We proudly welcome the latest member of the JWM Acoustics family!

Karen 12

About a year and a half ago we introduced the KAREN series of turntables and accessories. A series driven by the quest for a sound almost forgotten from my youth. Since then, it has become the most popular product at JWM Acoustics.

In May of 2015, JWM Acoustics introduced the KAREN 3 at Lone Star Audio Fest. A hand built, solid wood turntable based on the REGA platform. Completely designed and manufactured in Hawaii. The idea was to show people that our $1,500.00 turntable could easily perform with tables 3 times the cost. And we did.

Later that month at T.H.E. SHOW NEWPORT we introduced the next step, KAREN 6. A $2,400.00 analog solution that floored each show goer who entered the room. All agreed that this table pushed way above its price range and had little to no competition in this range period. A constant stream of show goers agreed. In only a few months, this table has now built its own cult following. From the solid handmade hardwood plinth, to the hand tuned power supply it is not hard to see why.

Now, once again, we decided to take KAREN to the next level. An all new concept with parts sourced from all corners of the globe. A collaborative piece that represents our finest table yet. In October 2015 at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest you will see and hear what is possible when things are made to be simple, by hand and purpose driven.

Beautiful, Elegant, KAREN 12

The KAREN 12 plinth is made from a single large and rigid piece of wood. Alone it weighs 30lbs. The KAREN 12 is indeed a large turntable with a tremendous amount of mass for its size. As with all the tables in the KAREN series, the edges are cut at a specific angle to reduce surface vibration. The original vibration damping shape of the KAREN design has been also utilized here, but to larger scale bringing the noise floor even lower than previous models. The signature curved front also serves a purpose in diffracting internal vibrations.

As with the KAREN 6 we addressed the motor and controller in the usual JWM Acoustics manner. With further simplifications and refinement to the vibration damping mechanism and power consistency, we have increased the accuracy and dropped the noise floor even further for the entire table. The motor and electronics are recessed into the underside of the table and treated to isolate from the bearing assembly and quiet the table further.

The bearing assembly, sub-platter and spindle has also been addressed with a handmade system sourced from Argentina and built by Tango Spinner. This polished drive mechanism and bearing has extremely tight tolerances and has proven to add accuracy, pace and depth to the presentation. The three belt pulley system provides copious amounts of torque and drives the two layer glass platter sourced from REGA with command.

The stock arm for the KAREN 12 was carefully chosen to extend the same powerful signature sound the KAREN series is becoming known for. We chose the ORTOFON TA-210 12” static tonearm. We feel this arm/table combination possesses an elegant balance between analytical and soulful. Paired with most any cartridge on the market and you have a machine that will bring musical bliss to your home for many generations to come.

As with all JWM Acoustics products, you may customize your KAREN 12 to suit your own tastes. We have a large assortment of woods and finishes to choose from as well as the desire to build your dream table exactly as you wish. Should you have an idea for something you don’t see on our website, feel free to ask if we can custom tailor your deck for you. It’s what we do.

We are taking pre-orders for the KAREN 12 now, so feel free to contact us for further details, or a consultation on what we can do for you. We truly believe this playback machine will breathe a new life into your collection and reveal even more information locked in the grooves of every record you play. The KAREN 12 and her sisters should be on your short list of new tables to hear and we can’t wait to share them all with you.

Please join us in October for Rocky Mountain Audio Fest as we introduce the newest member of the JWM Acoustics family.

Beautiful, Elegant, KAREN 12

JWM

LOCALLY GROWN TURNTABLES NOW AVAILABLE!

“Over the course of our lives, many things will come and go. The most important, will come back again and again. Each time they do, we gain a greater appreciation for their presence. A new respect. We begin to covet and value this presence and influence on our lives. In reality, these little visits mold who we are. The trick is to never take the return of these things for granted, or expect more than we deserve from them. This is true for things such as as a favorite record. Every few years, it seems you stumble upon one in the bin of a local flea market. Perhaps it is a certain flavor that hits you while dining at a new restaurant. It reminds you of a childhood friend, or a long lost aunt. Have you ever heard a sound that brings a flood of memories gushing in? A tear forms in your eye and you wonder where all the time has gone and what happened to tear you away for so long. For me, those things are far too many. One is a sound I have been chasing for many years, but remains elusive to say the least. Until now that is. A sound I longed to know again. An analog voice heard in childhood now rendered less scratchy and void of pops. A sound more rich and clean and deeper than ever before. For me, that thing also comes in the form of one next of kin. Her voice, like that sound, has had more influence on me than she knows and the respect I have for her grows by the day. Her voice may come and go like other things, but each time it returns, it is as rich and more comforting than any sound I know. These pieces will be named for that voice. My sister, Karen”…

I have been messing around with turntables for at least ¾ of my life. When nobody was home, I started tearing my Pops deck apart. I was too young to understand how it worked. That was the idea though. I had to figure out how that song from The Sting could make its way from that black disk into those AR speakers! HOW!?! As luck would have it, the answer really was not that complicated. Much like a microphone, a needle or stylus is vibrated by a groove in a record. That vibration is transformed into an electrical signal that flows to an amplifier. That amplifier boosts the signal to a higher power in order to feed a transducer, or speaker. That speaker transforms the electrical signal into pressurized sound waves that our ears can detect as music or your favorite comedy album… Viola!

Options, options, Options…

Ok, so now that we worked that out… the fact is that it ain’t that easy. “Ugh”. Fortunately, we have many tools available in this day and age to make it a bit easier than it was even a few years back. For instance, individual parts like tone arms and motors are so much more available and better than ever before. The parts are so much easier to modify and tune to your own taste as well! Do you want a DC motor? Done. A Sapphire bearing? Done. Computer controlled speed adjustment? Done. Glass platter? Done. Etc. Etc. and so on. Did I mention materials for the plinth yet? Oh, how about Padauk? Monkeypod? Wenge? All of the above?

REAL WOOD?!?

Modern technology, as pertaining to damping materials, has made it possible to throw away the old ideas of what to use. In the past, it seemed the only material that worked for a plinth was the consistency of MDF or some other cheap material. To me, when I see a piece of furniture made from MDF and laminated with a fancy veneer, I simply can’t get past what is underneath. I understand that cost is important in manufacturing for the mass market, but really? The excuse that MDF has a repeatable consistency and its acoustic properties are far more predictable than that of wood is malarkey. Yes, I use MDF in some of my designs, but only FOR its acoustic properties. Not as an excuse. In the case of the Karen turntable, MDF or cheaper materials are simply not necessary or desirable. I look at these machines as a permanent fixture of the end users system and home. As you may know by now, I don’t build pieces as disposable electronics. I build instruments. Ones that should, like my speakers, be chosen as such. It will last. A very long time. Thus, the plinths and case work are treated as such. Solid hardwoods of any species you like may be selected. Choose wisely. This is the last turntable you will ever buy!

Down to business:

The Karen is a direct modification for the P series turntables from Rega. Any of the tables in this line are a direct drop-in. Also, being that the pattern and holes are tapped to Rega and SME standards, any other manufacturers parts using this mounting pattern can be fit to each plinth. The plinth is designed to be a functioning modern classic. Each is constructed of solid hardwoods and finished in the very same 12 step process as my speaker systems. Each plinth is as unique as the trees in the forest and can be ordered in any wood desired.

Vibration:

The use of hardwoods is now as easy and predictable as any other material available. In the case that stray vibrations need to be damped, I use many of the same materials I have in my quiver for my speaker cabinets. As you would guess, the harder the wood, the higher the resonant frequency of the plinth. The grain variations within the wood help to break up standing waves within the table. I also use any number of vibration control feet depending on what the end user feels most comfortable with. All of these factors are looked at on a table to table basis, thus each machine is as unique as the person who chooses it. Now how could this possibly be more fun!

Technical stuff and more options:

The arm cutout is at the 222mm position from the center of the platter bearing. Meaning you are welcome to choose any 9” arm you prefer with only a slight up charge for installation. If you choose to buy a complete setup, the standard package features a Rega arm. Again, you may specify which arm you like, and I am happy to make the necessary adjustments. Should you choose a custom arm length from another manufacturer, just say the word. I am happy to create a custom piece to your specifications.

The motor is mounted in standard Rega fashion. Well, kind of! The length of the belt and pulley is standard, but that is where it ends. I have created a system that will fit most standard Rega mounts. I have also chosen as my standard the same motor assembly as the P1-3 and 6 tables from Rega. (Do you see a pattern here?) I bolt the motor through the plinth and isolate it with further damping. The materials I use are similar to those used for vibration control in my speakers. This significantly lowers the noise floor. Stable and quite is the name of the game in good analog sound reproduction. That is exactly what you get from the Karen.

Voila!!!

Whether you are a seasoned audiophile, or still wet behind the ears, these machines will bring a smile to your face for many years. The sound is rich and clean with serious transit response and timbre. For pop, modern rock, or jazz they have pace, depth and speed. For those inclined to the classical side of the spectrum, these decks throw a deep and wide sound stage with great placement resolution of each instrument. Frequency extremes are well defined and so are the presence regions of the spectrum for vocal recording. In other words, this deck does it all!

I hope you enjoy the Karen as much as I do. After all, music is what it’s all about.

Keep your records clean ya’ll!

Joshua W. Miles

PS: These pieces are hand made in Hawai'i!

Each one of these turntables is lovingly hand made on O'ahu. When possible, I use locally grown wood. Each piece is chosen, milled, sanded, cut and finished in Honolulu.

If you would like to see, hear, or better yet, order one of these musical creations please feel free to contact me any time. Dealer inquiries are always welcome!

Joshua W. Miles Designs LLC (808)349-6661 (808)421-9991 PO BOX 944 Kailua, HI. 96734 joshuawmilesdesigns@yahoo.com