New Teres Direct Drive Motor Available as Option

Dgarretson,
Dougdeacon is completely right about the profile of the motor pulley being slightly bulged in the center. While my Delphi uses a belt, the convex profile of the pulley keeps the belt perfectly centered. It never touches the flanges above and below the belt during operation.

Pauly,

I think it's unfortunate to critique business issues that are premature and distract from consideration of the Verus motor as an engineered product that arrives at a timely moment in TT design.

Recent evolution in TT design seems to have mostly divided between belt-driven models with heroically massive platters & high-torque motors vs. lightweight born-again idlers & direct-drive models both new and remanufactured vintage. I've heard enough people whose ears I trust get excited about those damned Lencos to pique my curiousity. But intuition tells me that direct-coupled motors, together with the more sophisticated bearings, platters, and plinths of a modern TT (maybe almost ANY good modern TT), may be the next big thing. The Verus is the only solution I'm aware of that lets one test this proposition by performing a user-friendly heart transplate on his own TT in the privacy of his living room. It's an appealing idea. It might just upset the received wisdom that any given manufacturer's TT design is to be viewed as painstakingly cut from one piece of cloth that can't be improved upon outside of arm, cartridge, and platform substitutions. Of course if enough people find that this motor can make any belt-drive TT sound better, then how long will it be before the direct-coupled paradigm replaces belt drive altogether? And if heavy platters and their robust bearing assemblies are unnecessary with a direct-coupled motor, then how long before lighter assemblies take over & drive down costs of top models?

Some manufacturers may have enough capital to invest (risk) in making their turntables available through a dealer network while building a sufficient number of tables in advance that they are at hand for purchase. Hi-end audio may have as many who took that route and failed as there are still around. Nowadays, only those already established or financially well-heeled manufacturers can go it soley with a bricks n mortar retailer distribution model.

A build on demand business model - especially where the market is small - is one that were I a banker - heh - I might be more inclined to back. It would seem a much lower risk for the manufacturer and his creditors to take on.

When I bought my first Teres (a 255) I did a half year of research. I wanted sonics at a price point and the most TT for my dollar. Frankly there was very little in the marketplace at that time that could match the Teres build quality and sonic capability for the dollar. To get that I traded my money and three weeks of waiting. I was buying a hand-crafted turntable, not a CD ladder - frankly I wasn't concerned about the fact that my audio dollars weren't working for me while I was waiting.

A Web-based high-end is not everyone's cup of tea. Some people are not comfortable with a purchase if they cannot touch the product before they buy. If you need a box on a dealer's shelf then that's what you need. I have no problem with that and wish there were more dealers with stores I could visit. However, it is unclear why someone who prefers that approach would come to this thread with contrary observations about products whose distribution doesn't suit them.

I seriously doubt you can get comparable quality for the same price when a dealer mark-up is factored in. Its a trade-off - it may not be for everyone. To me Teres is a damn fine table, sonically, ergonomically, visually, and in its quality of components and construction. Customer service beyond reproach. Continuing innovation. I had no problem with that trade-off. And apparently - if the marketplace is the judge - it seems to be working. It is extremely rare to hear someone who is not a satisfied Teres customer, and Chris & co. appear very much in business, so regardless what someone might say, it seems like Teres is a successful enterprise with products people want to buy.

Tim

Dear Dougdeacon,

*I know a Clearaudio Master Ref owner who dumped his three stock motors in favor of one retrofitted Teres motor/controller unit, with improved results*

Could you confirm that you are indeed referring to the Clearaudio Master Reference (and not the Maximum Solution)-in which case I would appreciate more info on the results of the motor swapping.

Many thanks in advance,

Kostas

hi all
i personally feel that the better you know someone the better the chances of a better service
many audiophiles evaluate components by living with them
the biggest problem [at least here in the uk] is the limited stock of the audio outlet
the system i am using at the moment COULD NOT be supplied to me by any uk dealer
so for me at least getting it right has been a case of trial and error
probably not the most cost effective method but you do get to hear a lot of good audio products in the process