Bergmann Audio Galder-Odin Signature Turntable System

The Building Block:  The Galder

4-arm turntable, airbearing design

Galder turntable is Bergmann`s answer to the most universal turntable design.

• Galder accept up to 4 tonearms. Radial- and linear tracking arms.
• Output for an airbearing tonearm.
• Motorbase separated from the plinth.
• Vacuum hold down, or clamp.

In the Nordic Mythology, Galder means to enchant. A craft consisting of magic songs and spells. A master of practice Galder craft, was said to be able to raise storms, make distant ships sink, make swords blunt, make armor decide victory or defeat in battles. Odin, a master of magic, was a God with great abilities to “Galdre”.

Advantage of using air bearings

The platter is centered 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 lower the mechanical bearing noise to an absolute minimum- if any. (A traditional bearing solution, which keep the platter centered AND support the platter weight, makes a higher level of mechanical bearing noise, as the contact point between 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 a very good isolation from the surroundings, same way as the known -and very expensive- air supported shelf’s, used in many high end audio systems.
Also the speed stability benefit from the air supported platter. The musical flow is really extraordinary – not necessarily measurable but audible.

Plinth – Galder Signature Turntable

The plinth is made of one solid piece of CNC-machined die-cast aluminum, as well as the motorbase. Both parts with Black Velvet painted finish. The plinth is securely tightened to a 10mm aluminum bottom plate, which is standing on 3 adjustable feet.

The feet is stainless steel and ceramic ball construction. 3 upper and smaller ceramic balls configured in a triangle, is standing on top of one bigger lower ceramic ball. No matter the feet’ position, the 3 upper ceramic balls will always have perfect contact to the lower ceramic ball.

The motor base is standing on the aluminum bottom plate –but decoupled – and will always be aligned with the plinth, no matter the feet’ position.

On the back side of the plinth, the back panel is mounted. It consists of: Grounding, Air input, Vacuum input, output for the Odin Signature air-bearing tonearm, and air adjustment valves for the platter and tonearm.

Motorbase – Galder Turntable

The motorbase on Galder is equipped with a DC tacho motor. Communication between the tacho and the high precision motor control electronic, will keep the platter in a very accurate speed. We measured 0.0027% speed variation!
The power supply for the motor control electronic, is build into in the air supply box, to keep high voltage distant from the inter connects delicate signal transmission. Connection is by a 5 meter cable with M-12 connectors.
The air supply is remote controlled from the motorbase. By pressing ether 33 or 45 rpm, first press the air supply goes “ON”, and second press the platter starts to spin. When turning “OFF” the selected speed, the air supply goes “OFF” automatically after 2 minutes. Very user friendly and convenient.

Air supply – Galder Turntable

The air supply has been the object of our greatest attention. The goal is to design a silent air supply, which could be placed in the listening room, and deliver an even, clean and dry air flow.
The pump is an oil free, long life unit, which do not require much maintenance.  The impulses from the pump are absorbed in an encapsulated reservoir. This results in an even airflow to the air bearing. The air supply is mounted with a filter, which prevents dust particles in entering the system. This filter is replaceable when necessary.

Vacuum hold down – Galder Turntable

There are different way to flatten a record, and secure that the record have a good contact to the record mat/platter. A clamp covering the record label, will only keep the center of the record perfectly flattened. A metal ring, on the outer etch will only keep the outer part of the record flattened. The only way to flatten the record completely, is by obtaining a vacuum between the record and the mat/platter – vacuum hold down. The vacuum hold down invented by Bergmann Audio, is the most user friendly system. The vacuum pump – which is in the air supply box – doesn’t need to be turned “OFF”, when changing record. The user simply remove the vacuum clamp that is covering the center spindle, and the vacuum is released, and the record can easily be changed while the platter is still spinning.After changing the record, put back the vacuum clamp, and the record is automatically flattened by the vacuum hold down system.

Strength in the linear tracking airbearing 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 airbearing is the tonearm`s immunity to acoustic feedback, as it has no mechanical contact (the moving part) to the turntable. The only contact is through the stylus tip and the tonearm wire.

Timbre, details and nuances, is a natural part of the transparent and vivid acoustic image.

Armboard – Galder Turntable

Galder accept up to 4 tonearms – radial- and linear tracking tonearms. As standard, Galder comes with a main armboard, to fit almost any tonearm brand on the market – 9”, 10” and 12” tonearms.  Bergmann customizes additional armboards for the tonearm brand you want to mount on the Galder turntable.

Ceramic ball is a ceramic ball….. or is it?

• Sintering Aid: (Process Catalyst) Chemical aids to improve the sintering process
• Density: Material density in mass per volume unit and in percent of an absolute solid.
• RT flexural strength : bending strength at room temperature Weibull modulus : describing variation in strength. High numbers indicate that the material is uniform in strength.
• Elastic modulus : The stiffness of the material (Steel in comparison is 210 Gpa)
• Poissons ration : Ratio describing how a compression in one direction results in an expansion in the transverse direction. Higher number means more transverse expansion under compression.
• Vickers Hardness : (Surface hardness test) Pressure resulting in plastic deformation during the Vickers pyramid indentation test.
• Fracture Toughness : The resistance to crack expansion
• Thermal expansion coefficient : The physical expansion when the temperature of the material increases
• Thermal conductivity : The ability to transfer heat.Electric resistivity : The electrical insolating property.
• Dielectric constant @ 1MHz : Value useful when calculating the AC electrical properties in high frequency area. eg. if the material is used as a dielectric in a
  capacitor.
• Corrosion 5% HF Solution… : HF is a very aggressive acid towards glass
• Corrosion 5% HCL Solution… : HCl is common and strong acid

Available Finish

The Galder Signature turntable is black velvet silver. with a black velvet black or black velvet silver Odin Signature tonearm.  Galder Signature is also available in Gold Edition.  See below field photo (pc: Martin Ng).

Galder-Odin Signature Turntable System

Full Galder Turntable System comes with the Galder Turntable and its Odin linear tracking airbearing tonearm with the vacuum hold down and DIN Connector

Additional Parts and Finish offered

• Armboards:  in black/alum and other optional finish (copper, bronze, stainless steel).  See AvailableArmboards for Galder 4-arm turntable
• Record Clamps:  in black/alum and other optional finish (copper, bronze, stainless steel)
• Counter Weight: with different weight (light, medium, heavy) and finish (copper, bronze, stainless steel)
• dust cover: Acrylic Dustcover is available for the Magne Turntable.