Helius Designs offers some of the most innovative and highest performance tonearms and turntables for music lovers everywhere.
|
Geoffrey Owen |
Helius Designs founder Geoffrey Owen left his job as turntable designer at Tangent Acoustics after they closed their operation in Cambridge. He then introduced his first tonearm model, the Standard. In the following eighteen months he introduced the Orion and Aurum models. There were the first of nearly twenty tonearm models that have graced the Helius line since that time.
At the same time, Mr. Owen was also designing and manufacturing high-quality optics for the laser and astronomy industries. Over the decades, he has become known among astronomers for his telescope designs.
The Helius Designs Omega Standard, Omega Siler Ruby, and Phaedra series tonearms are unique in their use of a three-ball bearing race configuration; a design configuration invented by Geoffrey Owen. This design consists of three balls which form a triangle in a close running journal, with a fourth sphere pushing down into the center of the triangle, forming a tetrahedral array. In this way the bearings are dynamically balanced around a point of zero potential. This results in that absolute minimal friction levels possible in a captured bearing, yet it also ensures point contact on all surfaces.
All this technical stuff means that Helius tonearms offer the best control of vibrations and kinetic energy of any tonearms in their class. In addition to the superior bearing design, Helius tonearms feature the extensive use of differential mass and clever bracing, which further control the potential for extraneous energy that can degrade reproduced sound.
In the early 2000s, Geoffrey Owen decided to start building turntables again. But this time he started with a clean sheet of paper and without the burden of traditional ideas of how a turntable should work. This led to the invention of the Alexia, which has been joined by an upgraded model, the Viridia.
These turntables use a double-wishbone suspension that moves only in the vertical plane. There are no springs or other suspension devices. The suspension is turned to 1.5 Hertz, which is well outside the frequency range that could cause resonances or uncontrolled vibrations. This suspension arrangement can be adjusted with a single screw.
Also employed in the design of the Alexia and the Viridia is a decoupled optical encoder system speed monitor that measures the speed of the platter, not the motor, 120 times per second. This is a significant feature that other turntable manufacturers have ignored. Since the record sits on the platter, not the motor, speed fluctuations need to be monitored and corrected at the platter and corrected at the motor.
Helius turntables are also designed to have no contact between the platter and sub-chassis, so rumble numbers are nearly non-existent. Other features include a through-hardened and tempered bearing shaft and non-resonant acrylic construction. Both models also feature a damped, sandwich-construction sub-chassis.
More features and specifications for the Alexia and Viridia models can be found below in their individual listings.
Both the Viridia and Alexia can be purchased with blank armboards to accommodate most 9 inch to 10 inch tonearms. The Helius Designs factory can also drill the armboards for some tonearms other than Helius tonearms. Check with us for information about your particular circumstance.
The natural choice to go with a Helius Designs turntable, of course, is a Helius Designs tonearm. With this being the case, we offer 10% off the total price when a Helius Designs tonearm is purchased with a Helius Designs turntable. Call, email, or stop by for details.
The Omega Standard offers far beyond standard performance, and does it at a reasonable price.
Available in versions with pure OFC copper wiring or pure silver Litz wiring, the Omega Standard is a versatile tonearm. Other performance features include dynamic balancing, differential mass damping, and non-coincident bearings. The Omega also features a convenient detachable headshell as an option with the pure copper wired version. The Omega tonearm wiring is terminated with female RCA plugs in a terminal block which made use of the Omega with a sprung-suspension turntable easy. Available with an effective length of ten inches.
The Omega Standard offers true high-end performance at a moderate price.
Retail Price:
|
-With Pure Copper Internal Wire: $3695.00 |
|
-With Pure Silver Litz Internal Wire: $3895.00 |
Call or email us for pricing for the detachable headshell version. Spare detachable headshells and minor counterweights of other weight values are available as special order items. For more information, delivery lead times, and pricing, please contact us at 573-696-3551 or customer_service@audiointelligent.com.
The Omega Silver Ruby is the pinnacle of design and performance in the Helius line and rates among the very best tonearms available.
Featuring a high performance bearing comprised of twelve large rubies and cryogenically treated pure silver wiring, the Omega Silver Ruby is among the top performing tonearms available today.
The Omega Silver Ruby is available in either a 10 inch or 12 inch effective length features a handy main/ minor counterweight system that makes fine adjustment of VTF easier. The Omega Silver Ruby also features tonearm wiring that is terminated with female RCA plugs in a terminal block which makes use of the tonearm with a sprung-suspension turntable easy.
The Omega Silver Ruby is a true world-class performer.
Retail Price:
|
-10 Inch Effective Length Version: $5525.00 |
|
-12 Inch Effective Length Version: $6500.00 |
Please specify tonearm length desired when ordering.
Spare minor counterweights of other weight values are available as special order items. For more information, delivery lead times, and pricing, please contact us at 573-696-3551 or customer_service@audiointelligent.com.
The Helius Phaedra is an all out assault on the state-of-the-art of tonearm design.
Geoffrey Owen has raised the bar for tonearm performance with the new Helius Phaedra.
Available in both 10 inch and 12 inch versions, the Phaedra features advanced silicon nitride bearings and your choice of either cryogenically treated silver Litz wire, or cryogenically treated single crystal copper wire.
The Phaedra is at home on any turntable on the market today and will offer performance on par with any other tonearm on the market, and does so at a price that is much lower than most.
Retail Price:
|
-10 Inch Effective Length Version: $6525.00 |
|
-12 Inch Effective Length Version: $7495.00 |
Please specify tonearm length desired when ordering.
Helius Alexia Turntable
Features and Specifications
Decoupled optical drive system
Pushbutton 33.33 RPM and 45 RPM speed selection
Belt drive Delrin platter
Double-wishbone suspension in vertical plane only
One armboard included
Dimensions: 19” wide x 12” deep x 5” high
Weight: 24 lbs.
Retail Price: $5095.00
Helius Viridia Turntable
Features and Specifications
Decoupled optical drive system
Pushbutton 33.33 RPM and 45 RPM speed selection
Belt drive Delrin platter with attached mat
Primary suspension of 4 adjustable feet with the front 2 having magnetic repulsion
Secondary suspension of parallel links tuned to 1 to 2 Hz.
Magnetically suspended platter using Neodymium magnets with a repelling force of 4.8kg
Record weight included
Dimensions: 19” wide x 12” deep x 5” high
Weight: 24 lbs.
Retail Price: $7195.00
|