2. analog
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Trans Fi Salvation direct rim drive turntable

Hi A'goners, I've just bought this turntable, confident it'll be my last upgrade. The rest of my system is a Tom Evans Groove Plus SRX phono stage, EMM Labs CDSA SE cd player, Hovland HP200 pre/Radia power amps, Zu Definitions Mk 4 loudspeakers, so a pretty good way to listen to vinyl.

Over the years, since 1995 I've progressed from a Roksan Xerxes/Artemiz/Shiraz, via a Michell Orbe/SME V/Transfiguration Orpheus, finally ending up last week with my new Trans Fi Salvation/Trans Fi T3Pro Terminator/Zu modded Denon 103.

This turntable (£2500 UK price, approx $4000-$5000 US) is the brainchild of Vic, a retired dentist, who, fed up with the shortcomings of belt drive and traditionally-pivoted tone arms, literally from the ground up devised first the Terminator air bearing linear tracking tone arm (now in T3Pro guise as on my system), and now the direct rim drive Salvation turntable, a technology in direct opposition to the hegemony of belt drive we've come to accept from the '70s.

In summary, he has developed a motor that directly rim drives an oversize platter. The magic is that vibrations are drained away from the platter and hence stylus. So minimal rumble is transmitted, the weakness of Garrards/Lencos in the past. This is mated to a substantial slate plinth which does a great job of isolating the whole rig from external vibrations.

Where this differs from direct drive is that the torque applied is high enough to counteract stylus drag, but it is strictly analogue controlled ie no digital feedback applying constant micro speed control. Speed is set correctly, torque is sufficient, and speed stability is like a rock.

This is combined with his air bearing linear tracking arm, discussed on other threads.

So technical description over, how about how it sounds? Well, years ago I always assumed the overhang in bass when playing lps on my previous belt drive/pivoted arm tts, apparent as a benign artifact, was all part of the 'romance' of vinyl, esp. when compared to the dry, clinical sound of early cd. But in 2007 I acquired the EMM cd, which had a natural analogue sound playing silver discs, but none of this bass colouration. On studying the growing reemergence of idler/direct drive, and their superiority in maintaining speed stability, I agreed that the belt speed instability might be introducing this.

Two years ago I came across Vic, and now I can report that eliminating the belt for high torque rim drive has taken this whole artifact out of the equation. Whole layers of previously masked information like rhythm guitars are now present, treble information has abundant naturalness and decay, and bass, which appears to be less in quantity compared to belt, is actually more accurate with a real start-stop quality, much more like digital, and the real thing. The other positives are more linked to the arm, including uncanny tracking across the whole record side; I'm really not exaggerating in saying that the last few grooves at the end of an lp side are as solidly reproduced as the first. Music with strong dynamic contrasts are really served well by the Salvation, and I am shocked at how good this all is after trepidation that the sound might be hyperdetailed but too assertive etc. In fact music is reproduced with a relaxed incision, and a welcoming detailed transparency.

The amazing thing is that all of this is not in anyway at the expense of the natural warmth and tonal dimensionality that still puts vinyl way ahead of any digital (imho).

The only thing, and Vic would like this to be known, is that his creation is a cottage industry, and he can only produce limited numbers to order.

I'm happy to answer qs on it, as I really want our community to know about a possible world beating product at real world prices. My tech knowledge will be limited, but no problem discussing sound quality issues.

I'm not affiliated in anyway to the product, just sold my Orbe on ebay and bought this. Regards to all
spiritofmusic
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Spirit wrote on 3/6/14: And I still contend one would have to spend 15x the entry ticket, at least, to surpass it's performance.

I wrote this in response on 3/6/14: Spirit, have you ever heard a turntable/arm/cartridge combination that surpasses the performance of what you own, at 15X or at any amount?

It was my intention to learn the context of Spirit's statement. If it costs 15X, or $75,000+, to get better performance than his upgraded Salvation, then it would follow that his Salvation is indeed a great, even incredible bargain. I've never heard the Salvation so I'm just curious what he thinks sounds better so I have a reference for his contention.

There is no question that the value issue changes as one considers more expensive gear. I would just like to know if and what $75K turntable Spirit has had in his system for such a comparison and to be able to make such a declarative statement.

Simple as that with no offense intended. Just a question with no hidden agenda. Still friends.
hiho
451 posts
 
03-07-14: Spiritofmusic: "...... I worship great analog, and truly worship the Salvation/Terminator."
Your last post just proved my point. It's your thread so you have every right to say what you want. I'm just a passerby so I will keep on passing by.

_______
4orreal
91 posts
 
I agree with Peter. People should be able to proof/defend what they say on this forum. I love reading posts from Spirit, and I also wondered which $75,000.00 TT he compared the Salvation to. I honestly think he made that statement without directly hearing the 75k TT and the Salvation side by side in his rig. I also wondered why he did not mention that 75k TT when Peter enquired, so that was a wild guess on his part.

I however, like Spirit and enjoy his posting. My only advise, please be conservative and diplomatic in your postings.
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Gentlemen, I hope my maths aren't incorrect. The Salvation/Terminator is a complete tt/arm combination. It costs £2400 ($5k-$6k w/carriage/US taxes etc). I've heard the Grand Prix Monaco/Triplanar at £32k, SME 20/12 at £30k, TW Acustic AC3/Graham at £20k+. The Kodo Beat dd tt/Schroeder lt cones out at £35k. So these 10x-15X the entry ticket of Salvation/Terminator. The first 3 I've heard, and it would have cleared out my cash reserves, but was ready to cough up.
It's not my place to say my tt/arm is best, sorry if I was too presumptious, and obv I may not have heard each in most ideal circumstances, or even in my own system. But the Salvation/Terminator gave me things I didn't experience at the other dems.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Spirit, thanks for your comments and I appreciate your candor. I've found it very difficult to ascribe sonic characteristics to components in the context of different systems.

In the US, the SME 20/12 is about $28K and the Kodo/Schroeder perhaps $35K, much less than the prices you quote. I'd be very curious to compare the much less costly, especially in England, SME 20/3 for about $15K and the Kodo/Schroeder table/arms directly to the Salvation in the same system. Perhaps also one of the Brinkmanns or Basis table/arm combinations for less than $15K.

I've heard perhaps 35 turntable/arm systems at various shows, dealerships and friends' systems costing between $5-50K and in my experience, I can not make any declarative statements about any of their performances separate from other components in those unfamiliar systems, let alone comparisons to other specific turntables. It is a very difficult exercise.

I'm only certain about the three turntables that I've had in my own system and their relative performance to each other.

I hope to perhaps hear the Salvation one day, but I've never even seen one. Your enthusiastic reports do help to inform others about its potential in other contexts.
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