Well-Tempered Golf Ball?

Evidently you guys didn't read the web site very carefully:

It is NOT a golf ball...
It is a PRECISION MADE GOLF BALL.

All the difference in the world!

Marty

If tracking proves sub par, is that a good thing?

The Web site shows the entry level model with a white golf ball and the deluxe version (GT?) with a black painted golf ball. Evidently, you have to pony up if you want WT Labs to paint your golf ball.

Marty

PS I suppose that it's possible that the golf ball turns black over time as the bearing breaks in.

PPS I'd only add that ping pong balls, large marbles and prosthetic testicle implants remain promising new arm bearing technologies that I trust WT Labs will explore in the not-too-distant future.

Wait,

The comedy's not over just yet!

A Lithuanian start up is selling a new 'table on A-gon called "The Milky Stork".

My guess is that this name doesn't translate well from the original Lithuanian.

Any way you slice it, there's some odd stuff afoot in the analog world.

Marty

PS If you don't find humor in the notion of "a precision made golf ball" as your arm bearing, you might want to take a deep breath. Even if this turns out to be the perfect solution to the problem, the comapny needs more to:

A)work on the appearance
and
B)excersize a little more intelligence in its marketing copy.

Schipo,

I hope the appearance point is self evident: the thing looks like a high school science project gone wrong. Every high end product needn't be finished like a museum piece, but this one is sloppy.

As to my objection to WT Labs' use of the term "Precision made" to describe their golf ball; my issue is that this phrase is market speak for "expensive" as in:

"Our megabuck pre amp is so expensive because we use "precision made" XYZ brand resistors and capacitors".

I find that the use of this phrase by any manufacturer is generally sort of obnoxious, but WT Labs' using it to describe a golf ball marks a new height of idiocy. Maybe WT Labs uses golf balls that are superior to those used by all of their competitors in the suddenly frenzied golf ball bearing tonearm market. Perhaps the competition is using recycled balls fished from the water hazard over by the 18th hole.

Let's be generous for a moment. Perhaps WT Labs is merely trying to educate its potential customers that all golf balls - not just those employed in their bearing - are made with a precision unappreciated by the high end market. You'd be surprised at the complexity of manufacturing a golf ball, not easy (or cheap) you know...Oh wait a minute ...even the best golf balls cost less than a few bucks a pop. Please!

Look - if a golf ball makes a great bearing, say so. As in "after trying exotic materials like XYZ, we've found that a SIMPLE golf ball works best". Of course, this would imply that an arm using a golf ball SHOULD be cheaper. I'm pretty confident that this explains why WT Labs does not so describe the golf ball they use.

Sorry, but even if this product is great - I find their marketing of it insulting. I know a lot of folks love their products (and I'd never argue the point as I have had limited experience here), but the company deserves all the crap they can get over this one.

Marty

Schipo,

I merely said that it (i.e. the exposed bearing) LOOKS like a high school project. Hide the damn bearing and pass the additional $2 worth of plastic collar costs along to the consumer! While you're at it WT Labs, cut the crap and acknowledge that the cost of your arm bearing is <$2 and pass that savings along to the consumer. When that is done we can admire the product, but still chuckle at the idea.

BTW, they might want to consider a more colorful model name. Too bad "Milky Stork" is already taken.

Marty

The basic Amadeus is app $2500 (if I got it right as the value I saw for the NZ dollar is app 55 cents). Since the 'table appears to be a basic unsprung design that is nicely finished (and more than enough has been said about the economics of producing the arm) the price feels about right vs other 'tables out there.

WT Labs has a good rep for resonance control so I assume it's a strength here. The motor/controller appears to be a small, integrated unit that's hard to comment on without further info, save to note that it's probably inexpensive relative to the stand alone motor/controllers used in some other (usually costlier) 'tables. Ironically, the arm is likely to be a major point of differentiation.

I'd actually love to hear one of these and, until I do, I'd never write this product off as a potential value. I just wish that it had been handled a bit differently. It would be difficult to imagine actually buying one in it's present state - For me, anyway.

Sorry, that price should read more like $2100 and change.