Continuum Caliburn - really the best TT on earth?

Dear Thuchan, I am a bit confused. Which one did you end up with, Criterion or Caliburn? Also, I went to the Continuum website to try to get some idea of the design and construction of these products. They don't show any photos of the platter and motor with the belt in place. Can you tell me whether the drive is the usual type, where the belt travels around the pulley and platter only, or is there a capstan-like device or secondary pulley, to bring the belt into more continuous contact with the platter? And does the drive belt run around the perimeter of the platter or around what appears to be a smaller diameter subplatter? Thanks.

Dear Lewm, it`s aContinuum Criterion with a Copperhead tonearm carrying a Lyra Olympos.

You`re right you cannot see details on the website of Continuum. Maybe the pic under the following link helps to answer your question. It´s a usual type drive, the belt runs around the big sub-platter which has not a smaller diameter than the top-platter.

The armboard is mounted on neodym tablets. You may change the distance between the armboards magnets and the lower magnets by turning a screw from underneath the chassis, so also when running the Criterion. This will change the sound if you like. Mark has told me this, it is not written in the manual.

http://picasaweb.google.de/lh/photo/fomE6Ej0CEmJ4D-WeqU3EQ?feat=directlink

... hope the link works

Thanks very much. The photo answers my question quite nicely. I take it that the magnetic suspension effectively isolates the tonearm mounting board from the rest of the chassis. The design is beautifully executed.

On their website, Continuum site a review of the Criterion in Tone Audio. IMO, that review was written by a person who is not qualified to evaluate a high-end turntable, due to limitations of both his system and his way of thinking. I am surprised Continuum would reference it at all.

Forgot to ask, in what ways does the Caliburn differ from or improve upon the Criterion?

It depends whom you ask, but from my experience the Caliburn is bigger, heavier, got a magnetic support for the really heavy platter, a different air system with air bearing, the control unit and vacuum are different and it is equipped with the Cobra. On top of it you get the Castellan stand which is part of the system as Continuum says. Ah forgot, the amount in Dollars you may save runs a little over a 6 digit number... but you got to get the big brother...

There are some new inventions especially realized in the Criterion, also a better vacuum unit.

For building up a Caliburn system you should invest two days, a little less for the little brother.

Did you make your decision?