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Timestep T-609 T-610 T-612
For many
years Timestep often sold more SME tonearms that any
other retailer in the world. However
times change and we wanted a modern
tonearm that would work well with the
low compliance cartridges now in use.
We also wanted lower bearing friction,
silver wire as standard and absolutely
no aluminium or magnesium armtubes.
Low to
medium mass tonearms have their roots
set in the 1980's when moving coil
cartridges were only just beginning to
catch on.
The SME IV and 309 are derivatives of
the V that was initially designed in the
very early 80's and at that time high
compliance moving magnets were the norm. But cartridges have
changed in the last 35 years, Koetsu, Transfiguration, Miyajima and many
others require a high mass arm and the SME
is at best only a medium mass arm. This
new high mass Timestep
arm was developed a couple of years ago
using modern technology, washed ceramic
bearings, silver wire, titanium armtube,
full PTFE & gold base connector, the list goes on. The Timestep arm
is not a 35 year old design, it is a new and
cutting edge design.
Many
poor compromises
were struck in the 80's to accommodate the new moving
coils, but the best audio performance was
usually still with the high compliance
moving magnet cartridges of the era.
That was about 35 years ago and some
tonearm manufacturers have never
changed; but time has moved on and hence
we started to look for tonearms with a
high mass that were specifically
designed to excel with moving coil
cartridges.
Our quest took us all
over the world and finally we found an
easily affordable high performance
solution from an OEM manufacturer in
Western Europe. We were able to take the
legendary
Japanese
Fidelity Research FR64S and its DNA
combined with cutting edge technology to
produce the new Timestep tonearm.
Unlike many, the armbase connector
does not use a lossy plastic dielectric
as for us only PTFE and gold
are good enough. Another world wide
hunt ensued until we found a company
willing to make the PTFE and gold
connector that we now free issue to our
arm manufacturer for our Timestep
tonearms. We made many other
significant changes and now this
specification tonearm is unique to
Timestep.
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Low resonance
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High mass
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Titanium armtube
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Stainless steel
bearing block
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Frictionless
magnetic anti-skating
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High precision,
washed hybrid ceramic ABEC 7
horizontal and vertical bearings
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SME type
detachable headshell
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Silver wire
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PTFE and gold
tonearm connector
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SME and
Linn/Jelco armbase option
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Many headshell
options
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Many tonearm
interconnect cables available
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9", 10" and 12"
versions compatible with all SME and
Japanese/Linn pivot to spindle
alignment
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T-609 The 9"
version can be used in many
applications and we prefer it to
both the SME 309 and SME V. This
version is eminently suitable for
new SME, Avid and Michell turntables
and to upgrade many others.
Effective mass 26g Pivot to
spindle 214mm
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T-610 The 10"
version fits many classic Japanese
turntables and outperforms the
discontinued SME 310.
Effective mass 28g Pivot to
spindle 240mm
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T-612 The 12" transcription version
is recommended for the Garrard 301,
401, TD124, L75 and many others. We
think it's better than the SME 312S
and the SME V12
Effective mass 29g
Pivot to spindle
290mm
Reviews:
Read the HiFi News UK review fitted to a
Soulines Kubrick turntable by
clicking here
Prices:
9", 10" or 12"
Tonearm (less; mount, headshell and
interconnect cable) £1,450.00
Jelco/Linn Japanese type mount/collar
£49.95
SME sliding mount £149.95
Headshells range from about £10 to about
£300
Tonearm interconnects range from about
£60 to about £2,000
All prices include 20% VAT
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