Quality of Transcriptors Fluid arm

ronenash

Hi all,

I have a transcriptors Hydraulic Reference that fell into my hands. I have restored the deck and its a gorgeous to look at. Sounds decent too. Can anyone comment on the quality of the Fluid arm that came with the turntable? Its a unipivot design with silicon damping.

Thanks
Ronenash

abril · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:16 am Post subject:

Hi

Perfectly good arm for a typical seventies high compliance cartridge such as the Shure V15 or the ADC XLM,but not suited to anything energetic with low compliance.

Got a cartridge in mind for it?

Tends to be a bit fussy as regards maintaining alignment,although nowhere near as bad as the early Hadcock I replaced mine with many years back.

Which is it 9 or 10in Question

PS
There is a manual for the arm in the library

ronenash · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks Abril,

Currently I am using it with a Shure V15 type III. I have no idea what's the difference between 9 and 10 pin version and I do not know how to identify it.

Which arm would you recommend for the Transcriptor Hyraulic Reference if I considered replacing the arm?

Regards,
Ronenash

RED_One · senior member Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 321 Location: UK

http://www.transcriptors.net/history.htm

as a matter of interest in case you haven't seen it

abril · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject:

tubes4life · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Hi Ronenash -

I would keep the Fluid Arm since it's an integral part of the Hydraulic Reference Turntable in both appearance and design concept. I'm currently restoring my Hydraulic Reference I've had it since the 70s. Personally, I don't think anything should be altered with perhaps only one exception - the RCA lead-outs.

The Fluid Arm works well with a variety of cartridges with different weights and compliance figures. I paired it successfully with the highly compliant(laterally) Decca SC4E which physically weighs in at 14 grams, and with the lowish compliant Decca Gold which has a mere 4-gram weight.

Good luck with the TT.

Andy

For those interested in pictures of the Fluid Arm:

Bigears · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject:

Hi ronenash

I'd hand on to that arm if I were you. There's preccious few about and in its day, and even today its a damn fine arm. My father has one hooked upto his Transcriptors hydraulic deck and fitted with a V15 with Mk5 MR stylus, it is more than a match for my sme 309/dv20 combo. Setting up is fiddly and wiring might possibly benefit from an upgrade but other than that a better arm than the 3009 series 3 in many respects. It was specifically designed for the V15 and similar high compliance MM's. A great find!
_________________
If it aint broke, dont fix it

ronenash · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks Andy and Bigears.

I am using the transcriptors with a Shure V15 Type III and it indeed sounds good. Not as good as my Thorens TD125 with custom plinith and Clearaudio pickup.

R.