Developed by New Zealand-based company Design Build Listen (DBL), ‘The Wand’ unipivot tonearm is easily recognisable from its pared back form and sharp-angled termination and having the cartridge bolted directly to it via a metal block.
This year another product from the crafty Kiwis will no doubt be making similar waves at this year's Bristol Hi-Fi Show, the newly announced Wand Turntable.
Wand Model 14-4 turntable
The company's brand new 14-4 turntable has recently been doing the rounds in Milan, Munich and Melbourne. The turntable's name derives from it possessing a 14-inch (360mm), 4-ply Smart Platter, giving it 20% more inertia than a traditional platter of equivalent mass.
Your records are secured to the acrylic playing surface by a transparent acrylic screw-down clamp so you can still have sight of the label.
The asymmetrically cut German Plywood main structure supports the Zentroidal three-point suspension system. The centroid of suspension, the stillest point, is close to the playing arc to maximise shock and vibration rejection.
The Wand Model 14-4 is powered by a DC Motor with superb electronic speed control and offers 33 and 45rpm as standard although you can order 78rpm too. The Swiss custom-made flat belt rounds things off here.
The armboard will accommodate 9.5-inch / 10.3-inch or 12-inch tonearms. Naturally, DBL strongly suggests fitting one of their lovely Wand tonearms.
An area oft overlooked is the dust cover/lid of a turntable. Not so here. The Wand Model 14-4 turntable sports a rather stylish lid that sits mechanically outside the playing system. Additionally, the design enables you to be able to cue the record when the lid is down. When raised, the cover stands upright on its back edge.
You can hear The Wand 14-4 turntable in Room 320 on the third floor.
For more information, go to DBL.
THE BRISTOL HI-FI SHOW
The Bristol Hi-Fi shows runs from Friday 22nd February through Sunday 24th February 2019 at the Marriott City Centre Hotel, Bristol.
To book your tickets for the show head to the Bristol Hi-Fi Show site.
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