Savoie Drive Prototype
Shown here is the prototype assembly we rigged up for our upcoming Savoie drive system.
The new drive implements a much more robust (and larger) motor.
To prototype this, we had to house the drive electronics in an external case as shown in the photo.
In conjunction with the January, 2026 launch of the Savoie, we're producing a small run of motor pods to retrofit earlier models.
We're enthused about this new drive system, and want to maintain the committment made to our customers - to make as much new development available as possible to our installed base.
The Savoie Drive and a Mk I & Mk II Retrofit Package
The new drive system mandated a larger housing in order to fit the larger motor as well as the circuit board.
Current owners asked us what a drive retrofit would look like for their Mk I and Mk II turntables.
The answer was simple: the same as our upcoming Savoie.
(click the photos for a full-screen view)
The Savoie
Will it Fit?
Savoie Drive Retrofit on a Mk 1.5 Gavia
The motor pod shape we developed for the Savoie plays nicely with Mk I and Mk 1.5 models.
The Savoie's footprint is nearly identical to our Mk II turntables.
In short, the new shape will work with every turntable we've ever built ... are you really suprised?
A 22 x 18" shelf easily accommodates the turntable's footprint, although you will need a 24" x 18" shelf if you require a dust cover.
Auditioning
The "demo pack" will resemble the prototype photo (above). We will send you:
- A motor mounted to a top plate (for installation on your current motor pod).
- An external control box like the one shown above.
- A power supply (the new drive operates at 18 volts, and not 12).
- Our newly specified drive belt.
Mk 1.5 on 24x18 Shelf
Design Notes
Silent drive: gone is the commutation noise (that "whirring" sound) when the motor is delivering torque.
Refined interface: the user interface has been simplified, with two soft touch buttons controlling start/stop and speed change. A small recessed button is actuated to calibrate speed.
New belts: during development we experimented with belts and the change will surprise you as much as it did us.
Precision pulleys: if you've followed our newsletters, you know that the reject rate for our pulleys was in the 50% range. We'd never send a reject out, but having a higher yield is beneficial for everyone. We're working with a shop that runs Swiss Mills - high-precision lathes capable of .0001" tolerances (one ten-thousandth of an inch).
Hearing is believing: we think our current drive has excellent speed stability, but the new drive raises the bar in both performance as well as ergonomics.
