Helix Two MK3
The Helix Two Mk3 is engineered to deliver unparalleled performance in analogue playback and is the result of many years of research, development, collaboration and listening by internationally acclaimed analogue designer Mark Dohmann and his team.
Philosophy
When a stylus moves through the grooves of a record, it converts vibrational energy into an electric signal. The shape and cut of the grooves contain an immense amount of information and the objective of any quality analog music system is to interpret this information as accurately as possible. For that to happen the stylus needs to operate in an environment that is free of any vibrational energy & resonance that is not a result of its interaction with the grooves. However, in practice there is a lot of energy moving through a turntable system that the stylus picks up in addition to the vibrations associated with the grooves that it is designed to do. This unwanted energy can be heard as distortion, smear, added harmonics, channel imbalances and these types of sonic phenomena often obscure the micro details within the recording as well as add a colouration to the music.
The first step in designing a high quality turntable is to carefully measure where is this unwanted energy is coming from and how does it move through the system. At Dohmann Audio, we have spent a lot of time using sophisticated test equipment to measure the resonance profiles of common turntable designs because in order to improve the performance of a turntable, you must first have an accurate understanding of where the resonance is generated and how it behaves. Our research indicated that some resonance originated from the mechanical systems of the turntable (eg. motor, bearing, platter, etc), some from the environment (eg. building, floor, sound waves, etc) and some from the electrical systems (eg, power supplies, control circuitry, etc). Furthermore, the turntable also acts as a physical eco-system where resonance moves through the various parts and interacts with itself. We also made some ground-breaking discoveries about how the vinyl record itself interacts with these energies.
Once these insights are understood, the next objective was to find ways of minimising the sources of resonance and eliminating how they are propagated throughout the turntable. When we started our journey, we discovered that many solutions used by turntable manufacturers for decades where not really very effective and in some cases introduced their own set of challenges. Even well regarded, positively reviewed turntable models didn’t perform well when we measured them. If we wanted to make major improvements to the sonic performance of turntables, we had to look outside the traditional methods and technologies used by turntable manufacturers.
This approach is at the heart of what differentiates Dohmann Audio from other turntable manufacturers. Mark Dohmann looked at other industries that had similar challenges and investigated how they solved them. For example, electron microscopes in research labs cannot operate accurately if there is even the smallest of vibrations present. How do they isolate a microscope? How do fighter jet manufacturers deal with vibrational energies when breaking the sound barrier? How do NASA engineers isolate & insulate sensitive equipment in satellites from damaging resonant energy? How does electronic equipment used in volatile environments such as mining shafts dissipate energy without interacting with the surroundings? By investigating the research and solutions employed within other challenging environments and industries, Dohmann Audio has been able to develop new innovations and technologies that have never been applied to audio before, and the results are exceptional.
Another important philosophy of the company is ‘evolution’. In a similar approach to Porsche with their iconic 911 sports car, the best results are achieved from creating a great design in the first instance that is based on solid scientific principles and research, then continuing to test, measure, change and make incremental improvements as they become available. This way of developing and perfecting a design can be heard immediately when experiencing a Dohmann turntable and the turntables have been designed in a way where all previous versions can be upgraded to the current specification.
The Helix Two Mk3 was designed with the objective in mind to create a reference turntable system which incorporates all of the Dohmann technologies in a compact footprint. To achieve this ambition, Dohmann Audio has incorporated some unique design features and technologies, including a fully integrated MinusK vibration isolation system utilising NSM technology, a mechanical crossover network which is designed to dissipate mid and high frequency vibrations, a floating armboard, a custom designed Swiss-manufactured motor designed to Dohmann Audio’s specifications and carefully designed resonance dissipation pathways within the chassis. A separate chassis contains the external power supply and power filtration circuitry.
The Result
The Helix Two Mk3’s sound is immediately recognised for its purity and realism. It is designed to operate flawlessly in non-ideal environments such as older houses with wooden floors, upper floors, attics where external vibrations are carried through buildings – even those made from concrete, steel, and brick. Due to its revolutionary vibration isolation system, it is also not dependent on a high-quality audiophile stand. The design has made it possible to incorporate a level of engineering previously not possible at this price point and as a result, the Helix Two Mk3 is considered to be outstanding value. The more compact dimensions allow it to be used in smaller spaces and standard sized stands.
The list of innovations and unique technologies is extensive however it is greater than the sum of its features. It is a highly engineered precision instrument that serves as a perfect platform for the music to emerge and engage the listener emotionally. Musical information is released from the grooves of a vinyl record with energy and soul. Often chosen by discerning audiophiles around the world as their reference analogue system, as well as being the turntable of choice for many high-end brands exhibiting in major international hi-fi shows, the Helix Two Mk3 simply allows the music to flow and the full potential of the system to be achieved.
Upgradability
The Helix Two platform is fully upgradable. Mk1 and Mk2 generation turntables are upgradable to Mk3 and the Mk3 is upgradable to vacuum specification. This protects our customer’s investment and avoids significant depreciation often experienced when a new model is released. The Helix platform was designed from the beginning to be upgradable as new technologies are discovered, tested and integrated.
Features
- Facility for one tonearm
- State-of-the-art custom designed Swiss-manufactured motor
- Push button Speed Adjust
- Separate external advanced DC power supply
- Micro Signal Architecture© (MSA)
- Negative Stiffness Mechanism Vibration Isolation (NSM)
- Mechanical Crossover Technology (MCT)
- Tri-Modal Platter system (TMP)
- Edge Damping Ring (EDR)
- Tone arm Damping System (TDS)
- Resonance Tuned Suspension (RTS)
- Diamond Like Coating Amorphous Material Bearing Friction Modifier (DLC)
- High Torque Adjustable Drive (HTAD)
- RSA resonance control technology
- Advanced Composite Armboard (ACA) using custom ballistics grade energy absorbing technology
- Record Clamp with RSA resonance control technology
Finishes
All Helix Two Mk3 turntables come with a metal top plate and are available in the following finishes. For more information and images, please refer to the section ‘finishes’ in the Technology section.
- Black
- Sterling Silver
- Graphite
- Titanium
- Bronze
Awards
Reviews
Hi-Fi Choice, 2023
A game-changer, this is one of the quietest performers we’ve ever tested… We decide to finish up our testing session of Döhmann’s remarkable turntable with a pair of tracks from opposite ends of the sonic spectrum. First, pretty much the granddaddy of nasty rockers; the mono version of You Really Got Me from the excellent compilation The Kinks’ The Journey – Part 1. Nascent, primal fuzz guitar, snarling vocals. Then some soft etherial harmonies from the Nineties courtesy of underrated songstresses Wilson Phillips. The results are exactly the same: thanks to the Döhmann Helix Two Mk3, it is an exquisite experience, like hearing them at their very, very best.
Analog Planet, Mike Mettler, 2023
Even though Helix series’ tables have traditionally landed in the higher end of the SRP spectrum in terms of what we lean toward reviewing these days, they are indeed worthy of our aspirational attention as being both performance marvels and, frankly, works of art.
Positive Feedback Part 2, David W. Robinson, 2022
Spoiler alert: First off, the Helix Two MK2 Turntable isn’t just “really good” or merely “outstanding”; it’s a remarkable turntable, a global-level, first-class turntable. And it does all that it does in such a compact footprint that I’m hard-pressed to find a comparison. In my experience, there are only a few turntables that do so many things right without turning into some awful bit of audio sprawl. The Helix Two MK2 should fit in just about any audiophile’s system… So the Helix Two climbs to my very short list of first-rank, top o’ the heap turntables with a single, mighty bound. Mark Dohmann and company deserve very high praise for a turntable that is such an intelligent and well-engineered design.
Positive Feedback Part 1, David W. Robinson, 2022
Mark Dohmann, the brilliant designer at Dohmann Audio, has been known to me for a number of years. He was a key driving force behind Continuum, a legendary turntable brand from years ago, now departed. His Caliburn turntable was generally considered one of the very best… if not the best… LP spinners of its generation… Mark’s work is stellar, and is the foundation of the synergy that emerged with this playback chain.
Soundstage! Australia, Edgar Kramer, 2019
The Helix Two will keep you listening to music and re-experiencing its elevating pleasures. Mr Döhmann and his team have created yet another Aussie engineering and artistic marvel, further compounding Australia’s rep for awe-inspiring natural and man-made wonders…
HAUTE FIDELITE, 2018
It goes even further than what you thought you could expect from a turntable and the fact that it clearly outperforms anything that we have ever listened to until now is a huge surprise.
LOTUS HIFI, Richard Morris, 2018
…although it’s possible (but not provable) that it’s the best deck I’ve ever heard, it is most certainly, hand on heart, the very best turntable I have ever set up, sold, or had in my home.
SOUND AND IMAGE – TURNTABLE OF THE YEAR 2018
The wide-open world of sound it releases from a vinyl groove is spine-tinglingly staggering.
Reviews Legacy
- The Helix Two was launched at the Munich High End show in May 2017 and was manufactured till August 2019.
- The Helix Two Mk2 was manufactured from September 2019 till September 2022.
- The Helix Two Mk3 was launched in October 2022 and is a current model.
- Please note that all previous versions can be upgraded to Mk3 specification.
Tech Specs
Operation:
Operated by two push buttons on the top plate for power on/off and speed selection.
Speed Control:
Electronically calibrated over 130,000 times per second for precise 33.33 RPM and 45.15 RPM playback. Factory default speeds are 33 RPM and 45 RPM. User-adjustable via two rear-panel push buttons. Optional 78 RPM and custom speeds available upon request.
Drive System:
Fully integrated Swiss-manufactured high-torque, de-coupled motor with dual-belt platter drive to minimize static electricity and vibrations.
Tonearm Facilities:
Supports one tonearm via a single armboard, accommodating tonearms up to 11.5 inches (292mm). Selected 12-inch tonearms are also supported.
Armboard:
Includes one removable Advanced Composite Armboard for easy interchange and calibration.
Power Options:
100–250 VAC, 50/60Hz, fully adaptive power supply.
Dimensions (W×D×H):
- Turntable (without clamp, tonearm, or power supply): 480 × 400 × 200mm (18.9 × 15.8 × 7.9 inches)
- Power Supply: 480 × 390 × 55mm (18.9 × 15.4 × 2.2 inches)
Weight:
- Turntable: 38kg (84 lbs)
- Power Supply: 5kg (11 lbs)
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