Pure sound: the best devices are up to the test of the perfect ear
The music floats gently on an air cushion; the turntable is a high-tech device. Active speakers and record-cleaning systems enhance the listening experience.
Vintage, but far from simple. The turntable presents a significant engineering challenge: resting on the platter, the vinyl record rotates beneath a stylus that must follow microscopic grooves to generate a very sensitive and delicate signal. Precision is everything; even the slightest vibration can affect the sound quality. This is why companies specialising in high-end audio have been developing solutions for decades to minimise any possible interference.
One of the most ingenious strategies comes from the Japanese company TechDAS, which has chosen to harness the power of air. Air Force was born from an insight by the brand’s founder, engineer Hideaki Nishikawa, formerly the designer of the famous (and still highly sought-after) Micro Seiki turntables of the 1980s. The platter of the Air Force IV is imposing – a full 9 kilos of solid aluminium – but, once the 33⅓ or 45 rpm button has been pressed and rotation begins, it is supported by an ultra-thin cushion of air generated by a silent electric pump. No friction, vibrations or noise. To keep the vinyl in place during playback, high-end turntables usually feature a manual system. TechDAS, however, employs a vacuum-suction solution whereby, at the press of a button, the record is firmly secured to the platter, which rotates on the air cushion. To confirm the benefits of this solution in terms of sound quality, simply place the stylus on the record and give the surface a light tap with your knuckle: you’ll hear a rumble coming from the speakers which, when the vacuum system is activated, disappears.
As is the case with most high-end turntables, the tonearm and cartridge must be purchased separately. The Air Force IV allows you to fit up to three at a time, enabling you to choose your preferred combination each time. Its design is decidedly original, and perhaps the control panel – along with the digital display, which resembles that of a calculator – might not appeal to everyone. However, it is hard to dispute its exceptional sound quality and purity.
THE VOICE OF THE FIR TREES
A crusade against the digital age: this is being waged by the founder of the Analog Relax turntable cartridge brand, who argues that ‘with digitalisation, the world has become too efficiency-driven’, proposing an ‘analogue lifestyle’ as an alternative. This vision, pursued with consistency, has led him to create the EX700 phono cartridges, a range of MC cartridges crafted from Italian resonance spruce – the wood favoured by luthiers for building stringed instruments, such as Stradivarius violins. The design also features a special finishing technique that evokes the very appearance of stringed instruments, without compromising the cartridge’s extraordinary sound quality. It is the meeting point between master craftsmanship, micro-engineering and a touch of romanticism (€7,790, analogrelax.com. Shipments within Italia via anamightysound.com).
