Hey, Gang...!! There's a **BIG** price drop on the laser turntables...

You like the Blues Brothers ?

 

Not only are they still way out of my price range, I understand that the laser picks up every vinyl defect you can imagine, and that it's worse than having a standard TT. The way I understand it, they can't negotiate records with slight warps or off-center records very well.

No thanks.

 

Actually, according to the stuff on the website, it can "gloss over" certain things that a normal turntable would pick up. It *is* however (again, according to the website) more sensitive to dirt. Hence the included cleaner.

 

From *my* point of view, unless you have lots of perfectly flat, perfectly centered virgin vinyl pressings, what's the point? All that money could go into buying more vinyl to enjoy on a regular TT.

 

I guess if you play records a lot...I don't.

 

Way cool ! Did you try it out ? I didn´t have enough time to visit Hollywood last time I was in California.

I didn´t know Animal House before. This appears to be a running gag that spans multiple movies ?!

 

And who said you needed a perfectly flat, perfectly centered virgin vinyl pressing?

 

Look, for me, I don't see any point in getting one of these tables with all the potential playback problems. If I *had* that kind of disposable cash, i'd rather buy a cheaper, yet good TT and more vinyl to transfer to that big, bad digital CD-R!

Besides, from what I understand, those things don't cue up tracks very well. I can't use it.

 

I'd be curious as to how the latest version actually *sounds* in terms of frequency response deviations, as compared to the original Finial that was reviewed by the "audiophile" press when they were still 40 thousand smackers.

At the time, there seemed to be a consensus that, wear and tracking issues aside, the best cartridges still "sounded" better. Also, what are the sonic results of a severely damaged groove wall? Again, not for noise but, for frequency reponse repercussions. No wear is the calling card...but truly superior sound is what will make or break it at this new price level, IMO.

PS - Do they still offer the lifetime warranty that the original Finial had? I believe they don't anymore...how long will the laser assembly last before a new one is needed? Another BIG factor for me!

 

Also, what they need on that site and what they actually USED to have - sound clips (preferably high-quality 20 second, non-lossy uncompressed WAV snippets) of perhaps the table going head to head with a conventional rig. Maybe, also showing how they handle a beat to crap record (assuming that they wouldn't cheat and add any secret post-processing). That might be fun!.

 

Don't they? I thought I saw that just the other day.

 

Thirteen Grand for the bottom end?

And these are the new LOW prices!


Laughing.....a sucker born every minute.

Too bad they can't animate that guys face on their home page to do what he really does anytime some poor sucker actually antes up....



Too funny!


Best to the Board,


Ben

(laser turntables for $23,000.....hah!)

 

I see the QuickTime movie, but that's all I can find. Post links if you find 'em.

 

Okay...got the right price now...


I'm sure the product is legit....I guess maybe I just went into sticker shock....


Geez - that's a lot of vinyl that could be bought following the purchase of a great $2G rig....


Best,

Ben

 

Ben, that was my veiw as well!

 

They were already more "affordable" than top of the line turntables made by Rockport, Forsell, Basis, Clearaudio and Walker, some of which do not include a tonearm let alone a phono cartridge, even before the price reduction. Now they are priced at the VPI TNT Mk. V level. Remember, these ELPs are complete turntables with the laser pickup included. If only NASDAQ and DJIA will bounce back to their previous highs ...

My not-yet-a-friend David is concerned about the lifetime of the laser pickup. My uneducated guess is that it will outlast a conventional phono cartridge. When was the last time you had the laser in your CD player replaced?

Thanks for the notice, Joel.

 

I mean thanks, Kevin. Or should I call you Joel?

 

Grant,

IMO, we audiophiles should not pass judgment on how a piece of hardware will work or sound until we give it a serious audition - the same rule that applies to software.

 

I hope everybody remembers that the next time a vinyl vs. CD debate pops up.

 

I'm very interested in hearing this thing. I wonder if they will be demo'ing them at the New York Audio show? I have my ticket already. If I get to hear one I'll post a review. It's still a bit out of my reach but getting closer. Another price drop and we might be there. I'd still keep my analog rig for those discs that won't play on the laser table for one reason or another.

 

Hey, it's on my list of things to buy... just as soon as I win that lottery.