Technics SL-1200MK2 + Trans-Fi Terminator T3 Pro air bearing linear tracking tonearm

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Audiophile delight: Another Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable fitted with a Trans-Fi Terminator T3 Pro air bearing tangential tonearm (with custom bayonet connector option). Superb! Standard Tomahawk wand would probably be even better; but, we wanted the option of being able to use integrated headshell cartridges, like SPUs, EMTs, Stantons, Technics, etc. More cartridges to be tested soon...

We are PurpleHeart Analog Audio. We build tube amps! Long live vinyl and tape :-D

[Bottlehead Dynakit/Dynaco Audio Note CeriaTone, Metroamp, customs and more]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Technics
• SL-1200MK2
• audiophile
• turntable
• Trans-Fi
• T3
• Pro
• Terminator
• air
• bearing
• tangential
• linear
• tracking
• tonearm
• TTWeights
• record
• weight
• Origin
• Live
• Rega
• armboard
• tube
• amp
• builder
• sound
• system

[LEVLHED]

Damn, I'm practically dying to mount a linear tracking air bearing arm on my tricked out 1200. Can you tell me what it took to mount that arm? They don't happen to have an actual drop-in plate do they? Right now I'm running an Audioquest PT-9 with a plate from the seller in Greece.

BTW, I use a Bottlehead Crack headphone amp:)

[70sgitbox]

@LEVLHED This was the easiest arm mounting/alignment I've ever done. It's dead on. The armboard is from Origin Live for mounting Origin Live/Rega arms on a 1200. However, several other armboards will work, even a DIY board. When ordering the T3 Pro arm, I simply called up Trans-Fi and told them what armboard I had. They shipped it pretty much plug-n-play. Even setting up the air supply (pump) wasn't difficult. I have since moved the T3 arm to another Technics turntable; video forthcoming ;-D

[70sgitbox]

@LEVLHED BTW: I've seen your "1200 MKE" and it's pretty dang nice!! The Audioquest PT-9 is definitely one of the better 9" arms. I would certainly choose it over some others. (I'll not name them.)

Bottlehead... yeah, I'm a fan. I expected my Bottlehead builds to sound good; but, they so completely blew away all other preamplification I had in house. I wish they offered a high powered valve power amp kit. I'm sure it would be just as good or better than offerings from  Dynakit & Audio Note.

[oatstao]

I read your message and had to come to your page to see this T3 arm. That seems like (as you also mention) the best upgrade. What are the immediate improvements? I would gather inner groove distortion on the ends? Now I'm going to look at the price of such a mod. ... When I find a 3rd 1200MKII It may be due time for this mod (i use 2 1200s for DJ) . I'm currently looking for a 1800MKII for my centerpiece (nostalgia reasons) which I will run with the stock arm and possibly KAB fluid damper..

[70sgitbox]

@oatstao "Anywhere on the record" groove distortion is all but wiped out. I often use linear contact / shibata type styli. They are great at detail retrieval; but, MUST be meticulously aligned in the groove to avoid distortion. No easy task on a pivoted arm. Easy as pie on the T3 (along with proper azimuth, even without a headshell that provides such an adjustment). Azimuth, VTA on the fly & VTF can be done at the arm.

The 1800MKII is a solid machine. Nothing wrong with nostalgia, either. :-)

[cupphouse]

this is wicked lol...

[70sgitbox]

@cupphouse You might like the next video of this with a different cart, same arm. ;-) Hopefully, we'll have it up soon.

[LEVLHED]

@70sgitbox thanks! I'm quite happy w my 1200 for sure. I'm trying like heck to gather the funds for a T3pro. If I can sell my Bottlehead Eros I'll be there...right now I only have enough to settle for an MG-1, but I can't get myself to do it.

[GuitarSlimJunior]

Johnny Guitar Watson y'all.

[70sgitbox]

It's an Audio Technica VS245(LP) with an aftermarket Shibata.