Specials - January, 2025

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Turntable / Tonearm Packages

Contact us about tonearm packages which are two low to advertise, and click here for an overview

Flash! Cartridges !!!

With the new cartridge lines we're bringing in, we've kicked off a long term evaluation process.  We're attempting the impossible - to set up, break in and get to know all of our cartridges.  

We've come up with a plan.  

Tell us about a cartridge you're interested in. If we have yet to evaluate it, we'll order it for you, run a full QC, and sell it to you at a price that's too low to advertise.

Know that putting 10-20 hours into a cartridge project, along with documenting its setup is not a trivial task, so we'll be spacing these projects out to fit in with our other activities.  

We reserve the right to determine cartridges that qualify for this program.

After receiving your deposit, we'll do the following:

  1. Order your cartridge.
  2. Set it up and run it in for 10-20 hours.
  3. Perform a full QC, including producing USB microscope photos, along with documenting azimuth and all other setup parameters.
  4. If there's any anomaly, we'll send it back to the distributor to correct the issue.
  5. Deliver your cartridge at a price that's too low to advertise.

Your cartridge will be delivered "as new with dealer QC" along with all of the normal documentation and warranty details.

About sample to sample cartridge variance.  

Tonearms are adjustable for the very reason that affixing a tiny diamond to a cantilever (while being a precision operation) is not an exact science.  Even the best cartridges vary by as much as +/-1.5 degrees in any plane (SRA, azimuth zenith).  Cartridges falling within these parameters are considered to be normal.

Were this not the case, we would not be using advanced setup tools like USB microscopes, dedicated setup records and software, oscilloscopes, and such.

Current Items

Eddy Merckx - 1986 Corsa Bicycle

Cables from Kondo and Allnic

Airtight ATH-1 Step-up Transformer

Gavia Mk 1 (with Mk 1.5 update) - just back from the finishing shop!

Serac Turntable - this just sold, but we're leaving it up as a placeholder for future trade-ins.

Free Teres Verus II Rim Drive

Linn LP12

Cables from Kondo and Allnic

We took some cables in on trade for some Wind Rivers.  

OK ... so you don't believe our cables are better?  We get that.  It's a pretty bold claim, and no cables are universal.  These Kondo and Allnic cables are very good.

So buy these, and when you're ready for some Wind Rivers, we'll advertise these here for you:

  • Allnic Mu8R phono cable 1.5m (5-pin DIN to RCA): $1,895
  • Kondo KSL-VzII (silver IC) 1m: $1,495 (with Kondo proof of authenticity) $$$ sold $$$
  • Kondo KSL SPz (silver speaker cable) 2.0m (banana termination): $$$ sold $$$

At your request, we'll burn these in on our Cable Cooker for 72 hours.

Click on photos to enlarge ...

Airtight ATH-1 Step-up Transformer

$925

To the best of our memory, these step-ups sold for $3,000.  Housed inside are Tamura step-ups.  Gain and loading has 3 settings as shown.  On our Hana cartridges, we use the middle (20 ohm) setting.

The small white spot on the face plate is a blemish.

We found that with most cartridges, we float the ground from the step-up to the phono stage, but attach the tonearm cable ground wire to the step-up's ground lug.

If you know step-up transformers, you know some experimentation is involved.

GAVIA Mk 1.5 - $6,250

with NEW Kuzma 4Point-9: $9,975

with new Schröder CB: $8,975


Just back from the finishing shop!

Galibier Design - Gava Mk 1.5 Restoration

Cartridge Choice is Extra

This turntable has been completely remanufactured, with our newest finish which replaces our Stelvio class finish.

Our Stevio class finish upgrade was priced at $1,000 before we discontinued it.

With the exception of missing dual arm capability, this Mk 1.5 restoration is sonically identical to our dual-arm capable Mk II turntables.

Think about this ...

For less than the retail price of a Kuzma 4Point-11 tonearm this turntable and either a 4Point-9 or Schröder CB tonearm can be had.

Your restored Gavia includes all of these "extras":

Either:  a new Kuzma 4Point-9 tonearm (choose termination option):

  • This is with Kuzma's Crystal Cable Silver/Gold wiring (made in the same factory that produces Siltech cables)
  • Burned in on our cable cooker for 72 hours)
  • Inquire about Cardas Clear or Kondo Silver wiring upgrades.

Or:  a new Schröder CB tonearm

Drive System:  

  • Current drive system specification (v1.03).  
  • Upgrade linear supply.

Bearing

  • Rebuilt to current specification with ceramic thrust ball interface.

Mk 1.5 Upgrade

  • Tonearm cavity machined to accommodate Mk 1.5 armboard
  • Mk 1.5 Armboard - drilled for your tonearm

TPI © Top Plate 

  • This turntable has the earlier graphite version, it has been refinished using our new process, bringing the cosmetics to match the later carbon fiber version.
  • Performance differences between the two versions are indistinguishable.  
  • The carbon fiber revision was a cosmetic change.  This occurred before we developed the new finishing process for the graphite plates.  We're circulating these refinished graphite plates to our beta test group and will likely return to the graphite version in the near future.

Finish:

  • This turntable served as a proof of concept for our new Teridium Texture Powder Coat.  We like it so much, that we're discontinuing our Stelvio auto paint finsh in place of this process. 

The Mk 1.5 Upgrade:

This is not trivial.  This brings  parity with our Mk II designs to the Mk I architecture.

In developing the Mk II chassis, we replaced the pivoting armboard design of the Mk I with a more stable and adjustable arm mounting architecture.

With a bit of post-manufacture machining, we retrofit this upgrade to our Mk I chassis.

The only feature it is missing from the Mk II is dual arm capability.

A detailed comparison of Mk I and Mk 1.5 armboards can be viewed here.  You can view photos of the various armboard options in our museum


Previous Gavia Restorations

It’s the rare individual who “requires” an upgrade from a Gavia to a Stelvio turntable, and on average, we’ll see perhaps one Gavia come our way in a calendar year.

The three Gavias shown here are examples different finishes for for turntables received in trade (click photos to expand).  

The fourth  photo shows the machined conversion cavity for compatibility with the Mk 1.5 armboards.  This modification brings the Mk I turntable's performance to match the Mk-II turntables.

Our polisher has retired, and in recent years, the default finish has changed to a matte silver, anodized finish  shown below.

Serac Turntable for $500?

Yes!  When you purchase our Stelvio-class drive system for $2,745.

A new armboard is waiting to be drilled for your tonearm.

(this one just sold - this is a placeholder for future trade-ins)

Galibier Design - Serac with Kuzma 4Point-9

Front pillar, Mk 1.5 armboard, tonearm, and cartridge not included in base price (see optional upgrades)

We received a Serac platter, bearing and base in trade from a customer who upgraded to a Gavia.  We completed your Serac build by:

  • Reserving a new armboard (ready to drill).
  • Building a new Stelvio Mk II class drive module with Stelvio motor pod.
  • Upgrading the bearing to current spec by installing a new thrust plate and upgraded to a ceramic thrust ball.

This is an early Serac with a Mk I (pivoting) Stelvio armboard.

Refer to the Galibier Museum page for additional photos of Mk I Pivoting Armboards.

Galibier Design - Serac Turntable

Serac with Mk-I Armboard

Complete Serac Turntable: $3,245 (base price) includes:


  • Serac turntable base converted to accept Mk 1.5 armboards
  • Serac PVC platter
  • Upgraded (re-manufactured) bearing with ceramic thrust interface (same as Gavia/Stelvio)
  • New Mk I pivoting armboard with no front pillar
  • New, current  specification Gavia/Stelvio drive module (v1.03) with Astron RS 7A Linear Power Supply

Putting this Into Perspective

We sell the exact drive module as a retrofit/upgrade for $2,745 (complete with an Astron RS 7A power supply.  With the Teddy Pardo supply upgrade, it sells for $3,245.

Click this link for a historical timeline of our drive systems (leading up to the current Gavia/Stelvio v1.03) and click this link to view drive system upgrade page.  

Not a bad deal, when you consider the price of the drive system alone, eh?

Optional Upgrades:

Photo above shows the following upgrades ("maxed out" Serac):

  • Teddy Pardo Linear Power Supply Upgrade (order direct from Teddy Pardo  - approximately $500)
  • Mk 1.5 armboard - add $275
  • Front protective pillar - add $250

Kuzma 4Point-9 and cartridge is not included.  Inquire about tonearm and cartridge packages.

Background

On rare occasions, a Serac owner will upgrade their Serac platter to a Gavia. When they do, we trade the customer's base, platter and bearing in exchange for a new base, Gavia platter, and matching bearing (platters & bearings are delivered in matched sets). We then take the traded-in base, platter and bearing and do the following to build a new turntable:

  • We modify the base to accept Mk 1.5 armboards.
  • We rebuild the bearing to our current ceramic thrust interface standard
  • We build a new drive system with an Astron linear supply
  • In "Maxed Out" configuration, we include a front pillar, a Mk 1.5 Gavia armboard, and substitute a Teddy Pardo linear supply for the Astron.

Photos below are show various arms as well as one with a Mk I armboard.

Inquire about tonearm and cartridge package pricing.

Serac Background

The Serac may be our greatest technical achievement and biggest commercial flop.  We put all of our r&d into performance, and compromised on cosmetics to deliver it at its price point.

In retrospect, we realized that the market preferred a bit more cosmetics, but we could  have never delivered so much sound at this price point if we had done so.

Put this into perspective:  our customers currently pay $1,295 to upgrade to this drive system – the same one we specify for our 5-figure Stelvio and Gavia turntables – a drive system which competes against cost no object turntables.s

For a relatively small price difference, you’re getting an entire turntable with the same bearing and drive system we specify for the Gavia and Stelvio turntables.

Teres Verus II

The Verus has been spoken for, but folks have been known to give up on "rescue projects".

We're leaving this section up in case it once more comes available.

This unit is in need of some tender loving care, as it apparently suffered some shipping damage which went unnoticed by the owner who never plugged the unit in.

This unit will set you back only the price of shipping, and is for the hobbyist who has access to a machine shop to perform the necessary repairs.  

Read on if this describes you.

Galibier Design - Teres Verus Drive System

Verus - click to enlarge

If you’re up to it, I have my customer’s permission to gift it to you for the price of shipping.

The unit came with manual dated 04-Mar-2015 (click here), along with a one page flyer titled "Verus Pod Upgrade Instructions” (click here).

This is everything I know about the unit, and needless to say, it comes with no technical support.

Galibier Design - Teres Verus Drive System

Verus Height Risers

When we installed it, we adjusted the dip switches to set the speed ramp and rpm range – the latter to adjust to platter diameter.  

We observed severe wow, and upon close inspection, we noticed that the rim was tilted (instead of being perpendicular to the motor shaft).

I advised my customer that this is a “rescue unit” and he gave me permission to gift it to someone for the price of shipping.


Be aware that two of the most critical machining operations in turntable manufacture are the bearing and any pulleys, idlers or rim drive parts.

You'll need competent machining to achieve a satisfactory runout, and no, we will not do this for you (that's why we're giving it away for our customer).

If you don’t have access to a competent machine shop this project is not for you.

Linn LP12

We’ve known Jon for over 20 years, and he’s in line for one of our new Savoie turntables.  There’s room on his shelf for only one turntable.

You can contact Jon directly at this e-mail address: ainums@spectrum.net.  Jon and I are researching what a fair price would be, and hence, the absence of an asking price at present.

Jon describes this LP12 as follows:

" Excellent+ condition – a few minor blemishes.  Original lacquer on platter in excellent condition.  Good belt.  Bearing drained and sealed.  Will wrap in brown paper."

  •     Linn Sondek LP12
  •     Valhalla power supply (single speed 33.3 rpm)
  •     Armboard drilled for Ittok
  •     Blank 6-point armboard
  •     Cirkus bearing and chassis
  •     120v/60Hz
  •     Stainless top, original Linn wood base
  •     New dust cover in bag with cloth cover
  •     New dust cover hinges
  •     New complete double box and packing
  •     Includes online setup guide

Click the thumbnail photos for a larger view:

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15 pages packed with general setup information - tricks you may not have seen before

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Galibier Design - Setup Tools and Charts (Composite Photo)

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