Oops ! Holly, thanks for pointing out my typo. I think I'll leave it. One thing I would like to point out about TTW turntables is that because of their modular design you are able to upgrade the table without buying a completely new table when new products or technologies become available, which I feel is a huge advantage for the consumer. This allows your analog system to grow as your financial situation changes. Another thing I like about TTW products is that the cutting edge technologies do get integrated into their entry and mid level turntables.
TTW Momentus V2 Copper Turntable review
I recently upgraded my turntable from the TTW's Momentus V1 to the new Momentus V2 Copper platter rim drive turntable. The Momentus V2 Copper is TTW's newest flagship table. If I could use one word to describe the turntable...SPECTACULAR ! The table is a vision of beauty and amazing sound. The big leap in performance of course is the copper platter. 88 pounds of pure copper. It takes 5 days to machine the platter alone. That's right 5 days. They put a big chunk of copper into the 5 axis CNC machine and after almost 5 days of constant machining the copper platter is born. The platter is then treated with a coating to keep the copper looking like brand new for years to come. The next big improvement is the new controller for the motor drive. Another great looking piece with some very sophisticated hardware and software installed, to control the speed of the heavy platter.
Assemble of the table is very easy but you do need help installing the platter. It took 3 people to install the platter. Two people to lift it into position and myself to guide the platter into the custom machined bearing. Very precision fit. Let me tell you something, this is world class machining at its finest. The rest of the assembly went very well and setting up the tonearm with the adjustable pod made things very easy. Set the motor into position per the instructions and we are ready to go.
First thing that needed to be done was set the speed to 33.33. I have a laser and a disc that I use. Once the desired speed was attained, it was locked in and did not move. We stared at the LED read out on the laser for 10 minutes with NO deviation in speed. Did the same thing for 45 rpm with the same results. Like I said earlier, the new motor controller is a pretty high tech piece. It sends 24,000 pulses for every rotation of the platter to control the platter speed. No one in the industry has anything close to this. Hopefully you are starting to see that this turntable is pretty amazing.
Next thing I did was to test how quiet the rim drive system was. I know many members here have negative opinions about this rim drive without owning one or even hearing one, so let me post my test of this rim drive system. I have a test record with a track that is specifically designed to measure motor noise and vibration through the platter. I started to play the track, gradually turned up the volume until I reached full volume and DEAD SILENCE - NOTHING ! I have a Bryston 14B SST amp and at 600 watts a channel, you would never be able to listen to music at that level. So lets put that noise rumor to rest, there is none.
Now for the moment of truth. Let's play some records. First up is the Beatles Abby Road. This has been one of my reference recording that I use to judge stereo equipment for years. The first thing that jumps out is the bass. I have never heard bass this deep and clean, ever. It will vibrate your body but with absolutely no distortion. Words will not do this bass reproduction justice, it is something you have to hear. Very very impressive. Next is the soundstage. The sound is so focused and detailed. The soundstage is wide and each instrument, singer, background vocals and percussions have their own unique place. You can focus in on any one of them and actually hear everything that they play, note by note with stunning clarity. The sound is not all blended together. The air around each instrument is just haunting. You actually feel like the musicians are playing in your listening room. The level of music reproduction is amazing. You will hear details in your favorite albums that you never knew existed. The level of detail that this table extracts from vinyl is just mind blowing. I listened to many other of my favorite records with the same results. Man it is like hearing these recordings for the first time.
The new Momentus V2 Copper is an attention getter. It looks fantastic, has rock steady speed, perfect pitch and is dead quiet. This is by no means an entry level turntable but you get a very big band for your buck. This table will compete strongly with the $100.000 tables that are out on the market.
All I can say is, with the TTW's Momentus V2 Copper Turntable, you don't listen to music, you experience it !
Assemble of the table is very easy but you do need help installing the platter. It took 3 people to install the platter. Two people to lift it into position and myself to guide the platter into the custom machined bearing. Very precision fit. Let me tell you something, this is world class machining at its finest. The rest of the assembly went very well and setting up the tonearm with the adjustable pod made things very easy. Set the motor into position per the instructions and we are ready to go.
First thing that needed to be done was set the speed to 33.33. I have a laser and a disc that I use. Once the desired speed was attained, it was locked in and did not move. We stared at the LED read out on the laser for 10 minutes with NO deviation in speed. Did the same thing for 45 rpm with the same results. Like I said earlier, the new motor controller is a pretty high tech piece. It sends 24,000 pulses for every rotation of the platter to control the platter speed. No one in the industry has anything close to this. Hopefully you are starting to see that this turntable is pretty amazing.
Next thing I did was to test how quiet the rim drive system was. I know many members here have negative opinions about this rim drive without owning one or even hearing one, so let me post my test of this rim drive system. I have a test record with a track that is specifically designed to measure motor noise and vibration through the platter. I started to play the track, gradually turned up the volume until I reached full volume and DEAD SILENCE - NOTHING ! I have a Bryston 14B SST amp and at 600 watts a channel, you would never be able to listen to music at that level. So lets put that noise rumor to rest, there is none.
Now for the moment of truth. Let's play some records. First up is the Beatles Abby Road. This has been one of my reference recording that I use to judge stereo equipment for years. The first thing that jumps out is the bass. I have never heard bass this deep and clean, ever. It will vibrate your body but with absolutely no distortion. Words will not do this bass reproduction justice, it is something you have to hear. Very very impressive. Next is the soundstage. The sound is so focused and detailed. The soundstage is wide and each instrument, singer, background vocals and percussions have their own unique place. You can focus in on any one of them and actually hear everything that they play, note by note with stunning clarity. The sound is not all blended together. The air around each instrument is just haunting. You actually feel like the musicians are playing in your listening room. The level of music reproduction is amazing. You will hear details in your favorite albums that you never knew existed. The level of detail that this table extracts from vinyl is just mind blowing. I listened to many other of my favorite records with the same results. Man it is like hearing these recordings for the first time.
The new Momentus V2 Copper is an attention getter. It looks fantastic, has rock steady speed, perfect pitch and is dead quiet. This is by no means an entry level turntable but you get a very big band for your buck. This table will compete strongly with the $100.000 tables that are out on the market.
All I can say is, with the TTW's Momentus V2 Copper Turntable, you don't listen to music, you experience it !