SUPATRAC Blackbird tone arm

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by tryitfirst, May 25, 2021.

  1. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 22, 2023
  2. Benzion

    Benzion "Cogito, ergo sum" Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Uni-pivot? No thanks.
     
  3. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    This is a new kind of uni-pivot which has no freedom to roll or rub in the time axis since the pivot points away from the stylus and the suspension is laterally stable. The bearing has more in common with a 4point than an ARO. It is not a uni-pivot in the traditional sense. What is your objection to uni-pivots other than rub and roll?
     
    doak, macster and Randoms like this.
  4. Davey

    Davey NP: CLARAGUILAR ~ Figura (2024)

    Location:
    SF Bay Area, USA
    Not very aesthetically appealing, kind of industrial with the twin channel construction, but I guess that could also be said for some other tonearms that have been successfully marketed in the high end. I do wonder how big the market is for unusual tonearm designs like this, with a price pushing $2000.
     
  5. Agitater

    Agitater Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    At an introductory price of £750, it's a tempting buy. There's no information on the product page about how the arm is wired or confirmation that it is supplied pre-wired, so that's a problem. Time for an email to them to find out.
     
  6. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    The standard internal wiring is copper litz, and the arm cable is Mogami Neglex 2549 with a standard 5-pin DIN plug as with Linn and SME arms. This information has now been added to the web site.
     
    Agitater likes this.
  7. Phil Thien

    Phil Thien Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    It looks interesting, I wish them success with the product.
     
    macster likes this.
  8. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Serial number 2 is now in use, and this is the recipient's assessment:
    His deck is a Sondek and he normally uses a Tiger Paw Javelin.
     
  9. Phil Thien

    Phil Thien Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    @tryitfirst is this your product?

    Made in Canada right?

    Either way, great to hear success stories!
     
    macster likes this.
  10. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Yes, this is my product - sorry if that was not clear. It is made in London UK, not London Ontario!
     
    doak and RobGordon35 like this.
  11. Phil Thien

    Phil Thien Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    No apologies required.

    Not even for being in the UK.

    :)

    I look forward to more positive updates.
     
    tryitfirst likes this.
  12. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Adam of hifiaf.com has spent a couple of weeks with a Supatrac Blackbird and published the first vlog short review. He calls the Blackbird "revolutionary" and "mind-blowing":

     
  13. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
  14. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    I've uploaded an updated manual here:
    http://www.supasound.com/manual.pdf

    I've also started making a new style of thrust box designed to go well with a fluted Sondek. I'm calling it 'death star'.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Phil Thien and Davey like this.
  15. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    And here's a Death Star thrust box Blackbird installed:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Randoms, dolsey01 and Phil Thien like this.
  16. bimasta

    bimasta Member

    Location:
    los angeles
    You really threw away the rule book, didn't you? Your positioning of the unipivot-point could solve a lot of problems, it's certainly innovative — it's the only place nobody has ever put a bearing — and seems brilliant. I say "seems" because I'd have to use the arm to really judge, and I don't how that could happen — but congratulations anyway!
     
    Randoms likes this.
  17. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    There's a rule book???
     
    doak, Daddy Dom, macster and 2 others like this.
  18. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
  19. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    These 3D graphics show a little more clearly the two thrust box styles 'aero' and 'death star':


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  20. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2021
  21. Davey

    Davey NP: CLARAGUILAR ~ Figura (2024)

    Location:
    SF Bay Area, USA
    The video isn't found, maybe misspelled, but you are gonna have to get one mounted on a Technics SL-1200G/GR to get interest up around here :)
     
    Spin 12, Mr. Dean and Seafinch like this.
  22. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    I've been running them on an SL-1210 for a year. Will post more pictures soon.
     
    RobGordon35 and Davey like this.
  23. Davey

    Davey NP: CLARAGUILAR ~ Figura (2024)

    Location:
    SF Bay Area, USA
    Cool, would love to see more pictures of the arm in action!
     
  24. tryitfirst

    tryitfirst supatrac.com Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Fixed, thanks.
     
  25. DaveyF

    DaveyF Forum Resident

    Location:
    La Jolla, Calif
    This tonearm really looks to be revolutionary. I suspect it probably sounds incredible.
     

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