I should comment that I really do like the looks of this table, most linear tracking, air bearing units look like oil rigs. The Holbo has an elegantly simple design. The only other table that I liked was the Bergmann, but it is at a quite higher price point. Is it that much better, no idea. FWIW….
Does any Audiogon member have a Holbo air-bearing turntable?
I am fascinated by the Holbo air-bearing turntable with its linear tracking air-bearing arm and air bearing platter system. I have not read an unfavourable review, and many reviewers recommend it as a reference-level turntable at an audio bargain price.
If you have one, what has your experience been like? What country are you in? Is yours the Mk1 or the Mk2? What was the set-up experience like? What cartridge(s) have you used, and what would you recommend? How do you keep it clean? Has it been reliable?
Looking forward to hearing real-life experiences!
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I have already emailed Holbo - that's how I know the dust cover including freight is very expensive in Australia! Yes, Holbo does have an "all in one" price for Australia but it does not include the cover. Holbo uses a premium carrier service and the freight cost is a killer. Maybe if Holbo redesigned their packaging to include the dust cover, the incremental shipping cost would be minimal. Anyway, it is not a deal-breaker for me ... as long as I can keep the deck safe from marauding possums ... |
Hi Tim There is not much information on Holbo’s website except for a long list of excellent reviews! These can be a bit confusing: some reviewers have the platter at 5-kg, some at 5-lb. Others have the stainless steel mount at 5-kg and some at 5-lb. Given that stainless steel is about 3 times denser than aluminium, I lean towards a 5-lb platter and 5-kg mount. Have you ever pulled yours apart? If I were trying to reverse-engineer the platter bearing, I’d make the mount as a solid, rather flat cylinder with a central hole for the air feed, venting at its top. The platter would have a rim which descends around the mount with that legendary 10-micron clearance to let the air out. The total area of the gap would be the circumference times the gap - say pi x 300 x 0.010 or approximately 9 sq mm or the size of an 1/8" hole. The air pump itself reportedly produces quite a low pressure at about 1/3 of an atmosphere. One atmosphere is about 15-lb per square inch, so say 5-lb per square inch. Without leakage, 1 square inch would be enough to lift a 5-lb platter but the total area is just a bit under a square foot, so the platter could easily be 5-kg! The total power consumed by the air-pump / power supply is just 10-Watts, with 2-Watts seeming to power the motor. Sorry about mixing imperial and metric measures! What have I got wrong?
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@richardbrand Yes often I see review specs that are questionable, almost like one review got it wrong and others are just copy/paste from wrong info. I try to just use manufactures spec as much as possible, not that they can’t be occasionally wrong as well! When I first got my table, I recall the air pressure supply weep hole being on the top of the stainless sub platter, not too far from spindle location. It has been awhile though. As to supply pressure, it is low, not sure of figure though. I was going to bring home a calibrated low pressure standard to measure it initially, as a base line, but never did. Anyway, so far no complaints with my Holbo. I do like the Mk2 having all the bits in a single box, and operationally being much simpler. My unit I have to remember to always switch on air pump prior to starting platter, really no big deal, just new model is a bit easier. Maybe I will update mine at some stage, who knows. Tim |
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