The Altmann Tera Player - Thread

[flymetothemoon]

musicday,

Please stop spreading malicious falsehoods, as selling you my Tera Player for £900 when I originally bought it for 500 Euros was one of the best investments that I've ever made. I have absolutely no regrets disposing of my Tera Player, as it is a sonically flawed device and there are much better sounding DAP's currently available at far less cost.

The Chord DAVE is in an entirely different sonic category and league to the Tera Player (TP). To use a footballing analogy, DAVE is a Premiereship team of professional sportsmen, whereas the TP is a non-league pub team of fat sweaty middle aged bald blokes.

Hi Smial1966...
 
Just share with you a secret of mine...I did the same thing as you [sold my Tera back last year at more or less the same price that I paid for (@8xx Euro)...and now I don't need extravagance device to beat the "analogue sound" of the Tera as I just plug my Tralucent Ref.1 (with Uber cable) to my Technics RS-B100 cassette deck's headphone (to which feeds by my Heybrook TT2/SME3010R/Dynavector R23 via McIntosh C27 pre-amp) then enjoy a truly analogue sound that is "unreachable" by the Tera.  No rocket science here just plain humble 30 years old combo.  

 

[smial1966]

flymetothemoon,

There is a lot to be said about the gloriously 'analogue' sound of vintage audio gear. My friend has an old Luxman receiver and it sounds wonderful paired with his Technics cassette deck. Old gear is definitely worth investigating if you enjoy a euphonious and lush sound.

Hi Smial1966...

Just share with you a secret of mine...I did the same thing as you [sold my Tera back last year at more or less the same price that I paid for (@8xx Euro)...and now I don't need extravagance devise to beat the "analogue sound" of the Tera as I just plug my Tralucent Ref.1 (with Uber cable) to my Technics RS-B100 cassette deck's headphone (to which feeds by my Heybrook TT2/SME3010R/Dynavector R23 via McIntosh C27 pre-amp) then enjoy a truly analogue sound that is "unreachable" by the Tera.  No rocket science here just plain humble 30 years old combo.  

 

[Ruben123]

Most analogue sound is due to the high output impedance of the headphone outs; made for 800 Ohm headphones that were standard back then. Now headphones are near 32 Ohms or even less, which creates enormous frequency response swings and distortion on some earphones - which some really like. The Tera also has a quite high output impedance of 20 Ohms - not made at all for modern headphones, as a 20 Ohm output impedance "needs" headphones of at least 20*8=160 Ohms for ideal sound!!! (that is: no distortion and frequency swings)
 
For sure the Tera can deliver that analogue sound, but pair your headphone with any cheap (!!!!!) or old gear and you will get the same. I say cheap because cheap players do have higher output imps (cheaper to make, 0 Ohm output imp is relatively hard and expensive to make) and most older, not so high end mobile phones have high output imps in the range of 5-50 Ohms. Be sure to get an 50 Ohms output imp smartphone and you can enjoy phone calls, emailing and listening to analogue music while on the go for very cheap

 

[flymetothemoon]

flymetothemoon,

There is a lot to be said about the gloriously 'analogue' sound of vintage audio gear. My friend has an old Luxman receiver and it sounds wonderful paired with his Technics cassette deck. Old gear is definitely worth investigating if you enjoy a euphonious and lush sound.

Absolutely.
 
As I just moved back to Toronto (has been away for 22 years) and now had my storage (like a time capsule) unearthed that included my 30+ years old hi-fi system (see my profile).   I'm now adding a power amp (gonna pick it up over this weekend)...a Pioneer M22 to feed my KEF104.2.  
 
After some 20 years on digital stereo to go back to analogue is just one hell of a joy as it sounds so so so different.  I haven't had my Meitner MA-1 DAC on for over a month now as I enjoy so much of the music from my Heybrook/SME/McIntosh system feeding the Adam S3x + Adam Sub 12 speakers for now until the Pioneer M22 arrives.
 
Cheers

 

[musicday]

What cases are you guys using when out and about with the Tera Player?
Some photos will be nice.
I use mine entirely in the Porta Pro headphones soft bag that came with it.
Protect it and can be operated easily while inside.
Great for gym/sweat protection.

 

[wilmoreslim]

Doesn't it really just comes down to what sounds better to your ear. I spent $100,000 trying to find something better then the Tera to my ear, and I still struggle with it every day. I have literally bought and sold the AK 240 four times. Going to go back to just listen to my Tera/porta combo in the meantime.

 

[musicday]

Such a pity then that his outrageous pricing excludes all but the richest of music lovers from acquiring one. :mad:

According to this pic from Tera facebook page quite a few Tera's were going to Japan back in 2014 - can't remember what the price was back then.

I think the Tera Player Standard Legacy was 3360 Euros

 

[flymetothemoon]

I think the Tera Player Standard Legacy was 3360 Euros

 



My advise to those obsessed with analogue sounding reproduction...just take a tiny bit of your preciously saved dollars and invest into a modest vinyl system and you could never imagine how far apart the current digital format vs. the old school analogue. I'm gonna to refurbish my Sony Walkman DC2 by a specialist and will share more once it comes alive again.

In life, there are choices...let's not chain-led by one myth.

Cheers

 

[flymetothemoon]

 
Quote:

I think the Tera Player Standard Legacy was 3360 Euros

My advise to those obsessed with analogue sounding reproduction...just take a tiny bit of your preciously saved dollars [for the Tera] and invest into a modest vinyl system and you could never imagine how far apart the current digital format vs. the old school analogue.
 
I'm gonna refurbish my Sony Walkman DC2 by a specialist and will share more once it comes alive again.
 
In life, there are choices...let's not chain-led by one myth.
 
Cheers

 

[musicday]

Anyone in London who wants to hear the Tera Player and see what this hype is all about message me here.

 

[sonickarma]

I think that people should listen to the Tera Player with the Ref1 earphones or Porta Pro headphones modified and see if this type of sound is for them.
Excluding the actual price if this music player, the sound is the best i have yet to heard.For me at least anyway.

Which cable you using with your Ref 1 and Tera, as sounds even better with a decent cable?

 

[musicday]

I don't have the Ref1 unfortunately, but everyone is saying that uber cable takes the sound to an new level.But even stock cable is amazing.

 

[musicday]

Managed to find a pair of Westone 4R that been used very little.I am very impressed with the voice, very clear and smooth, highs are present in a nice way and the bass is punchy and crisp not exaggerated or bloated.
Wonder if the Linum Bax can improve anything in the sound, it will do with comfort i am sure
Smooth and easy relaxing listening with this combo.
So if you are a Westone fan i will recommend this over W60 if you are planning in using it with the Tera Player, great match.
Everything is better than Porta Pro,except the last have a bit wider soundstage due the semi open design.

 

[Decommo]

Hello. I am totally new to this thread and does anyone have Shozy Alien? I was told that it is poor man's Tera Player. If anyone has both Tera Player and Shozy Alien, it would be greatly appreciated to hear impression or feedback. Thank you.

 

[musicday]

Hello. I am totally new to this thread and does anyone have Shozy Alien? I was told that it is poor man's Tera Player. If anyone has both Tera Player and Shozy Alien, it would be greatly appreciated to hear impression or feedback. Thank you.

Hello and welcome. I am sure someone may have them both,and will give you their impressions shortly.