Article: Silence AC Drive - Where Motion Becomes Music
Silence AC Drive - Where Motion Becomes Music
Precision
At Silence, every component is an expression of mastery — a convergence of design, performance, and deeply refined engineering. Nowhere is this more evident than in the heart of our turntable: the Silence AC Drive.
This isn’t simply a motor controller. It is a precisely crafted system, purpose-built to deliver the most stable, vibration-free rotational force possible — because in high-end analog playback, motion is everything.
The Art of Movement: A Cogless, Slotless AC Motor
At the core of the Silence AC Drive lies a sine-wound, cogless and slotless AC motor — a design typically reserved for laboratory-grade or aerospace applications. This motor produces no mechanical vibration and eliminates torque pulsations thanks to its 120° sinusoidal winding pattern.
Without cogging. Without slots. Without interruption.
Just pure, fluid motion.
Isolated to Perfection
To ensure mechanical purity, the motor is mounted to the plinth using custom-engineered vibration-isolation dampers. This design decouples any residual bearing induced energy from reaching the chassis or platter, preserving the true silence between the notes.
A Precision-Driven System
At the heart of the electronics is a 64MHz DSP that generates clean, three-phase sine wave signal via three 8-bit R2R DACs. These precision analog signals are filtered and amplified through a MOSFET Class AB push-pull amplifier, constructed entirely from discrete components. This ensures a continuous analog output with exceptional linearity and zero digital artifacts.
Inside the Silence AC Drive, every electrical connection is hand-soldered. No internal connectors are used — a choice made to maximize reliability, signal integrity, and long-term performance. It is a reflection of our dedication to craftsmanship and attention to every detail.
Power, Unregulated — by Design
The power supply is a high-performance linear design, built around a custom 25W toroidal transformer, diode bridge, and carefully tuned filtering. It is intentionally not stabilized, avoiding the phase distortion and dynamic constriction often introduced by regulation.
The motor speed control architecture is open loop, with no negative feedback, allowing for an immediate and natural torque response. The result is timing that feels inherently right — alive, unforced, and free from correction artifacts.
Designed Without Compromise
Power is delivered to the motor via a high-quality 3-pin Mini XLR connector, using a flexible, thick silicone-insulated cable chosen for both mechanical consistency and vibration resistance.
Every aspect of the Silence AC Drive — from signal path to mechanical interface — has been designed with an artisan’s mindset and an engineer’s precision. It is an instrument in its own right.
