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Trans-Fi Terminator Tonearm: 2019 Update

In reading a few related posts on linear tracking tonearm, in general,  and Trans-Fi Terminator , in particular, I thought I would give a brief update of the Terminator.

I purchased the arm directly from Andrey in Moscow two months ago. From what I understand, Andrey has taken over production after Vic's retirement. What I received is the most up-to-date version of the arm with the carbon fibre wand and brass counterweights, the direct wire leads from cartridge to  phono amp, and a new brass manifold ( not evident from the main web-site). Both the wand and the new manifold are Andrey's contribution to the continued refinement of the Terminator.

Also,  please visit this site: https://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/2017/04/15/terminator-tonearm-new-arm-mount/. This gentlemen from NZ has developed a new arm mount for the Terminator which advanced the arm's sonics even further. It was reading through the the development of this new arm mount that convinced me to order the Terminator after much prior research. I did not purchase the arm mount from NZ as it would not readily fit my Verdier La Platine, instead Andrey made a custom arm mount. It is in essence a two point support mount rather than a single point support rod that is commonly used. 

My previous arm was a SME V of 1990's vintage mounted with a ZYX airy. The Terminator is several notch above the SME V. All the accolades given to the Terminator seem justified. My main point in writing is that the new developments by Andrey, i.e. the carbon fibre wand and the newest brass manifold, seem to improve upon the Terminator even more ( see link above ). This is the news that I wanted to share with existing Terminator owners. I asked Andrey to start a blog on all the new stuff that is happening with the arm, but it seems that he is busy making 'things'!




ledoux1238
qwin's avatar
qwin
28 posts
 

@ledoux1238
I just made an unscreened Phono lead to go between the Terminator and my Pass Phono Stage, using Mundorf Silver/Gold SG105 wire. Combined with the the Silver plated Copper I use on the wand the results are outstanding.
Using my set up of course, but I had goose bumps listening to some old favourites this afternoon. See the construction on my Cables page under "Premium Phono Lead" Here:

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,993 posts
 

 

@ledoux1238: So we are fellow owners of both the ET-LFT loudspeakers (a hi-fi best buy) and the Terminator!

If you get yourself an ET arm, know that Brooks Berdan (the dealer at which I heard the LFT-8 and subsequently bought them) preferred the VPI HW-19 (and later the TNT) for that arm, a combo he sold lots of (I believe Brooks was Bruce Thigpen’s number one dealer). The ET arm has enough moving mass to cause low mass/lightly-sprung turntables to shift their center of gravity as the arm traverses the LP. Not good.

I have my Terminator mounted on a VPI Aries (with a TNT-5 platter and bearing).

 

ledoux1238 OP
301 posts
 

@qwin

Wow! The resuscitated and reinvigorated Terminator has really got your juices flowing… really nice work on the silver cables. You use a junction box to terminate the phono wires from the Terminator. Why don’t you run it direct to the phono stage? Phono cables from Andrey came as a direct run, and then I use a pair of Duelund silver foil cables  between a tube phono and a SUT.

if your lengthy erudition is considered a minor rant, I’d hate to be in the head wind of one of your major rants…ha! Kidding aside, I appreciate your thoughts. I think I am in agreement with your attitude toward our hobby, and it’s a hobby. I do rely on reviews for the most part as I hate to interact with dealers in my part of the world, mostly arrogant know-it-all. There is a very vibrant DIY community and a lot of shops that does OEM work ‘for ‘unnamed’ European or US brands. 
 

@bdp24 you are the guru who turned me onto the the LFT-8b which was upgraded to the 8C’s. I have not written to Bruce in a while, but the ET arms are no longer in production, correct? I think I will be able to fit both the Terminator and the ET on my Verdier. Putting records in and out of the platter will be a challenge, but….

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