-edible zone-
-- I have before me one of Ferruccio's -full length- Hoods. It's
called the XL Hood. By design it fits over the outer dimensions of the
base plinth to completely enclose both turntable and its base.
Like the the entire line-up of TD124 dustcovers from Ferruccio, the XL
Hood features rounded corners in combination with a close-hugging fit
between its inner dimensions and the base cabinet plinth it is intended
to fit over. Visually, it appears seamless with impressive optical
clarity throughout. There is a joining seam on its back side where its
side wall comes together in a precise joint. This bit of joinery is not
at all apparent until you begin to look for it. Also on its back side
there are two slots at the bottom for cable to pass through. One for
power, the other for signal.
The design intent is for the TD124
when it is using a nine inch tonearm. Unlike the Standard Hood, the XL
Hood does not need a cutout to clear nine inch tonearms with long
counterweight assemblies such as the SME 3009 Series 2 -- which have
very long counterweights. This one will clear the end of the SME
counterweight with a good 11/16" of room.
Internal dimensions are as
follows:
material thickness: 3.5mm (.138")
Length (left right) -
17-7/8"
Depth (front to rear) - 15"
Height from bottom edge to the
top of its inner ceiling - 8-1/2"
Weight: 4 lbs.
Pictured
below in Photo #1 I have an original equipment base cabinet of the kind
that was sold by dealers in North America to their customers as a
standard accessory to the TD124. It's external dimensions are 16-3/4
inches wide by 14 inches deep. The XL Hood in this review fits over this
plinth with a clearance of between 1/2 inch to 9/16 inch on all sides.
North American plinths intended for the TD124 featured squared
corners while its European supplied plinths typically came with rounded
corners to visually compliment the rounded corners of the TD124 aluminum
chassis. At this point it must be said that all of the Hoods produced by
Ferruccio feature rounded corners in compliance with this European
sensibility. The practical implication is that the XL Hood does indeed
fit over the North American OEM plinth with the squared corners -- but
with a reduced clearance where the squared corners come within an eighth
of an inch of touching against the rounded corners at approximate mid
radius. Perhaps 5/32". It's a close fit, but it clears.
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European OEM plinth (hint: click thumbnail for full image)
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North American OEM plinth
--#1
-- Above photo: the XL Hood by Ferruccio from Switzerland covers my
TD124 in its North American OEM plinth.
Below: the XL Hood over
an OEM European style plinth
--#2
--#3
#4
-- Photos 2,3 and 4 supplied by Ferruccio to demonstrate the fit over a standard ST-104 style base
-- Below: six more photos showing the Full Hood encasing my TD124 with its North American OEM base cabinet.
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-- Impressions from observations and use:
In use I found
fitting and removing this large dust cover to be somewhat concerning the
first time I put it on. Then, after some repetition of putting on and
taking back off I quickly became accustomed to how the XL Hood fits over
my North American OEM square cornered plinth. In the process I found
that I could use the walls of the plinth to lightly touch the inside
edges of the Full hood to handily orient and align the big dust cover
and then safely slide it over and down without even coming close to
touching that delicate tonearm and cartridge.
Another of my
impressions while looking at this encasement is that surely this XL Hood
might indeed act as "maid repellant". Should some owners have hired
housekeepers that think they must dust everything, including the record
player, this rather large and imposing dust cover might serve to
intimidate said maid from attempting to lift it up and off your record
player. I'm betting that they'll leave it alone.
Another
impression is for owners with cats. And I've housed a couple of these
creatures in my lifetime and know very well their feline habits. The cat
can jump up on this Full Hood, take a nap, and do no damage. It's big
and massive enough for the task. Not a guarantee, but perhaps worthy of
consideration.
-- Recommended
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-- Below are 7 detail photos showing the Full Hood by itself from every angle.
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(click thumbnail for full size image)