$64000 turntable

[BluLobsta]

Wow, old-schoolers, check this out -

From CNN.com:

* An Italian manufacturer unveils a $64,000 turntable at CES in Las Vegas

* Gabriel turntable is made with bronze and can be customized with up to four arms

* Manufacturer: "When I look at it, the only word that comes to mind is love"

* A distributor is being sought to sell the turntable through specialty audio retailers

And it also doubles as a food processor!!

[dobyblue]

The Goldmund Reference is $300,000.
They make 5/yr and after 5 years will end production for a total of 25 units.

[Big Daddy]

See this thread for pictures of a few sexy turntables.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=75029

[Geezer00003]

I think I'll pass on this.




http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/...ble/index.html

[Johnny Vinyl]

I think this is the 3rd thread on this TT. It is by far NOT the most expensive one either.

I think I will pass on this one as well!

[naturephoto1]

I'll pass to. I have another high end TT in preparation as we speak.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

I'll pass to. I have another high end TT in preparation as we speak.

Rich

Hey Rich,

I thought you would have received it by now. How much longer before you get it.

[Rob J in WNY]

What's funny is that although I'm sure that vibration noise is eliminated due to the suspended platter, there will always be a certain amount of arc-offset distortion introduced due to the use of pivotal tonearms with fixed cartridge-mounts. That has always been the bain of vinyl playback, besides the fact that the audio steadily becomes less-resolute as the tracks get closer to the center of the record. $64,000 to not cover the tonearm-issue seems like a luxury not worth buying unless you are the truest vinyl appreciator with a large wallet.

All limitations aside, I still love vinyl very much.

Among the few turntables I own, one of them is a Technics SL-5, direct drive, linear-tracking turntable, which keeps the cartridge at a perfect 90-degree angle throughout record play. It's a nice, sort-of "techie" way to play the discs.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hey Rich,

I thought you would have received it by now. How much longer before you get it.

I have to check back with Soundsmith on Monday. The Strain Gauge Cartridge and Phono Preamp arrived yesterday. The instructions for the Phono Preamp indicate that there is supposed to be a a rod in the back of the unit for dimming. I can not find the rod. Also, the instructions indicate that the machine is set-up for 220 Volts and that I have to change the wiring inside to make it 120 Volts. Anyway, I want to speak with Peter Ledermann or someone else at Soundsmith about the Phono Preamp.

I know, we had hoped. Unfortunately, through no fault of Teres Audio, there was a problem with the plating on the brass parts of the Teres 450 and I believe the Tonearm. Instead of black as shown in the photo, it is going to be silver. The parts had to go back and be removed and then reapplied. Chris Brady of Teres has indicated that he has everything else, and the Beta Tonearm is well in-hand. They will send me everything hopefully toward the end of this month or the beginning of next.

If everything is OK with the Soundsmith Phono Preamp for the Strain Gauge Cartridge or resolved and the Teres Turntable and arm parts arrive in time, Chris Brady will install the whole set-up before I have to go to the North American Nature Photographers Association Summit around Feb 16. If it does not arrive in time and not installed prior, it will have to done after the trip. I will keep people informed, post the images and an assessment once everything is finished.



Rich

[btf1980]

These things are simply showpieces, a huge chunk of the cost is simply the aesthetics and design.

A good example is the Clearaudio statement turntable. It's nearly 800lbs. A massive part of the expense is the materials that are necessary to make it. 800lbs of anything is not needed to play records. It's simply a conversation piece, and it is bought by people with money to burn, not necessarily people who want a good turntable. I heard it, and what was funny about it is that we all agreed that it looked better than it sounded. It terms of fidelity, it was not better than a Scoutmaster, a $2,500 TT. The statement was I believe 150K. Food for thought.

I think a big problem with many self described audiophiles is that they equate cost with quality. "High end" means high prices, and that's that to them. Manufacturers are not stupid, they price the items accordingly, and people lap it up. If they only knew how much mark-up there is on many of these products, but alas, ignorance is bliss. This is an industry that sells exotic power cords, demagnitizers and green markers to get that extra bit of resolution of CD's, so i'm afraid many are already lost.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by btf1980

These things are simply showpieces, a huge chunk of the cost is simply the aesthetics and design.

A good example is the Clearaudio statement turntable. It's nearly 800lbs. A massive part of the expense is the materials that are necessary to make it. 800lbs of anything is not needed to play records. It's simply a conversation piece, and it is bought by people with money to burn, not necessarily people who want a good turntable. I heard it, and what was funny about it is that we all agreed that it looked better than it sounded. It terms of fidelity, it was not better than a Scoutmaster, a $2,500 TT. The statement was I believe 150K. Food for thought.

I think a big problem with many self described audiophiles is that they equate cost with quality. "High end" means high prices, and that's that to them. Manufacturers are not stupid, they price the items accordingly, and people lap it up. If they only knew how much mark-up there is on many of these products, but alas, ignorance is bliss. This is an industry that sells exotic power cords, demagnitizers and green markers to get that extra bit of resolution of CD's, so i'm afraid many are already lost.

As good as your VPI Scoutmaster is, I would still expect that the more expensive VPI turntables, and the Teres 450 Turntable and Teres Tonearm that I am having made do and will sound better.

Rich

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by btf1980

800lbs of anything is not needed to play records.

Of course it isn't, but to not understand what is trying to be done in this instance shows a lack of understanding regarding analog systems.

You only need $50 to PLAY records, but with analog you absolutely DO make gains the more you put into it.

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

As good as your VPI Scoutmaster is, I would still expect that the more expensive VPI turntables, and the Teres 450 Turntable and Teres Tonearm that I am having made do and will sound better.

Rich

Yes, but there is a big price disparity between the most expensive VPI model and a Clearaudio Statement. Still well over 100K. Performance disparity, not so much. I've heard it with my own ears.

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Of course it isn't, but to not understand what is trying to be done in this instance shows a lack of understanding regarding analog systems.

You only need $50 to PLAY records, but with analog you absolutely DO make gains the more you put into it.

I do understand. However, this goes far beyond the law of diminishing returns. Some of these TT's have a markup of up to 50%. The cost of something like a Statement has nothing to do with isolation mechanisms, but the humongous markup, 700lbs of metal and the exclusivity of having something like this. It is the very definition of a Veblen good. Every Clearaudio dealer i've spoken to in confidence has chastised this TT, however on the internet, the intrigue spreads, and it must be good since it costs so much, right?

My whole point was that we heard it next to a $2,500 turntable, and apart from exotic looks, it had nothing else going for it.

In no way did I say a $2,500 TT is the be all and end all of analog sound production. Don't confuse what I'm saying.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by btf1980

Yes, but there is a big price disparity between the most expensive VPI model and a Clearaudio Statement. Still well over 100K. Performance disparity, not so much. I've heard it with my own ears.

I would never normally suggest that anyone spend anything like $65,000 and up on a turntable even if they could afford it. There gets to be a point of diminishing returns where good enough is good enough and then the big question is if there is any improvement can you even hear it?

Rich

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

I would never normally suggest that anyone spend anything like $65,000 and up on a turntable even if they could afford it. There gets to be a point of diminishing returns where good enough is good enough and then the big question is if there is any improvement can you even hear it?

Rich

Yes, that is essentially my point. I think many of the turntables in that price range, and people that buy them look at it more like art pieces, more so than a source of music.

[Gremal]

But the laws of diminishing returns are different for each individual--not just because of how deep our pockets are but the sensitivity of our ears. It's silly to cast dispersions or judge folks who shell out that kind of dough if they hear a real improvement with that gear that justifies the expense for them.

Even if some wealthy consumers buy audio jewelry just because they like how it looks--and I'm sure it happens all the time--what's wrong with that? It creates more business for designers, engineers and manufacturers that really care about audio quality. That's a good thing in this age of lossy MP3s and crappy digital recordings. When design and sound come together in magical audio gear, that is when it breathes life into your system and delivers real enjoyment and pride of ownership.

[Canada]

$ 64,000