The Telos
(No longer in production)
“By far the most fun and joy listening in analytical mode. When I shift to listening for immersion the experience becomes sublime.” (David S., customer)
“A truly monumental achievement… The Telos is as good as my master tape.....which is what I use for a reference.” (Mike L., customer)
“Again, the music travels through this arm with great emotion, dynamics, and a sense of ease that I have not ever experienced before.” (Gary R., customer)
“I am at a loss to how any uni-pivot can accomplish bass like this, bravo!” (Chris T.)
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photo Steve Korn 2015
!! The Telos receives the 2012 Positive Feedback Circuitus Maximus Award !!
“Aristotle’s understanding of happiness can shed light on those activities that truly engage us; maybe it can teach us something about work and leisure as well. His account is grounded in a more comprehensive understanding of creatures: to understand any particular sort of being, the best way to proceed is by looking at it, and taking note of its characteristic activity. That activity represents the “end” of the creature, its purpose. In Greek, its telos.” (Matthew Crawford, Shop Class as Soulcraft. Penguin Books, New York, 2009. P.192)
The Telos is our top-of-the-line model. It is the result of intensive interdisciplinary research, from shape optimization, stress analysis to materials science, guided by observation and informed by theory. The development of the project started with a thorough re-examination of the fundamentals of tonearm design, an approach that progressively led us to the most minimalist design that was possible, given the functions that were deemed essential to a tonearm operation. Each element is an essential part of the functional whole, and nothing is superfluous. The experience acquired in the long period that led to the Talea™ proved invaluable when developing this new tonearm. In some ways, it is a radical extension of the earlier project, and in other ways, it treads new ground by bringing new types of possible adjustments.
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The design
Finite Element Analysis and computer stress simulations were systematically complemented with numerous audition tests, in order to determine which factors were the most relevant to playback performance. The research examined in great detail the questions of vibrations, stress and damping, and how their interactions apply to the system as a whole. Extreme attention was given to the many aspects of relations between the components that are involved in the structure of the tonearm, and the optimization of their shape. A vast number of materials, from common to very exotic (and terribly expensive...) were evaluated for each part: from the smallest screws to each major part of the assembly, nothing was left to chance.
One of the leading principles during the development was to simplify all the basic elements of the construction in order to obtain the purest design and the best mechanical integrity possible, while maintaining all functionality needed in a modern tonearm. As a result, the Telos is very easy to use and offers all the adjustments one could ever need--plus a few unusual ones designed to achieve extremely fine tuning of the sound result.
photo Carl Zapp ©2012
Specifications
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Effective length: 305 mm (12”)
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Pivot-spindle distance: 291.63 mm (Loefgren A geometry)
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Overhang: 13.73 mm. Effective length fine adjustment is realized with a cartridge plate on which the cartridge is mounted (Please see our page on cartridge alignment here)
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Offset angle: 17.84 degrees.
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Cartridge mount: 1/2” (12.7mm)
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If you want to make sure that the Telos™ will fit on your turntable, you can download a mounting template here (scroll to “Telos™ Mounting Templates”)
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Mounting specifications: 4 x 10-24 (or M4) metal screws or 4 x #8 wood screws. A central hole for the VTA column might need to be bored if the height difference between the surface of the platter and the surface of the armboard/plinth is smaller than 25 mm. The diameter of the hole should be min. 1”, and its depth 1”
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Weight of the whole assembly: ca. 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
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Bearing: constrained unipivot. Swiss-made non-corrosive, non-magnetic stainless steel pivot in a sapphire jewel. The center of mass of the tonearm is in the same plane as the bearing, thus ensuring an ideal dynamic balance, without the need for the outrigger weights commonly found on other unipivot systems
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VTA/SRA: Range: ca. 23 mm. The VTA column is fastened to the arm base with a clamping mechanism
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Azimuth: adjustable. We discuss the question of azimuth setting here
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Anti-skating; can be disabled if desired
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VTF with coupled counterweights. Counterweights are of a special alloy of much higher density than stainless steel
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Phono cable uninterrupted from cartridge clips to termination connectors (except at the junction internal wires-interconnect cable). The junction between internal wires and phono interconnects is contained in a box made of a material carefully selected for its acoustic properties.
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Jig to set the pivot-to-spindle distance provided; no need for a ruler, the jig places the tonearm exactly in the right position
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MintLP arc protractor included
Note: if the platter surface is more than ca. 28 mm higher than the surface on which the tonearm is mounted, a spacer will be needed. Please contact us to purchase the spacer.
Like the Talea™, the Telos™ is a medium-mass tonearm that can be used with most modern cartridges on the market.
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Like all Durand Tonearms products, the Telos™ is entirely made and assembled by hand in the USA.
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Please note that our invoice will state full price paid, regardless of where it is sent. Durand Tonearms will not misrepresent your tonearm’s value for customs purposes. Please do not ask us to do so.
photo Steve Korn 2015