

Indeed, this turntable can support up to four tonearms, either pivoting or tangential-tracking. New from Bergmann Audio, a Danish company known for using air bearings not only in their tonearms but also their platters, is the Galder turntable, which breaks with Bergmann tradition in two ways: Its 26-lb, belt-driven, air-bearing platter is machined from aluminum rather than acrylic, and the Galder can be bought without a Bergmann linear-tracking tonearm. Herb recommends avoiding lean, analytical-sounding cartridges, including AMG's own Teatro-his best results with the Giro G9 were with the notably colorful EMT TSD 75-and advises the user to consider upgrading the AMG player with a third-party isolation base.


According to HR, the "Apollonian" Giro G9 was "completely adept at recovering and sorting out complex music" he praised in particular its "detailed" and "well articulated" bass. That motor isn't outwardly visible-at first glance, the Giro might be mistaken for a direct-drive turntable-but is hidden underneath, driving the platter from a point inside its rim by means of a thin rubber belt. The Swiss-made AC motor is electronically controlled, with switch-selectable speeds of 33 1/3 and 45rpm. The turntable comprises a 1.75"-thick Delrin platter whose bearing is mounted on a circular aluminum plinth, itself 1.5" thick. The Giro G9 is an AMG Giro turntable bundled with the same company's 9W2 tonearm (see elsewhere in Recommended Components). The results, per Mikey, are greater speed consistency and "far more substantial" bass. In particular, the interface between the upper and lower chassis has been upgraded to a magnetic-repulsion system that "floats" the former, for greater isolation, and the single drive belt has been replaced by three belts, each of a different Shore hardness.
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MF concluded that the "ingeniously designed, superbly machined and constructed" Ascona Mk.2 distinguished itself by excelling "where music lives-in the midrange," although its overall performance was "on the polite side." In 2017, Acoustic Signature applied to the Ascona Mk.2 some refinements that MF described as "audible, measurable, and significant," and which the company offers free of charge to those who've already purchased the earlier version. After using the Ascona Mk.2 with his SAT tonearm and with the 9" version of Acoustic Signature's own TA-9000 arm, MF found the turntable to be "pleasingly rich in the midrange and delicately drawn in terms of attack, sustain, and decay" of notes. It's as much reliable test instrument as supreme carrier of unassuming musical pleasure." (Vol.43 No.2)Īt the heart of the "massive yet surprisingly compact" Ascona Mk.2 belt-drive turntable are separate upper and lower chassis, both machined from aluminum the lower chassis is home to three electronically controlled AC motors, while the upper holds an adjustable tonearm support, a platter bearing with a Tidorfolon thrust plate, and an appropriately massive platter fitted with 30 brass damping cylinders: Acoustic Signature's signature Silencers. (Without the latter, the AFO Premium sells for $145,000.) Auditioned with a Graham Engineering Elite tonearm, the AFO Premium impressed MF with "its ultraquiet backgrounds, the generosity of its presentation of instrumental sustain and decay, its neutral spectral balance, and dynamic presentation. MF's review sample also featured an optional titanium upper platter. Now MF has auditioned the Premium version of same, which betters the original AFO with a motorized air pump and automatic, continuous pressure-monitoring system for its air-suspension mechanism. The standard version of the TechDAS Air Force One turntable was awarded an A+ and sat atop these ratings for six years. TechDAS Air Force One Premium: $162,000 w/titanium upper platter
