know the name of the manufacturer of the upgrade "Super Quiet Pump" that Maplenoll offered. It had 40psi and sold for about $600.