Setting up a Helix One Mk3

By Dohmann Admin

This piece is an English translation of the blog written by Dohmann Audio’s partner in Germany, Mr. Wolfgang Linhard at MY SOUND GMBH, one of Germany’s most experienced & respected experts in high-end audio. If you are located in Germany, we encourage you to reach out to Wolfgang. To read the original piece in German, click here.

A freight forwarder comes to us very often, but when DHL Air Freight left two large flight cases with us, it was something special. Finally our Helix ONE from Dohmann Audio from Australia has arrived. For a long time I kept looking for an analogue “revelation”, because I didn’t really have the “analogue” experience with most known turntables. Now some may stone me for what is coming, but only if a huge mass of metal moves at the right speed or if at all, only something with a plate rotates – is it analog and it is good.

Sometimes I think machine builders design ultra-heavy turntables with their milling machines, but actually without a real concept. It is polished, chrome-plated, gilded, motors are multiplied (more is always better!), turntables are doubled or you play with magnets, but sometimes I doubt that hearing plays an important role.

In any case, I know few turntables that sound good – and I mean really GOOD! What is analog sound? For me, only good sound counts. If digital was simply bad – as it used to be – analogue may be good. But the days of bad digital sound are over and – quite honestly – a vinyl record, a pickup, a tonearm and a turntable are not automatically good. They are rather very difficult components and just as “digital” has many reasons for bad sound, analog actually has even more:

• Poor production of cartridges (unfortunately it is often like this). Needle very poorly installed.
• Tonearm and pickup don’t fit together at all. Compliance / Pickup mass and tonearm mass are often not taken into account at all.
• Simple one-point bearing on tonearms doesn’t really sound good. Miserable bass. And the bearing is deformed after a certain time at the tip (is MY opinion!)
• Poor drivetrain, especially with light sub-chassis. You can hear clear howling at the piano.
• And then no really well-made, well-thought-out and well-absorbing turntables.

Nothing new in analogue

The fact that there are few ideas or little new in terms of drives can be seen from the fact that some buy old Gerrard drives, old Thorens turntables or old Technics SL1210 (now Mk7). Could it be that a Technics – whether SL1210 or SL1000 – is a good turntable and has a good drive with the direct drive (that’s his domain) and doesn’t whine at the piano, as well as musically has an absolute drive in the music, but sound good? Well, my demands are perhaps a little higher. And even if all LINN disciples condemn me for it, but who thinks you can penetrate analogue, sonic nirvana with this ultra expensive wooden frame, 3 light springs, the eternally same concept with countless updates? Honestly, I can only envy him: I would like to believe in the good so easily (all my personal opinion).

In my search for analogue nirvana, I then happened to meet Dohmann’s Helix One at High End 2024 and even though I’m not necessarily a fan of big horns, I immediately heard an incredibly charming presentation of the music in the Cessaro exhibition room. A great timing, a lightness in playback that digital sources usually still lack and “despite” record playback a sparkling clean bass and an immense wealth of detail. My eye immediately falls on this record player, which looks exceptionally good and you can immediately recognise: There is other technology behind it, technology at all and an extremely (very extreme!) good workmanship. Mark Dohmann is the creator of this record player, which can almost be described as a work of art. And then there is not the usual talk like “you have to hear”, “read our reviews”, or something similar, no. Mark Dohmann is very good at talking about his ideas, his technologies and his view on analog. And I understand what he says. I can’t build turntables, but I’ve been listening to turntables for over 35 years and can assign a lot of technology and design in terms of sound. And I’ve always been of the opinion that only a ground drive with a functioning subchassis is the right way. It may be that I fell in love at first sight, but also at the first note – and I can always rely on the second. So I bought the Helix One. And then I waited, because Mark finished only on order.

And now this shipment from Australia is in front of me and I have rarely been so happy about unpacking it in recent years as I have been with this Helix One. There are two flight cases, one small and one large. So I’ll open the small one. Packed in it is the base on which the drive stands. It is a block milled from solid metal, in which the power supply also finds its place. Apart from the fact that everything is so wonderfully perfectly made, the ULTRA power supply sits stably and firmly in this massive and mass-dominating block. This is not only smart and tidy for the power supply, but also brings it to absolute silence. Every power supply somehow has a slightly audible hum when listening closely. You can hear absolutely NOTHING on this block. Absolutely nothing!

The large flight case contains the turntable and accessories. The only thing that is actually extra is the turntable, because the entire drive is completely assembled, wrapped in foam and firmly anchored with many transport locks, so that nothing can happen to the subchassis.

Placing the drive on the base is relatively easy, as the brackets in the base are precisely predetermined. If the drive is in the right position, you can carefully loosen all the transport screws.

The complete bearing is attached to the platter chassis, which houses a 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) ball bearing on which the platter is placed. The only thing that is a bit difficult is to get the two belts on the Pully, because the turntable is completely integrated into an aluminum cylinder on the Helix One and there is only a small gap at the back of the Pully to get the straps over the Pully. For this purpose, a thread is included in the scope of delivery that makes it easier.

The last alignment is simple and quick to do and the first fascination is how this Dohmann swings. Any movement, whether axial or radial, is compensated for extremely quickly and precisely by the elaborate subchassis. The Dohmann does not know staggering.

Now 2 tonearms are waiting to be mounted. On the rear base comes a Kuzma Saphir, combined with an Xquisite ST and on the right base comes a 10 inch Supatrac Firehawk (the first and only in Germany). And in this Supatrac, a Skyanalog Diamond 25th will play.

Analog Part 2 coming soon!