Does any Audiogon member have a Holbo air-bearing turntable?

@frazeur1 

Thanks Ian.

According to what I have read, the tolerance is 10 microns, and that is how much the platter lifts when the air supply is on.  I was wondering what if anything kept to platter centred, for example against the pull of the drive belt.  Must be the nub?

Do you use a platter mat?  I think I'd like to use a Funk 5-mm Achromat if the spindle is long enough the accommodate the Achromat, the record and the puck.

One last thing.  Can you describe what you do to actually position and lower the tonearm?  Which bits do you actually touch?  It seems so different from my SME 3009 ...

Cheers, Richard

@richardbrand Yes, the nub/spindle seems to be a tightly tolerances fit as well, and keeps the platter centered. My belt isn’t super tight around main platter, just enough for complete and accurate speed control. 
 

I do not use a mat, have thought about trying one, but when things sound so good as is, why mess with it. Maybe at some point! Tim

@richardbrand Oops, sorry, I typically rest my hand on plinth and raise/lower the tonearm by hand. You get used to it, takes a bit of practice as the air bearing for arm makes it feel like absolutely no resistance, or that nothing is there, so light! You can use a mechanical arm lift, but to be truthful, mine just isn’t that great. Simple piece, but not so accurate really. My hand does a better job. Maybe won’t be so as I age more though! 

@frazeur1 

Thanks Tim.

I already have a Funk Achromat and I like the idea that because it is vinyl, it couples well to the record.  Apparently, it is full of micro-sized holes and is claimed to dissipate vibrations originally created by the stylus in the record.

Looking at multiple pictures of the Holbo arm, I am guessing there is a built-in lowering lever which rotates a horizontal, eccentric rod which can push down on the arm behind its pivot point.  Initially I thought this lever moved with the arm, but it seems fixed.  To move the arm sideways do you just grab the cartridge?  In the pictures I have, there is no finger lift at the cartridge end.

@richardbrand Yes the lowering device works as you mentioned, simple device. I have just gotten used to manually cueing over course of time. Holding right past the cartridge itself, finger lightly under arm. Not much room but with practice it works!