Linear tracking turntables, whatever happened?

Visit Trans-Fi Audio, UK.
https://www.trans-fi.com/terminatortonearm.htm

I bought mine in late Autumn of 2008, ten years ago when Vic the Magician had just introduced his unique design online. I have lived happily ever since.
Now I have two of them. What you are looking at is the latest implementation with carbon fiber wand.
Have fun ; )

It would be foolish to judge a linear tonearm by the look. Should they be made of gold and diamonds to please all the doubting Thomas´ and naysayers ?

As our fast running friend just pointed out, OP may very well refer to vintage packaged deal TT setups. Actually my friend once had that Technics SL10 and it worked just fine and sounded quite convincing.
Beautiful gadget.

^- :_)
It never fails to amaze me when people post comments on Hi-Fi gadgets they have never seen live in action not to mention heard.
FYI the best air bearing TAs do not need fancy devices such as servos to show the way, the groove takes over. So any force or resistance is futile. As seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6nMtn8oEJg

Audio and picture may not be the highest quality but hope you like the music as well : )

Good night

Good morning Lew,
Back to the business. Upsetting is your word not mine. Nothing upsets me after 40+ yrs in Hi-Fi, only prejudice and ignorance makes me laugh really. I never mentioned frictionless either on functionality of LT TAs. There´s a hell of lot friction in both sides of stylus when playing a record, that friction generates the sound. 
I repeat: no extra force nor resistance is needed to hold the stylus in the groove so with AB TAs servos are voodoo. The groove does the jog. Dot.

If you have heard a LT TA before why not say it right away. Your first writing gives the impression of the opposite. Too much confusion.
Very well then... Excellent you are considering buying a Trans-Fi arm but it has taken already five-six years you first said that. Life´s short man. Why dontcha buy one right now ? I know you are a man of reason, due to your great gear as seen online.
It´s audio´s most ridiculous bargain. It will fix your Lenco just perfectly (don´t take my word, there´s plenty evidence of Trans-Fi/Lencos online). And in the unlike case you don´t like it for whatever reason you can sell it very easily in used markets. One stayed less than a day on AOS market a few days back. 
I have never had issues with Terminator, only my clumsiness and goofing around in the beginning as a novice  : ). Funny thing, to my great delight I found a linear tracker is easier to adjust properly than pivot arms which are the real PITA in practice, not to mention that ever annoying anti-skate which is practically never right not to mention perfect, and even so it´s always just so darn futile : /
Adjusting Terminator PERFECTLY takes LOTS of time. But once you have taken the sweaty task to make it work, the job´s done. Just sit back and enjoy life.
The only "drawback" I´ve had: the low-pressure Sera Aquarium pump broke after exactly ten years´ almost daily service just recently. Vic send me new for 25 pounds.

Good luck and have fun : )

Terry, maybe you should have taken over for new production ; )

Interesting tweaks you have made there. You mean beam is manifold ? Then, may I ask how you have managed install the support for the other end ? To back of the plinth ? Maybe you could send me pics of it.
I have covered the saddle with damping sheet. I can cover the wand too if necessary (one cartridge benefits from damped wand). Do you think it´s an upgrade to cover the base as well although it´s quite sturdy ? The arm sits on a sturdy brass column on soapstone plinth.

Regards,

Oh dear ... your TT/TA combo must be absolutely fantastic, Terry.

Air bearing platter and TA - Ö -

Reminds me of the Dr. Forsell´s Air Reference way back in 1990 and sounded just great ... oh those were the days ...
I use maglev bearing on the spindle inspired by Vic´s Salvation deck. For a ridiculous price : )

Extended manifold by epoxied (!) extension. Just like that. Brilliant.
Well, frankly I have´t even thought that supported manifold makes a significant improvement to the sound itself as the floating saddle evens height derivations on micro level scale + that most records are really concave discs ? And I have always just found it funny to watch cartridge swaying up and down and side to side on warped and eccentric discs : ~ ). As the cantilever/stylus remains straight & steady and the sound is still incredible compared to what I have had earlier. Terminator can handle very severe warps and folds with ease.

Are you saying that supported manifold is a serious improvement ?
As for damping the arm base, you are probably right, it doesn´t need damping material due to air cushion really.

You use Moongel as damping ? Well that´s great, I may buy some : )

Thanks, it´s been a sheer pleasure talking to you.

^^^^ It´s actually child´s play after a while. Oh, I did forgot the air filter altogether, but it lasted for ten years LOL

Terry, you are welcome. Yes, I run Vic´s Salvation motor (implementation for my setup) on soapstone plinth + maglev is very steady due its dense magnetic field created by powerful opposing neodymium magnets with very small gap. Again inspired by Vic´s experimenting at the same time.
Another simple brilliant idea from him as it just works. The same with his obvious path to maglev feet shortly after.

As for your tweak I think I get the picture .....Fascinating.

I may have a few questions still. Here on A´gon there´s too much confusion ... and businessmen drink their wine and smoke fat cigars ...
Can we discuss somewhere else, maybe you are in other forums ? Or from another, better world ( : _)

Vic´s silver wire is VERY pliable but his stock has run out long time ago. Extremely difficult to locate unfortunately. Currently he uses copper litz which is a superb substitute. Some people prefer it as wiring is a matter of taste in sound quality. For me personally silver is the only to go for best SQ. Stiffer silver wires are very difficult to adjust and probably is a mission impossible to work all the way from run-ins to run-outs. As Terry the Improver said already, wire tension is the biggest challenge with linear trackers.

Terry, maybe you could send me your email thru A´gon ?

Fully understand what Frogman means by "... fundamental difference in sonic presentation ... more realistic both tonally and ... in ... soundstage ... wide open ambience and stable layering of instruments ... sounded more realistic ..." Well said.
IMO in short, the best linear trackers produce less artificial sounds and more music. They are not perfect yet but very close.

... looks like a major mechanical Marvel.
A gold plated Marvel. Costs a fortune.

LOL

I´d rather buy two fully serviced vintage Citroën XM. Other for my better half.
Humour you got : ) Well, I knew it. Carry on.

Hello Gunther, well I´m not exactly in the barrel but as an retired gardener that is almost like ... Jack in the Green: https://youtu.be/yZTJH1qZm_Y

We will be delighted to invite you to join our little conversation ... in nearest pub : )