Bergmann Modi Air-bearing Turntable & Thor Air-bearing Tonearm 115/230V

Here is a beautiful Modi air-bearing turntable & Thor air-bearing tonearm in a bespoke orange, high gloss automotive paint finish. (We also have the same turntable & tonearm in a deep red).

The advantage of using air bearings

The platter is centred by a steel spindle, running in a very frictionless, low noise and hard-wearing polymeric bearing material, and floats on a thin air cushion, which lowers the mechanical bearing noise to an absolute minimum—if any. (A traditional bearing solution, which keeps the platter centred and supports the platter weight, makes a higher level of mechanical bearing noise, as the contact point between the spindle top and platter, generates a very high pressure – and hereby noise). By floating on an air cushion, the platter also gains the advantage of very good isolation from the surroundings, the same way as the known—and very expensive—air-supported shelves, used in many high-end audio systems. The Thor tonearm is also running on an air-bearing.

Plinth – Modi Turntable

The plinth is made of one solid piece of CNC-machined composite material, which is standing on 3 adjustable feet. The platter is belt driven, by a DC tacho motor. Communication between the DC tacho motor and the high-precision motor controller will keep the platter at a very accurate speed. Measured by Bruel & Kjær equipment, speed variation 0.003%. The DC tacho motor is decoupled from the plinth, by an isolating layer of sponge rubber between the motor and the plinth. Sponge rubber has a very high degree of vibration absorption, due to the high density of air pockets in the construction. That will prevent any motor vibration transmitted to the plinth.

The air supply is remote-controlled from the Modi plinth. When turning off the platter after listening, the air supply goes “OFF” automatically 2 minutes later. A user-friendly and convenient feature.

Thor linear tracking air-bearing tonearm

The Linear tracking tonearm tracks the record as it is pressed = no tracking error. The benefit is a distortion-free and relaxed reproduction, even at complex passages.

One more important advantage of the air-bearing is the tonearm’s immunity to acoustic feedback, as the floating part (arm tube and headshell) has no mechanical contact with the fixed part of the tonearm and the turntable. The only contact is through the stylus tip and the tonearm wire.

Timbre, details and nuances are a natural part of the transparent and vivid acoustic image. The 3D spaciousness, layering between instruments and zero tracking error are something traditional tonearm finds hard to achieve.

Technical specifications
Modi Turntable
Air-bearing design.
Accept 2 tonearms: of any tonearm design, either radial- or linear tracking.

Plinth:Solid CNC-machined composite material.
Platter/Bearing:Aluminium platter floats on air. 3mm Polyethylene mat. Centred by hard anodized spindle/hardwearing low friction polymer bearing.
Motor: DC tacho motor with high precision feedback control system. 33 & 45. Belt driven.
Platter weight: 7.5 kg.
Dimensions: 395 x 460 x 124 mm (D x W x H)
Total weight: 17.5 kg.

Air supply: Silent, clean, dry, and smooth airflow. Replaceable filter.
Dimensions: 355 x 195 x 107 mm (D x W x H)
Weight: 7,8kg.

Thor Tonearm

Tonearm:
Linear tracking air-bearing tonearm.
Aluminium/carbon.
Armtube: Double carbon fibre tube construction, with internal damping.
Counterweight decoupled from arm tube.
Adjustments: VTA, overhang, levelling, tracking force.

Wire:Pure copper litz.
Clips:Gold-plated copper.
Connectors:Gold-plated DIN.
Effective mass: 12g.
Weight: Incl. arm board, 1.055g.