미국 멤피스에 위치해 있는 하이엔드 아날로그플레이어 제조 메이커인 Merrill-Williams Audio, LLC사가 오래전에 개발 소개하고 있는 아날로그플레이어시스템인 모델 R.E.A.L 101 턴테이블시스템.
이 시스템은 동사의 설명처럼 “A New Approach-A New Standard” 로 해상도와 음악의 리얼리즘을 추구한 최상의 제품으로 소개하고 있다고 있다. 제품 앞에 이니셜로 표시하고 있는 R.E.A.L이란 뜻은 R.ubber, E.lastomer, A.coustic 그리고 L.aminate로 고성능 설계의 아날로그플레이어로서 수준급 구조를 보여주고 있는 시스템이다.
마이크로포로세서 모터 드라이버(Microprocessor Motor Drive)를 사용해 제작된 시스템으로 DC 파워 서플라이로 공급되는 전원에 의해 사인과 코사인 드라이브에 대한 결정 제어 조절 이중 발진기를 채용해 놓고 있다.
이 시스템의 서스페션 기능인 “The Suspended Plinth”는 특허로 제작된 것으로 “plinth” 기능은 Merrill가 1979년도에 개발된 기술로 ““Energy Management Design”를 사용하여 설계되었다.
또한 터치 버튼 로직 컨트롤 기능도 갖추고 있으며(Touch button logic control is employed) 특히 마이크로프로세서 모터 드라이브 성능이 눈에 띄게 향상되어 있음을 알 수가 있다. (DC power supply powering a microprocessor, employing crystal controlled adjustable dual oscillators for sine and cosine drive.)
특히 낮은 왜곡 정밀 사인파 듀얼 오실레이터(sine wave dual oscillators) 하이파워 로 디스토션(low distortion) 앰플리파이어 스피드 스위퍼가 플러스 또는 마이너스 2% 정도가 된다.
(The low distortion precision sine wave dual oscillators drive two high power low distortion amplifiers that power the motor. Speed sweep is plus or minus 2 percent.)
턴테이블 회전 속도는 턴테이블 보드에 있는 스트로브 조명에서 확인해 볼 수 있게 되어 있다. 서덜랜드 타임 라인은 정확도를 인증하는 데 사용되고 있다.(The turntable speed is checked with an on board strobe light driven by a short pulse square wave oscillator. A Sutherland Timeline is used to certify accuracy.)
(1) 고무 코르크 매트(Rubber cork mat)
(2) Bakelite 셀룰로오스 복합 플래터(Bakelite cellulose composite platter)
(3) 고무 탄성 음향 주각 래미네이트(Rubber elastomer acoustic laminate plinth)
(4) 방위각 조절 가능 에너지(tonearm을 플랫폼을 장착 흡수)
(Azimuth adjustable energy absorbing tonearm mounting platform)
(5) 합성고무 서스패션 그라파이트 주입 나일론 베어링 스핀들
(Elastomer suspended graphite impregnated nylon spindle bearing)
(6) 합성고무 서스패션 싱그로너스 모터(Elastomer suspended synchronous motor)
(7) 3점 합성고무 탄성이 조절 거꾸로 반구형 발을 탑재
(Three point elastomer mounted, adjustable Inverted hemispherical feet)
판매가격표: $5990.00
옵션 가능제품 Damped Periphery Clamping Ring $790.00
Damped Center Record Weight $349.00
연락처: 901.209.0796
다음은 동사가 이 제품에 대한 각 부분의 정확한 설명을 원문에서 참조해 주시기 바랍니다.
• The R.E.A.L. Turntables major innovation is the construction of the plinth (base).
• Design by Merrill – Williams (Patent Pending).
• The plinth is the heart of the turntable and supports all three energy generating parts (motor, bearing/spindle and tone arm).
The plinth was designed using a technique developed by Merrill in 1979 called “Energy Management Design”. The base is designed as a laminate. Construction consisting of a specific formula 14 lb rubber compound elastomer faced with aluminum.
Areas are isolated with what are called Energy Isolation Valleys (breaches in the laminate) in such a manner that the operating parts (motor, platter spindle/bearing and the tonearm) are not allowed to transmit energy through the aluminum laminate material.
Energy isolation and dissipation occurs only within the core elastomer. The advantage to this system is the energy developed by each of these operating part is absorbed and dissipated by the core elastomer before it can intrude and effect the performance of other parts.
Example the motor energy is dissipated before it can contaminate the energy release from the tonearm. To keep the rigidity integrity intact seven struts are placed in calculated locations within the plinth. These struts form a support truss system.
The aluminum laminate also acts as a ground plane to deter electro magnetic energy. The use of a energy transfer tonearm mounting platform coupled to the damping elastomer accomplishes a most important function the dissipation of Tonearm Release Energy. Integrated in the design of the tonearm mounting platform is the ability to azimuth align the platform with the platter.
The second type of energy intrusion ( mechanical transfer from the stand used to support the turntable ) is managed by a system called the Isolation foot which contains an Inverted Hemisphere of a Special Polymer.
An adjustable support column attached to the rubber elastomer is resting upon a inverted hemisphere of highly absorbent rubber. This support column utilizes a positioning pin to hold the foot in place.
The column consists of two parts, the height adjustment collar and the hemisphere coupler with positioning pin. A bolt is inserted through a compressing washer and the plinth elastomer (energy blocking holes are drilled around the mounting point of the foot bolt) into the hemispherical coupler, drawing the adjuster collar and hemispherical coupler tightly together( this system is another first).
This creates a support column that is extremely solid while still having height adjustment capabilities. The curved face on the hemispherical coupler allows shallow contact with the hemisphere which helps to subdue energy transmission. The flat of the hemisphere is placed in a support base (fitted on the surface contact area with three feet ) to allow retention of its shape and for uniform input of energy into the foot.
The third type of energy (air born) is damped by the over all energy absorbing capability of the laminate, feet and platter. The total package is virtually impervious to air born energy encountered in the listening environment
The platter design and material consideration along with the mat control the fourth type of energy. The platter is manufactured from a compound containing bakelite cellulose and resin (another first).
The characteristics of the material, high density, low resonance top and dimension stability make it ideal. A rubber cork compound mat is used to place the record upon, thus quelling vibrations within the vinyl as the stylus is tracing (playing) the record.
The platter shaft is manufactured from precision ground stainless steel(3/4 inch) with a hardened thrust ball placed at the end. The platter is supported in an oil well bearing manufactured from graphite impregnated nylon (another first).
A hardened surface is provided at the bottom of this bearing to allow the shaft thrust ball to ride with virtually no friction ( i.e. no noise).
The R.E.A.L. 101 Microprocessor Motor Drive System
Any turntable that has fixed speed ( no manual variation) cannot retain speed accurately under all temperature and humidity conditions. The expansion/ contraction coefficients of the drive materials will vary with the environment.
For example, acrylic will grow or shrink dramatically with normal room temperature changes. A variable speed control solves this problem. The result is retention of accurate pitch.
AC line power is contaminated with multi frequency trash. Without a buffer, this trash is fed directly into the motor and coupled into the drive system and record support platter.
A properly designed power supply will isolate the turntable drive system from this trash. This will help to eliminate the clouding of micro level information and lead to improved resolution culminating in better imaging, detail and musical realism.
The Merrill-Williams Microprocessor Motor Drive uses a regulated DC power supply powering a microprocessor, employing crystal controlled adjustable dual oscillators for sine and cosine drive.
The low distortion precision sine wave dual oscillators drive two high power low distortion amplifiers that power the motor. Speed sweep is plus or minus 2 percent. The turntable speed is checked with an on board strobe light driven by a short pulse square wave oscillator. A Sutherland Timeline is used to certify accuracy.
