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  • Service or Disservice?

    To the analog cause?
    What's the most expensive turntable ever made? To celebrate Record Store Day, we've found ten of the most eye-wateringly expensive turntables of all time.
    Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
    Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
    ________________________________________

    -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
    -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
    -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
    -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
    -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
    -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
    -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
    -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
    -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
    -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

  • #2
    As an owner of one of the 10 and witnessing how the features actually do indeed trickle down for 9 out of the 10 manufacturers listed, I would say service. Service on the buyers part since we are apparently paying for the R&D!

    Comment


    • Johnny Vinyl
      Johnny Vinyl commented
      Editing a comment
      Seeing as you are an owner and know a hell of a lot more about this than I do, I would agree with your post. And aren't we already seeing that with the less expensive TechDAS models?

    • JackD201
      JackD201 commented
      Editing a comment
      Yes Johnny and as I said every other mark listed save one. The last one, the most expensive, has a lower model planned but to my knowledge has not been realized yet.

  • #3
    It's a service for me. Makes me think I'm being thrifty saving for the Avid Acutus Reference SP
    Last edited by tom_hankins; 05-30-2016, 09:44 AM.
    SOURCE: VINYL - EAT C-Sharp with, EAT LPS power supply, My Sonic Lab Signature Gold
    DIGITAL - Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC. Roon Nucleus w/EAT Lps power supply. Auralic Aires G1
    PHONOSTAGE: AudioNet PAM G2 with AudioNet EPX power supply.
    PREAMP: Audionet PRE G2.
    AMPLIFIER: Audionet MAX monoblocks.
    SPEAKERS: YG Acoustics Anat III Signatures (upgraded to Sonja 1.2) JL Audio F112 V2 (x2)
    CABLES: Kubala-Sosna, Kubala Sosna Xpander.....Audio Desk Systeme RCM, Adona Rack, GIK & Acoustimac room treatment, Isoacoustics

    Comment


    • #4
      Originally posted by tom_hankins
      It's a service for me. Makes me think I'm being thrifty saving for the Avid Acutus Reference SP
      not sure what question you are asking Myles? Are tables like these a disservice to high end audio? Is that the question?
      Turntable: TW Acustic TT with Ref motor & controller; Tri-Planar Arm; Transfiguration Proteus Cartridge (repaired and re-tipped by AnaMightySound), Massif Record Weight, PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamp; KLAudio Ultrasonic Record Cleaner.
      Digital: Bluesound Vault-2 Music Server & Streamer
      Amplification: VTL 6.5 preamp Series II, Pass Labs 150.8 Amp
      Loudspeakers: Piega C711 Loudspeakers
      Isolation: Symposium Osiris Rack; Symposium Platforms and Roller Blocks and grade 2.5 Balls
      Misc: Acoustic Revive RR-888 Low Frequency Pulse Generator, Synergistic Research 12 UEF SE Line Conditioner, Level 3 HC AC Cord and Level 3 Atmosphere power cords, Synergistic Carbon fiber wall plates, Synergistic Research Orange Outlet, Furutech NCF Booster Braces, synergistic Research Galileo and Atmosphere X Euphoria Level 3 Balanced ICs, Synergistic Research Euphoria Level 3 Speaker Cables, Synergistic Research Cable Risers.

      Sennheiser HDV 650 Headphone Amp; Sennheiser HD800s Headphones.

      Comment


      • #5
        Originally posted by 1morerecord2clean

        not sure what question you are asking Myles? Are tables like these a disservice to high end audio? Is that the question?
        My poor attempt at comedy. I think its a great service to every level of equipment when the envelope is pushed at the top.
        SOURCE: VINYL - EAT C-Sharp with, EAT LPS power supply, My Sonic Lab Signature Gold
        DIGITAL - Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC. Roon Nucleus w/EAT Lps power supply. Auralic Aires G1
        PHONOSTAGE: AudioNet PAM G2 with AudioNet EPX power supply.
        PREAMP: Audionet PRE G2.
        AMPLIFIER: Audionet MAX monoblocks.
        SPEAKERS: YG Acoustics Anat III Signatures (upgraded to Sonja 1.2) JL Audio F112 V2 (x2)
        CABLES: Kubala-Sosna, Kubala Sosna Xpander.....Audio Desk Systeme RCM, Adona Rack, GIK & Acoustimac room treatment, Isoacoustics

        Comment


        • #6
          Originally posted by tom_hankins

          My poor attempt at comedy. I think its a great service to every level of equipment when the envelope is pushed at the top.
          i understood what you were saying and the ha ha in it. I'm just asking if Myles is making a case for audio equipment at this price point as being a deterrent to high end audio to those not in the hobby?

          Turntable: TW Acustic TT with Ref motor & controller; Tri-Planar Arm; Transfiguration Proteus Cartridge (repaired and re-tipped by AnaMightySound), Massif Record Weight, PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamp; KLAudio Ultrasonic Record Cleaner.
          Digital: Bluesound Vault-2 Music Server & Streamer
          Amplification: VTL 6.5 preamp Series II, Pass Labs 150.8 Amp
          Loudspeakers: Piega C711 Loudspeakers
          Isolation: Symposium Osiris Rack; Symposium Platforms and Roller Blocks and grade 2.5 Balls
          Misc: Acoustic Revive RR-888 Low Frequency Pulse Generator, Synergistic Research 12 UEF SE Line Conditioner, Level 3 HC AC Cord and Level 3 Atmosphere power cords, Synergistic Carbon fiber wall plates, Synergistic Research Orange Outlet, Furutech NCF Booster Braces, synergistic Research Galileo and Atmosphere X Euphoria Level 3 Balanced ICs, Synergistic Research Euphoria Level 3 Speaker Cables, Synergistic Research Cable Risers.

          Sennheiser HDV 650 Headphone Amp; Sennheiser HD800s Headphones.

          Comment


          • #7
            Originally posted by 1morerecord2clean

            i understood what you were saying and the ha ha in it. I'm just asking if Myles is making a case for audio equipment at this price point as being a deterrent to high end audio to those not in the hobby?
            Well, they did have a top 10 turntables list of the best buy for the money of all time which would be of interest to newcomers to the hobby.
            Magnepan 1.6 QR Loudspeakers, Amherst A-2000 MOSFET 150 WPC Amp, Conrad Johnson PV-10A Modded Tube Line & Phono Stage, Electrocompaniet MC II Class A Head Amp, Audio Technica AT-OC9XML Cart (Stereo) , Graham Engineering 2.2 Tonearm (Stereo) , VPI Aries-1 Turntable (Stereo) , VPI Clamp, Denon DL-102 Cart, (Mono) , Luxman Tonearm (Mono) , Kenwood KD-500 Turntable (Mono) , Michell Clamp, Marantz 20B Analog FM Tuner, Pioneer SACD, Onkyo DX-6800 CD Transport, DIY 24B/192K DAC, Sennheiser HD-650 Headphones, Headroom Max Balanced Headphone Amp, DIY Silver Interconnects

            Comment


            • #8
              As I'm sure we all can attest to, the cost of component or accessory does not correlate with performance. Individual preferences are also a factor, as well as diminishing returns. Some companies' "house sounds" I just do not care for. Being this article is about expense only, I find it neither positive or negative. I don't have much experience with what hifi, so cannot comment on the rest of their media content. I do think that really outrageous prices have a way of frustrating the audio community rather than bring people together. Their is such animosity in so many audio communities and forums, that it really gave me pause when I first entered into the audio world a short 2 years ago. I'm not say that expensive audio components are the reason, but I think it plays a part.
              Last edited by Analog21; 05-30-2016, 11:49 AM.

              Comment


              • #9
                Let me share my thoughts:

                1. What would I think if I was someone looking to get back into the analog game? Especially on RSD! I have to spend big bucks to play my vinyl?

                2. This is like a Chinese menu. It also equates performance with cost and we all know that is not necessarily true.

                3. It sets a precedent for new companies to come out with ridiculously priced turntable simply to get press.

                4. Many of these table are one off production models. What happens if you buy one and the company is out of business in two years. You are stuck with a boat anchor.

                5. I even wonder if the person writing this piece or anyone at the magazine even heard some of these turntables?
                Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
                Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
                ________________________________________

                -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
                -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
                -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
                -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
                -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
                -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
                -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
                -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
                -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
                -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

                Comment


                • #10
                  What's RSD Myles?

                  At least half of the companies on this list are over 10 years old. Still, there is never any guarantee for any company to stay alive especially in what is in many instances a key man industry.

                  I try not to worry about if the price freaks people out or not because there really are great tables that don't cost as much as a luxury car or a house. It's not like there aren't any options out there. I'd hazard to guess that there has never been so many excellent choices at all price points as there are today.

                  I also don't worry about those trying to get attention by charging eye watering amounts. The market will decide their fate. Those that can't back their prices with commensurate performance will get what they deserve the same way someone who buys purely for "prestige" will get what he deserves.

                  While I certainly don't think that one needs to spend anywhere near this kind of money to enjoy vinyl, I do think we can all agree that the basement is not the place to be. By that I mean one needs a relatively quiet deck, at least a decent MM, some effort in setup, well cared for LPs, etc, etc for things to at least be better than an MP3 played through a cellphone's output.

                  Comment


                  • #11
                    Besides the TechDas, aren't all of these belt driven?

                    Comment


                    • david k
                      david k commented
                      Editing a comment
                      Actually they're not all belt driven Bruce but TechDas is.
                      david

                    • MylesBAstor
                      MylesBAstor commented
                      Editing a comment
                      The Meteor is direct drive. I think all the others are some sort of belt or belt/magnetic drive, etc.

                  • #12
                    Originally posted by JackD201
                    What's RSD Myles?


                    While I certainly don't think that one needs to spend anywhere near this kind of money to enjoy vinyl, I do think we can all agree that the basement is not the place to be. By that I mean one needs a relatively quiet deck, at least a decent MM, some effort in setup, well cared for LPs, etc, etc for things to at least be better than an MP3 played through a cellphone's output.
                    I think I just squeezed in ...phew! Haha!

                    RSD = Record Store Day
                    Dynavector DV20x2L MC cartridge - Genesis G7.1f speakers - Marantz Reference PM-KI-Pearl Int. Amp. - Oracle Audio Paris MkV turntable - Various Morrow & Valab/King cables

                    Comment


                    • #13
                      Service of disservice? I think a conundrum exists from the way records are made to the way we think they should be played back. At a certain level we're chasing our tail. When we're still cutting lacquers on lathes built n the 1950s what makes us think we are continually improving playback of those same records by throwing money at playback side. I think many excellent solutions to the 'playback problem' already exist and have existed for years, all of them cost well under six figures. the trend of ever more expensive gear is an entire other issue with this hobby that has less to do with recreating the best sound.

                      Comment


                      • #14
                        Not sure how this is a response to either. Someone makes a turntable that cost $100k, someone buys it, is that a service or a disservice I say neither. Its just marketing to a select group of people that might have the funds to acquire the device. Maybe its called, SEE WHAT I GOT
                        Chris
                        ----------------------------------------------------------------
                        Kef 201/2, Pass xa30.5, W4S STP-SE, Manley Chinook, VPI Classic, Dynavector DV20x2L, ExaSound e32, Acoustic Zen cables. (Office): Vincent SP331 Mkll, Quicksilver Pre, Lumin D1, (Ken Lau Signiture Edition PSU), Bryston BCD-1, Vapor Audio Breeze, WooAudio W6se,Questyle Audio CMA800R LCD-3,HD800s, HD600, Mr Speaker Ether C Flow,

                        Comment


                        • #15
                          I think they should not have published such a potentially counterproductive article right in front of record store day. The idea behind record store day is after all to attract new and neophyte folks to vinyl as fun and affordable. This is not to say someone who can afford such tables shouldn't buy them, just that from a marketing perspective to expand the audience it may not be the best decision.

                          Comment

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