Links (analog style) and downloads
Tweaking the Teres.
Above image: my current configuration, an acrylic Teres base with acrylic / lead shot platter.
 | Tonearm: Expressimo RB250 with a Shelter 501 type 2 cartridge |
| Motor: Inside the motor pod is a smooth turning Maxon 12v DC motor. |
| Controller: Manfred Huber design |
| PS: 12v. Battery with the Teres "smartcharger" power supply that charges the battery when not in use and turns off the power supply when the table is turning. |
| A1/2 inch wide rigid mylar belt drives the massive 27 lb platter. |
| The turntable is sited over a granite plate of 3" x 18" x 18" dimensions. Weight of the granite plate is 120 lbs. All of this is wall mounted by way of a robust steel framed rack as pictured above. The intent of this siting method is to isolate the table from foot fall vibes within the suspended flooring of the upstairs flat I reside in. Background noise is quite low and isolation from any foot fall disturbance is complete. |
| A complete listing of all associated components can be viewed at this link. |
comments:
The acrylic base models in the Teres product line-up are considered to be the least in sonic attributes. Potential Teres customers have been generally advised to go with one of the wood base options that exist higher up the Teres food chain. In recent times, Teres principal, Chris Brady has discontinued the acrylic base from the product lineup citing lack of sales for this model. No surprise. In my own recent experience I have exchanged the plain solid acrylic platter with the lead shot chambered platter pictured above and below while retaining the standard acrylic base. This upgrade made a dramatic difference in the sound of this table. While I've always been pleased with the sound of this player, in light of the funds spent, I hear much, much more to be pleased about these days.
Chief among the improved attributes would have to be an enhanced sense of pace. Even better toe-tapping rhythm. Low frequencies have more authority. Details, while always a strong point with the table prior to the upgrade, are even more evident. Transients are fast and, at times hair-raising, dynamics have increased impact and kick. Background noise is much lower. Perhaps the most gratifying improvement is in the imaging department. Now I am getting a much more palpable (obvious) sense of musical sounds floating about in the space between the speakers. Imaging is much more evident and stronger with this platter. Now that's a payoff I can really dig.
In light of all these improvements I'm now hearing I have to wonder what it is that I'm supposed to be missing by not having one of the more pricier hardwood bases that Teres offers further up the model line. Was the acrylic base design developed to its full potential or was it dismissed for other reasons...? I guess I can find out some of these answers for myself by constructing a few of my own bases out of different materials.
The Teres Base Project
Pre-visualizing the 1st Concept
Below is the first concept drawing of a proposed new base. This design is a constrained layer approach that makes use of 1/8 inch thick aluminum plates (5051) with 1/16 inch pvc sheets layered in between. The differing layers are bonded together with polyurethane adhesive in a purpose built curing press. The base design layout is the now traditional Teres teardrop design that features the cantilevered armboard attached by its single-but-substantial bolt. I find this layout very easy to live with when making arm/cart alignments since the all important pivot-to-spindle distance is easily established by swinging the armboard into position. Armboards to fit different tonearms are easily replaced without making any changes to the base itself. Nice. There is a 'rightness' about this layout.
The material choices here were selected with base/armboard rigidity in mind and also resonant behavior. The natural resonant frequency (ring tone) of the aluminum plate is modified by the tight contact with the pvc layers between. The multiple layers combine to have a different resonant property than either the aluminum or pvc materials by themselves.
My experience with a prototype board that I built for another player suggests a material that has a much 'quieter' ring and with a much shorter 'sustain' period. On this other player I experienced a pleasant sonic improvement using this material combination so I think I'll give this a try on the Teres. Another benefit of this method is that the actual production of it is easily within the means of my simple workshop out in the garage. I'm simply cutting flat patterns using a scroll saw and making holes with a drill press. Cut templates are printed out onto paper using a B-sized ink jet plotter. The paper template is glued to each plate to be cut and drilled. While time consuming this method is simple and accurate.
More to come............