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

In my book, everyone is free to pursue arms and equipment in all price classes and visual categories, even in the Idion Audio range! But I don't really see the need to go posting about it in a thread that clearly does not match ones preferences.

@richardbrand

I hope you both enjoyed your trip, in spite of wardrobe challenges and as for exchange rates, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Although atm, the NOK is good value.

Almost 25 years ago, I actually spent a month backpacking on the Australian east coast (my travelling mate went to Perth by train, after 24hrs he asked the conductor "are we there yet", he looked at his watch and replied "about half way"), and have good memories, both of the scenery, but also the friendly and welcoming Aussies.

As for classical music, it is a big unknown to me. I have not heard of this label, but will have a look at the recording you mention. Looks like it is digital only? 

level the turntable a bit more accurately

I did another round with my level, let's see if it helps, thanks!

You might be pleasantly surprised what a Mk2 would cost you

Hehe, maybe he does trade-ins!

Valid point about the stylus. Apparently a countryman of yours, Allclear Audio, retips DS Audio carts with a boron cantilever and a nude micro ridge for a fair price. 

Nothing arrogant about stating that something appears to look inadequate. I didnt say it was I said it looked. Dont interpret, read what it written. If you search linear tracking arms one of the cons listed is the complexity of the arm as well as the significantly higher cost to manufacture. Just admit that my statement offended you at a personal level and you responded as would a delinquent. 

In terms of tech and similarities between your arm and the CS Port I would guess the manufacturer told you this. I would also guess that much of the tech from both arms was taken from earlier tangent arm designs and hopefully improved upon. The first tangent arm I remember seeing was the Eminent arm which suffered from problems intrinsic in this type of design.

So my statement was based on fact and a decent familiarity with this design. I think this design has merits, but also a great many problems which are best dealt with by throwing money at the design and most critically the materials used. Now to help you out I am not stating more expensive products are always better. And lets confine this statement to the components in this discussion. 

@pal_gunnestad 

I did not know about Allclear Audio - thanks for the tip (sorry, another pun).  Garrott Brothers is another Aussie service that has been mentioned here.

2L.no has started producing vinyl records but I don't have any yet.  If fact, not much of their production is classical so they get lots of Grammy nominations. My current rule of thumb is to buy SACD or Pure Audio Blu-ray if they are available, then vinyl, then CD.  With 2L.no you mostly get SACD and Blu-ray versions in the same pack.

Norway distances are about as intimidating as Australia's, but with a lot more bends and gradients!  Whereabouts do you live?

@audition__audio 

In terms of tech and similarities between your arm and the CS Port I would guess the manufacturer told you this

Far from it.  It does not take much for somebody with a science / engineering background to understand how most things work.  As I see it, there are two big differences - but as I have never got my hands on a CS Port I could be wrong.

The Holbo has a tubular air bearing riding over a passive shaft.  Air is fed into the bearing itself which is very efficient and only needs a very small airflow.  The CS Port seems to have a half-tube bearing riding on a shaft which contains the air distribution ducting, so my guess is that most of the air is wasted. Bigger pump, more noise.

The other big difference is that the CS Port has a removable headshell.  The headshell plus cartridge must have a mass of 20-grams or more (from CS Port’s website).  Instead the Holbo has a solid platform to mount cartridges directly to the arm, which is obviously more rigid though less convenient than a removable headshell.  The tonearm mass is just 31.6-grams which, together with the cartridge (say 7-grams), makes up the inertia that has to be moved sideways by the stylus to provide tracking.

If you search linear tracking arms one of the cons listed is the complexity of the arm as well as the significantly higher cost to manufacture

That's why the Holbo is a breakthrough product.  In terms of materials and manufacturing costs, my take is that high precision CNC machines are the big secret.  The Holbo makes use of a small number of components with simple shapes assembled into a brilliantly simple but highly functional design.  The polar opposite of the Garrard 301.  There apparently is more than one way to skin a cat.

I appreciate this response. How I would like conversations to evolve and I admit I am sometimes the cause of any deterioration. 

I also am not a fan of removable headshells for obvious reasons.

What is paramount is that you are a fan. I am very happy with my Tri-Planar and Merrill-Williams setup but always on the lookout for effective ways to improve the experience. 

My digital setup is modest in comparison to my analog front end. Not a fan of digital but a fan of what may come with streaming.