Fremer's review of a 90k turntable system!!

Agreed! Unfortunately....the "high performance" audio industry has done a very poor job of making our industry a stopping point for wealthy individuals who think nothing of buying expensive toys in other areas...

 

Reasons for writing/publishing reviews of outrageously expensive gear

There are some fair reasons for writing and publishing reviews of outrageously expensive gear:

1) State of the art gear may have new technology that is actually expensive to design and implement, or materials of the same kind. That technology may become available in more reasonably priced gear in the future. Nothing wrong with finding out about it, even if it's out of reach now. In fact, it may be that inventive individual who reads about it may come up with the idea of how to acheive similar technological results less expensively.

2) A given feature in a high-priced item may be worth implementing into lower-priced ones. Who wants to wait to find out about new ideas until they are only found in mainstream products?

3) Problems finally addressed and solved in very expensive products may spur interest and development in different but cheaper and equally successful solutions in lower cost products. Strange as it sounds, sometimes it's as if industries need proof that a given problem is a) important to consumers and b) solveable. Once this happens, albeit with a cost-no-object design, suddenly there's a bunch of solutions.

I'm not familiar with the product or review in question, but in general, I think reviews should be open to products that push envelopes even if they are not widely available, affordable or even necessarily in production. Some of the most interesting products I've ever tested and written about (for a different industry) are those that never even made it to market.

 

Naturally, I agree with all of Kevin's points. And I'd like to add that I make it my business to review affordable gear along with the fantasy stuff. That's the only way to judge the "value" of the expensive stuff and to keep your reader demographics wide.


I don't necessarily respond positively to what's expensive. I savaged the VYGER air bearing 'table and wasn't too kind to the Audio Physic Calderas, and the measurements backed up what I heard that bothered me (after the fact, of course, as we don't see the measurements until after the review is handed in.

 

Mikey, How does your Simon Yorke table compare with the continuum at 1/5 the cost?

 

Yeah, I'd imagine the average rich/wealthy person probably thinks they splurged on their Bose Wave Radio...

 

It'd be interesting to see a full page ad in something like the DuPont Registry for a Continuum, Rockport, Walker Audio, VPI, etc.

 

Hi Guys,

As importer and dyed-in-the-wool fan of the Continuum turntable, I can tell you it's a masterpiece in every dimension. Gorgeous, built like a tank, reliable, and the sonics are unlike anything I'd ever heard before. We've sold five units into the US so far, with three in the queue right now. Yes - it is extremely expensive. So is a tourbillon from Blancpain or Audemars Piguet, for that matter. Expense is not the measure of value - these kinds of things aren't commodities.

What will be of interest to many is that the technology is being actively trickled-down to something that will be much more affordable. I'm not allowed to say any more, but I will say this: when it hits the street, there will be many an eyebrow raised and many a used (fill in your favorite turntable here) coming up for sale.

What Continuum has done for advancing the State of the Art in vinyl reproduction is revolutionary. These accomplishments will be remembered and revered, of this I am certain. So: While analog reproduction on vinyl discs may, as a general concern, be an "antiquated"" technology ... as far as the Continuum Caliburn system is concerned, it would be more accurate to say that it is a technology that has finally and truly matured.

Chris

 

Welcome Chris. Thanks for the heads-up on Continuum's plans - as I suspected.

Forum members, you should be aware that Chris knows a lot about cables too!

 

Thanks

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the warm welcome!



Chris

 

Personally I think Tim d. P's new MasterDisc is revolutionary in TT design and execution as he tackled age old problems with TT's in a new, out-of-box thinking way... best of all its only 13k which isn't all that much in terms of price for a reference design.

 

I don't resent reviews of mega-expensive gear, but I let my STEREOPHILE subscription lapse because they no longer seemed to conduct the sort of affordable equipment shoot-outs they used to run. Really, what is the best redbook player under $1000? Under $1500?

Maybe Internet forums like this one made such hair-splitting between solid, afforable products unnecessary, but at some point I don't really care how another $15,000 amp sounds if that knowledge isn't applied to reviewing $2000 amps.

 

Oh man, c'mon. I'd rather (and many others, too) listen to a few ticks and pops here and there than listen to a cd any day of the week. I've listened critically to cd and in no way does it involve me like analog.

 

Think again. I'm willing to bet they can't keep up with the orders they are receiving. It's like anniversary corvettes. They usually sell out quick. You'd be surprised at the number of people with that kind of money to drop.

 

What if the Ultra expensive gear sounds great??? Should he not say so?? Really, I would hope that gear that is ultra expensive WOULD sound great and causing reviewers to gush.

 

Absolutely disagree with you. There's no way I could afford this table, but isn't it fantastic that a group of men (it was men) decided to put their efforts and money into improving a hobby that we all love?? People, you have to know that sooner or later the technology that this turntable company pioneered for this table will indeed someday spill down to tables that we can afford. It has been said that an average good sounding hi-end audio system of today would have cost a buyer THOUSANDS more 10 to 15 years ago to achieve the same level of sonic playback. The expensive stuff's technology spilled down to the average components. Be glad when inventors push the envelope to see what is possible. You can't reach for the stars until you try. Or, as Genesis said, "If you don't stand up, you don't stand a chance."

 

How long do you think a 90K car will last before the buyer trades it in? I'm willing to bet that if the table performs as Fremer stated, it would give FAR more joy to an audiophile with a sizable record collection as they rediscover their entire vinyl collection. If I had the money, and the sound dropped my jaw, why wouldn't I not buy it?? Hell, do you know how many people drop 90K at casinos in a year? Now that's a waste!