Post by Owen Y on May 24, 2018 20:51:10 GMT 12
Folks, This is a thread created for Design Build Listen Ltd & specifically to gather discussion about The Wand tonearms & the upcoming Wand Turntable. We are hoping that Simon Brown will be able to find time in his busy schedule to drop in from time to time, to provide information, advice, announcements, etc, about the above products. Cheers For starters, here is a link to the recent discussion about The Wand by Simon Brown.
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Pundit
Post by simonb on May 25, 2018 18:20:01 GMT 12
Thanks Owen, A nice starting point is to show some photos of the upcoming Wand Turntable. It is hardly secret, having been shown at several Shows around the world in the last year but it is getting close (My Bank balance indicates that I have started ordering production quantities of parts)
So the basic spec is; Model 14-4 (14 inch / 4-layer platter) • Big diameter 14 inch Smart Platter™.
Large diameter (360mm) gives 20% more inertia than conventional platter of equivalent mass.
Four-layer construction of platter damps vibration and noise transfer.
Acrylic playing surface for vibration transfer from record for increased resolution.
Screw down clamp with acrylic surface allows record label to be seen.
• German Plywood main structure. Asymmetric shape and internal machining to disperse noise and vibration.
• Zentroidal™ three point suspension system. The centroid of suspension, the stillest point, is close to the playing arc to maximise shock and vibration rejection.
• DC Motor with superb electronic speed control. 33 / 45rpm /78rpm switchable. • Electronic braking for quick record changing.
• Will accommodate 9.5in / 10.3in or 12in Wand tonearms (or other brands)
• Swiss custom-made flat belt. This provides dynamic punch while maintaining noise isolation.
• Includes a stylish lid.
Lid is mechanically outside the playing system
Designed for cueing the record to the beginning when the lid is down.
The lid stands upright on its back edge.
• Optional on-board phono stage designed by PureAudio. Available November 2018
• Optional support for second 9.5in arm.
• 11kg (~480mm x 400mm x 120mm, ~19” x 15”3/4 x 5”)
• 100V- 240V AC 50-60Hz supply • NZ Retail price starting around $4950 with Wand 9.5in Plus arm
The timeline is; -Currently half a dozen prototypes are being tested in different parts of the world. -In 6-8 weeks I hope to offer the 'pre-production' build of about 10 units on a Pledge Me at a substantial discount -Production shipments will start to Australasia in September and the rest of the world, October / November.
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by michaelw on May 25, 2018 18:55:07 GMT 12
it looks great simon.
is the whole thing made in nz ?
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Pundit
Post by simonb on May 25, 2018 19:45:00 GMT 12
Yes, apart from materials (see below), everything is made & assembled in NZ (Even the labels...little fashion industry dig there...) Even the electronic control comes from Dunedin ('overseas' from you) Motors are from the Netherlands, belts are custom made in Switzerland and the ply is Latvian (via Germany) but machined in Auckland. On this subject, the only significant imported bits of the tonearms are wiring and Jelco lifter mechanism.
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by jon on May 25, 2018 21:28:16 GMT 12
Love to see an SPU cartridge playing on that!
🤔😎😁
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Pundit
Post by simonb on May 25, 2018 21:53:22 GMT 12
Like this? (I'm cheating, this is on a customers turntable in France) Attachments:
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on May 28, 2018 16:22:19 GMT 12
....as a side note I would have to say that it looks considerably more impressive in the flesh than it does in photo's.
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Post by michaelw on Jun 15, 2018 19:07:50 GMT 12
i concur !
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Post by michaelw on Jun 15, 2018 21:25:38 GMT 12
big ups to simon for getting the turntable to me so quickly. well packed. great build quality despite being a prototype. easy to assemble. worked on first turn on. win !    
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Jun 15, 2018 22:02:59 GMT 12
Great! Well packed in part as I have ironically spent this evening rebuilding the ex-Munich High End turntable which arrived back in NZ having somehow got a 10 degree bend in it's 8mm hardened steel main shaft. The ding in the platter seems to indicate a drop test without packaging.... Enjoy!
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jun 16, 2018 16:24:01 GMT 12
Hey MW, I like the way the big knobs on your amp matches the knobs on the turntable. That's very well done !
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Post by michaelw on Jun 16, 2018 16:47:24 GMT 12
there is a certain synergy
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Post by foveaux on Jun 16, 2018 17:19:09 GMT 12
Congrats Michael, Will be keen to hear your impressions in your system. Since Cooksferry's heads-up, I'd been waiting on the Wand TT to emerge. Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of subjecting Simon to some of my albums when I heard his Wand/TT combo, which had the 10 inch arm with a Hana cartridge, at his home. It was an enlightening and rewarding listen in his system. Kindly, Simon has agreed to the next appraisal for his Wand combo in my system at my digs next week (how's that for customer focus/service?). It's rare that I get enthused about new audio products these days, but Im greatly looking forward to this next 'audition.' Simon is a fastidious and gifted kiwi designer/engineer - he has obviously put hours and hours of R&D into the Wand TT, and it tells musically (let alone the outstanding aesthetics and technical/mechanical advantages). Of course the Wand Arm is rightly praised, including internationally. I had a Linn Sondek with an Ittok Arm (no slouch combo), but the best I heard a Linn sound was with a Naim Aro unipivot. Simon's Wand arms are Unipivot (there are reports that the Wand on a Linn is what the Aro should have been). I moved from my Linn to a Well-Tempered TT, mostly due to the innovative arm system (with dynavector 20x cart), which to my ears was better than the Linn. What I heard with the Wand system was another significant step up. And I suggest, what many of us have been looking for on our vinyl playback journeys. This kiwi front end may be our due reward - Bravo Simon!
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 17, 2018 10:19:36 GMT 12
Looking forward to your home demo impressions Ian.Shame you can't demo it with a cartridge you're more familiar with although you will have gathered some of the Hana's traits with your first demo. Now if I could just talk Simon into a home demo in Invercargill .
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 17, 2018 10:24:56 GMT 12
big ups to simon for getting the turntable to me so quickly. well packed. great build quality despite being a prototype. easy to assemble. worked on first turn on. win ! Michael can you tell what all the various hole in the plynth are for in the top photo. Is the platter a full 12"?
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Post by michaelw on Jun 17, 2018 11:15:02 GMT 12
the metal platter is a huge 14", on top sits an 11.5" acrylic mat.
the only identifiable holes are for the main bearing, tonearm support and small hole for threading the arm cables.
maybe simon can shed some light on the other holes ?
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Post by foveaux on Jun 17, 2018 11:32:27 GMT 12
German Plywood main structure. Asymmetric shape and internal machining to disperse noise and vibration?
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Jun 17, 2018 13:56:03 GMT 12
Ah Foveaux has been reading my stuff above!
Yes, the holes serve a number of purposes -Disperse and scatter vibrations. -Also create more of a difficult path for vibration from the motor mount (which is quite firm, to improve drive rigidity or dynamics and punch) to the arm or bearing. -Move the centre of gravity to the centre of suspension of the three sprung feet (missing on the unit Michael has), which aims to be close to the playing arc, as that is the still point (hence my punny name Zentroidal, TM of course...) -Help keep the shipping weight down to ~13kg as 95% are likely to be sold overseas, this matters (Most places are overseas from the South Island...).
The platter is big, as you get ~20% more inertia for a given weight, also allows drive pulley to be bigger, less slip etc. Also looks cool (or I think so)
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by Owen Y on Jun 20, 2018 7:55:54 GMT 12
With the large 14 inch diam platter & high speed, low/med torque motor, the Wand TT looks like it could easily become an idler drive TT.
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Post by michaelw on Jun 20, 2018 10:58:23 GMT 12
the large platter overhang makes placing a idler motor drive very easy. the groove in the rim providing a good target for the idler wheel to contact.
it would definitely need the big feet not fitted to the prototype.
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Jun 20, 2018 21:39:07 GMT 12
As I own Lenco and greatly loving it, this did occur to me. But making an idler drive is probably a hard ask for your first production turntable! Although I am surprising myself....you will see me listing my Lenco for sale in the Buy/Sell part of the forum in the next week or so. Never though I'd sell it...
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by foveaux on Jun 21, 2018 12:48:22 GMT 12
Well chaps, here is Simon's Wand TT/Arm/Hana SL in situ at Chez foveaux:    It's the 10.3 inch Master series arm with the Nordost cabling, running through my Dynavector Phono MkII (couldn't be faffed changing the phono settings inside the Sanders pre-amp - about a 30 min job) We had an hour listening together and then I went solo for another couple of hours. So far...impressively musical and revealing. Simon has kindly left the TT set-up for me to listen to until next week and he will provide a 12 inch arm to do a comparison too. More reports to come, after more time with his Wand combo...
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 21, 2018 12:54:40 GMT 12
What cartridge are you running with Ian? Hana? Initial thoughts now you have it in a familiar setting? Are you employing the fluid dampening? So many questions 
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Post by Owen Y on Jun 21, 2018 13:56:33 GMT 12
This Wand appears to be from the Wand Master series, with VTA adjustment facility & fluid damping(?).
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 21, 2018 14:26:56 GMT 12
What's the rack in the top photo, can'y remember seeing that before but it has been at least a year since I last saw your system.
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Post by michaelw on Jun 21, 2018 15:04:08 GMT 12
he got the fancy one ! 
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Post by foveaux on Jun 21, 2018 15:29:31 GMT 12
Cooks: Cart: Hana SL; Thoughts: still early days, but very positive initial listen; Fluid damping: not deployed yet; Rack: Atacama Bamboo (18 months old now, new since the old flat. you would have seen the TNT Flexi rack) Owen : Correct: Master series 10.3 with VTA adjuster and fluid damping - very desirable features Michael: We're both lucky beggers...
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 21, 2018 15:42:34 GMT 12
Cooks: Cart: Hana SL; Thoughts: still early days, but very positive initial listen; Fluid damping: not deployed yet; Rack: Atacama Bamboo (18 months old now, new since the old flat. you would have seen the TNT Flexi rack) Owen : Correct: Master series 10.3 with VTA adjuster and fluid damping - very desirable features Michael: We're both lucky beggers... There's still a little niggle I have that I should have gone for the master series arm rather than the Plus just to get the VTA adjuster. Still it was another $1000 and not easy to justify.
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 21, 2018 15:44:48 GMT 12
A question for Simon. Would the table handle an outer ring weight. I have a few lps with dishing or warps that really benefit from that item.
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Jun 21, 2018 19:08:42 GMT 12
Answer to ring-weight....don't know yet. Need to walk before I can run. Certainly have other variant thoughts but that would be 9-12 months away minimum.
Great to hear Ian's awesome system last night, didn't even start on the interesting records....
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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