FFYX 10th Anniversary Special Edition Redwood Air Flotation Turntable The Review

[ScaleAutoArt]

I have another thread discussing this table. I decided to start another to give my impressions of this table from China. I have been hunting for a decent linear table for many years and so far have not been impressed with the complications and was hoping something simple would come along that did not involve servos and belts. This "air" table intrigued me in that I have seen similar designs but they were all 10K plus. No way that was going to happen.

Then along came the "Air Flotation Table" at 1/5 the cost on eBay and it looked too good to be true.

I decided to order the table last weekend after some discussion with the creator [Lance]. He was straightforward and easy to talk to about the details of this table so I pulled the trigger [hoping I didn't shoot myself in the foot].

The table arrived via DHL today and was very well packed. I will start by showing the basic components as they were unpacked.

 

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More photos...

 

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I started out by attaching the feet , which are sprung with rubber bushings that are adjustable and anodized bases...hefty for sure. I am not a fan of adjustable feet but these actually work really well. Then I cleaned the top of the air bearing surface and the bearing rod itself and gently put the 16 lb Delrin platter it in place. Then onto bolting down the arm, connecting the motor and attaching the air hoses to the tone arm and platter and mounting the cartridge. The platter is perfectly true with no detectable run-out.

 

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Some more photos and I will come back later with my initial impressions...which are very good

 

[revox-b77]

All I can say is wow! I am currious about the micrometer adjustments as well as the cueing. Looks like a awesome table.

 

[GP Hill]

Very nice!

 

[mkane]

Look's complicated.

 

[fiddlefye]

Sweet. I'm as impressed as all get out so far! I have to say I've never seen an air bearing arm even vaguely that easy to set up. Nice engineering.

 

[Billfort]

Damn this is cool.

How much noise does the air pump make?

 

[ScaleAutoArt]

I don't have much time right now to get into the all of the details but I promise I will try to do a more comprehensive review of the table as I get more familar.

This table was at first a challenge because I expected it to be very complex....much to my surprise it was almost too easy. There are no air adjustments required. You simply put the bearing in its place and drop on the platter. Bolt the arm tube assembly in place , slide on the arm and attach the RCA jacks to the plate below the arm. Plug in the air hoses to the air bearing and arm [two separate hoses]. Place the motor, put on the belt. Turn on the compressor [whisper quite] and then turn on the motor. Mount the cart [I will get into this later...it's a little fussy at first] and set the VTF. The arm has azimuth adjustment as well. The dial above the arm mount is on the fly VTA...yes! The motor has a speed control so I dialed it in by ear. I will need to check how stable the speed is next...but when it spins free it goes forever. The only thing I am not happy with is the cue...I will explain later.

My initial listening impression was...well...WOW!. Deep punchy base, very detailed highs, nice dark background. This table produces sounds I am not accustomed to hearing...I am simply floored. Tracks like it's floating on air...oh wait..it does! And IGD...didn't hear any to talk about. The massive feet do there job isolating the whole package too. I heard little to no resonance when I thumped on the base I have it sitting on...and it's simply a large tile on isoblocks.

Stay tuned...more to come.

 

[ScaleAutoArt]

Damn this is cool.

How much noise does the air pump make?

It's very similar to a very small computer fan...and it just disappears into the background. He has a video sample of it. Funny thing it has a really nice smell as it comes out of the pin holes on the arm guide tube

 

[muovimies]

Congrats on the table! Glad to hear it wasn't a dud You win some, you loose some, maybe this one turns out to be a winner Looking forward to hearing more once you get familiar with it.

 

[Grbluen]

Awesome! Can't wait for your reviews!

 

[guystp]

Congrats, it looks outstanding!If you don't mind me asking, what table are you comparing to, or what was your previous table?

 

[Mister Pig]

Good to hear the initial assembly has gone well. Kind of surprising that there is no kind of manifold with needle valves to fine tune air flow. I thought there would have been. Great to her the platter bearing is working well though.

I am guessing your issue with the tone arm cue is that it is not damped. There really isn't a way to do that on a linear tracking arm. Well at least my Eminent Technology II doesn't have that option. You just learn the skill of how to cue it down. In a day it will be second nature.

Linear tracking air bearing arms are the way to go. They do so much right it is amazing what they are capable of. Cartridges I install on mine track wonderfully, and have the lowest surface noise I have ever heard them play at.

Congrats on your new table. I hope it settles in and you find it to be a worthwile purchase.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[ScaleAutoArt]

Congrats, it looks outstanding!If you don't mind me asking, what table are you comparing to, or what was your previous table?

Scout 1
Scout 1.1
Scoutmaster 11
Rega RP-6 w/upgraded bearing
Well Tempered Simplex

Current tables:

Rega RP3 hybrid (office)
Well Tempered Record Player w/double platter
AR XB Modified
FFYX

 

[epifanatic]

My birthday's coming up.

 

[elcoholic]

Very, very impressive. I expect there's precision regulators included in the compressor module that are already dialed in. Sweet.

 

[jomondz]

How does the turntable sounds to you after initial listening impression?
Almost attempted to get one but I told myself, but nah... I have a working turntable already which is more than enough. Have to learn to kill this "want" feelings.
Does that play 33 45 78?

 

[ScaleAutoArt]

How does the turntable sounds to you after initial listening impression?
Almost attempted to get one but I told myself, but nah... I have a working turntable already which is more than enough. Have to learn to kill this "want" feelings.
Does that play 33 45 78?

It has speed adjustment at the motor but I have only used it to dial in 33.