2. analog
  3. 150758-92835

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
ledoux1238 OP
300 posts
 

@qwin 

Thanks for the comments on dressing my wires. I see your point, and I’m doing some modifications. The infamous silver wires the Vic initially supplied was discussed in earlier posts, unobtainium though. 
 

The Hygger pump looks really nice, like an Apple TV box. The next pimp I used after the original was an Enhiem 400, 400 LPH,  very similar to the Hygger. You should be good if you decide to add another 10-20 L tank to improve things further. 

qwin's avatar
qwin
28 posts
 

Vic used to buy the Silver screened wire from HiFi Collective (HFC) here in the UK. They still have it on their website, marked as discontinued! I came across it recently when I was researching what wire I could use.
I had a tidy up, went through some of my boxes of Turntable/Cartridge bits and bobs. I found some of the original balanced Silver/Silver screen leads that Vic made up for me 10 years ago and a pair of RCA using the same, so I have x4 strands 800mm long and x2 strands 600mm long.
I’m tempted to make a new harness for the Terminator. I would use just two strands, the core for the +Signal and the screen for -Ground on each lead from the cartridge. I had a go at stripping and separating the core/screen on some of the Silver wire last night, it’s mighty fine and tricky work, but I can do it.
Mmnn.... I will sit on the thought for now as my deck is sounding so good, but its an itch I think I will have to scratch along the way.
I have my pump and tank on the top shelf of a corner cupboard, where I keep my bottles of whisky, the only way I could fit an additional tank, would be to lose the whisky? That’s a hard decision devil.

ledoux1238 OP
300 posts
 

@qwin What cartridge are you using? What have you used in the past?

dover
2,273 posts
 

I can absolutely see this arm as a landmark product in analog, audio history full stop. It is THAT impressive.

You must have very low standards.

The Trans-fi is not a patch on the Eminent Technology air bearing arm which was designed many years prior.

The fundamental difference being that the ET uses a captured air bearing - far more rigid than the floating bearing design of the Trans fi.

The flawed floating bearing design used for the Trans-fi is why you have spent years fiddling with materials, weight, screws, wire dressing trying to get that arm to work let alone sound any good. 

I knew Owen for years, I've heard the arm, it's garbage.

ledoux1238 OP
300 posts
 

@dover 

In a 12-10-2020 post on the Terminator, you wrote:

"With a caveat that I have never seen this arm in the flesh...... "

What changed?

You were the one who informed me of Owen's passing, so I assumed you knew him.

.And with your 'garbage' prompt, I am finally motivated to seek out an ET arm. I am a happy owner of Bruce's LFT-8C, BTW.

More to discover