Thiele Relax Turntables and Analog Cartridges Available to UK Vinylistas

The comeback of vinyl shows no signs of slowing down in the world of hi-fi enthusiasts, so it makes sense that the market needs more choice. Thankfully, two premium brands, Thiele and Analog Relax, have now been added to the UK’s analogue options.

Ricardo FranassoviciAbsolute Sounds founder and CEO said: StereoNET:

Vinyl has once again become a staple of the high-end audio scene, with demand high for ‘forever’ turntables that will do full justice to a treasured record collection and become timeless heirlooms. But if we were to add something extra special to our vinyl player portfolio, which already includes such luminaries as Döhmann, TechDAS and Reed… We’ve travelled the world and tested many highly regarded brands, some of which are truly impressive. But none have moved us quite as much as Thiele and Analog Relax. Both of these manufacturers apply unique creativity and engineering with the sole aim of achieving world-class analogue sound – and they’ve certainly succeeded brilliantly.

THIELÉ

Thiele’s founder, Helmut Thielehas a very impressive CV in audio design. He was Chief Designer at turntable specialist Thorens for over 10 years and has worked with a range of brands including Acoustic Research, Marantz, Mordaunt-Short, Parasound, Pioneer and Tannoy.

Thiele launched the first products under its name three years ago: the TT01 turntable and the TA01 tonearm. The latter was launched in 2009 and, after numerous prototypes, its ingenious “zero tracking error” design was finalized. Then, once the turntable was perfectly matched to the tonearm, both were made available to analogue enthusiasts in Germany in 2021.

The TT01 turntable features “constrained layer damping”; its internal construction is divided into three levels to ensure that interference from the drive motor does not disturb the tonearm and cartridge. Vibration control of each level is optimized using different types of wood and wood composites.

The lower level houses the motor and its associated electronics, the XLR output terminal and three adjustable feet that couple the TT01 to the turntable stand.

The central level, bordered externally with silver, is connected to the lower and upper levels by a special damping adhesive and carries only the arm panel and tonearm, while the platter bearing and control panel are mounted on the upper level.

Finally, a large linear power supply unit is kept off-board, completely separate from the main chassis.

Thiele’s TA01 tonearm is said to combine “the precise guidance of a swing arm with the advantages of a linear tracking design,” resulting in a claimed tracking angle error of less than 0.036 degrees.

The arm tube consists of two carbon fiber tubes arranged coaxially, one inside the other, with a special damping gel filling the space between them.

The TA01’s headshell and arm bearing coupling brackets incorporate ebony wood, prized for its acoustic dampening properties (even the turntable spindle is ebony).

ANALOGUE RELAX

Yasushi Yurugithe founder of cartridge manufacturer Analog Relax, is a Japanese craftsman of the highest caliber.

Being in harmony with yourself and the world around you is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and at the heart of Yurugi’s philosophy.

He makes phono cartridges with bodies carved from exotic woods selected for their acoustic properties, shaping perfectly executed marvels of micro-engineering with exceptional skill.

The Analog Relax range consists of four cartridges, all moving coil. The entry-level model is the EX300, which sports a beeswax-finished walnut body (a tonewood used for guitars) and an elliptical diamond stylus.

The EX500 is a state-of-the-art model, Romanian maple, highly prized by luthiers for its sound qualities. It features an improved version of the EX300’s elliptical stylus.

The next model in the range is the EX1000, which has a body made from 2,000-year-old Yakusugi cedar from the island of Yakushima. These trees are protected by law and the wood must come from trees that have already been felled, adding to its rarity.

The wood’s natural resin content and the fine, dense grains of the wood, formed over centuries of growth in harsh conditions, give the cartridge “an unmistakably pure, organic quality that simply sounds ‘right’.”

This is combined with Analog Relax’s Super Line Contact Version 2 diamond stylus and ruby ​​cantilever.

The new EX2000 is the top of the range, featuring a body carved from the finest spruce from the South Tyrol region of northern Italy, a tonewood highly prized by leading string instrument makers since the days of Stradivari.

An ultra-thin powder coating is applied to the surface of the cartridge body, enhancing the organic resonance of the wood to maximize the EX2000’s “extraordinarily engaging and natural sound.”

Its stylus is the Super Curve Line Contact Version 3, a further evolution of the Version 2 stylus used for the EX1000, combined with a precision-machined diamond cantilever.

Available to order now through the Absolute Sounds retail network, TT01 from Thiele In anthracite finish, the price is £24,500, including the TA01 tonearm and RM01 anti-resonance platter mat. Custom colour options are available.

THE TA01 The tonearm can also be purchased separately for use with other turntables, and costs between £11,500 and £15,000, depending on the type of connection and whether you opt for aluminium or gold-plated bronze metal parts.

Analog relaxation Cartridges start at £2,698 for the EX300 and £4,998 for the EX500. The EX1000 costs £10,998, while the top-of-the-range EX2000 costs £15,000.

Visit Thiele and Analog Relax for more information