The best turntable $64,000 can buy?

Attention audiophiles, old-school vinyl listeners and the very rich: Do we have a piece of stereo equipment for you.

It's called the Gabriel Turntable, and you won't find it at Wal-Mart. Crafted in limited editions by an Italian company that will engrave each buyer's name on it, the Gabriel is to a Kenner Close 'N Play what a Ferrari is to a Yugo.

"When I look at it," said Placido Pappalardo, co-owner of maker Angelis Labor, "the only word that comes to mind is love."

Each arm of the turntable is made in a Modena, Italy, factory that also builds Ferrari parts.

Angelis Labor executives proudly unveiled their turntable last week at the International Consumer Electronics Show, where its retro appearance and mechanical design set it apart from the cacophony of digital gadgets on display. That, and the price: up to $64,000, depending on which model is ordered.

The Gabriel is made from aluminum, bronze and stainless steel and can be customized with up to four arms. Each arm is made in a Modena, Italy, factory that also builds Ferrari parts. A one-armed model costs about $27,000, while a four-armed version runs for $64,000, including installation. Watch the Gabriel in action »

"It is a thing of beauty," said Jonathan Valin, executive editor of The Absolute Sound magazine, who saw the turntable in Las Vegas but didn't get to hear it. "Whether it is a world-class turntable, I don't know."

Why would anyone want four arms on their record player? Different pickup cartridges produce different types of sound, and some audiophiles like to match their record players' arms to different genres of music without going through the hassle of swapping cartridges.



The Gabriel is a magnetic suspension turntable, meaning that calibrated magnets are used to lift the platter a few millimeters above its bearings. This helps reduce vibration, which can affect sound quality.

"It's as if the whole turntable is floating in air," Pappalardo said.

The entire device rests on a custom-built, vibration-dampening table. It takes half a day for an Angelis Labor technician to set the whole thing up and calibrate the turntable.

The Gabriel is not yet in stores. Angelis Labor is now seeking a distributor to sell the turntable through specialty audio retailers who can demonstrate it personally for customers. Unlike most manufacturers, the company has no interest in selling it on the Web.

"We will never allow anybody to sell our products on the Internet," said Pappalardo, perhaps the only business executive at CES this year to make such a statement.

The Gabriel is not the only four-armed record player on the market. Nor is it the most expensive: the German-made, 770-pound Clearaudio Statement turntable costs twice as much.

But with vinyl making a comeback, the Gabriel may appeal to audiophiles who believe that listening to old records on a high-end player is like going back in time.

"They're not just eye candy. They actually sound better," said Valin, who prefers analog sound to the digital sound produced by CDs and MP3 files.


But even Valin wonders what kind of person would pay $64,000 for a turntable.

"You'd have to be very wealthy, very much into vinyl or very crazy," he said. "Or all three."

[CNN]

Vinyl Recording Turntable options ...

There are many options for recording your vinyl to CD, iPods, USB-drives, computers, etc. Some turntables will burn directly to CD with no computer needed, while some will burn directly to USB thumb drives. Many USB turntables come bundled with audio-recording software (Audacity being the most popular). Some turntables not already equipped to plug into your computer only require a convertor hub. You do have choices.

I, personally, have a Technics SL-1200MK2 (purchased in 1984 at Crazy Eddie's in New York) plugged into a Rane MP-24 pre-amp/mixer (bought in 1986), which is then plugged into an external hub of a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS soundcard (recently replaced with a refurb hub), which is then attached to the soundcard's PCI card in my Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2 PC (purchased in 2003). I then do my vinyl recording with Sony's Sound Forge 9.0 software.


STAND-ALONE UNITS (no computer required)

If you want a stand-alone unit which does not require any computer to record your vinyl to CD, then give the Ion LP 2 CD a try for direct vinyl-to-CD recording:



For another direct-to-CD vinyl recorder, there is the Crosley CR2401 Memory Master:



Here's another standalone player which does not require a computer that enables you to record direct from vinyl-to-CD, the Numark LP2CD Turntable:



If you want direct vinyl-to-USB drive recording, give the Brookstone iConvert a try:



For another turntable that records direct-to-USB drive (a/k/a Flash drive) there is the Ion Audio LP 2 FLASH SD Card Turntable:



For those of you who have given up on the CD format and want to record your vinyl directly into your iPod and not have to use a computer, there is the Numark TTi Turntable with iPod Dock:



If you use memory cards, the Teac LP-U200 lets you record directly to an SD card:



USB TURNTABLES (connects directly to computer)

The most popular USB turntable (according to Amazon) is the Ion TTUSB Turntable:



Virtually the same turntable as above is the Numark TTUSB Turntable:



A slightly less expensive Ion unit is Ion TTUSB05 USB Turntable:



Here's a good deal, you get a portable turntable with a built-in speaker and USB connection with the Ion iPTUSB Portable USB Turntable:



Here's another portable turntable with built-in speakers along with a USB connection, the Crosley CR249 USB Turntable:



Here's a Sony USB turntable, the Sony PS-LX300USB USB Turntable:



Another popular USB turntables is the Audio Technica AT-LP2DUSB:



DJ-friendly company, Stanton, makes a USB unit called the Stanton T.90 USB Turntable:



Here's another USB turntable you can try that is not expensive, the Grace Digital Audio GDI-PA40T1S PC Recordable Turntable for USB to PC Recording:



For a USB turntable from Gem Sound, there's the Gem Sound GT-USB Belt-Drive USB Turntable:



This one has built-in speakers for stand-alone use, but it's not really portable. The Grace Digital Vinylwriter Boca - USB 2 PC Recordable Turntable with Speakers:



For the closest thing you will get to audiophile vinyl recording with a USB-turntable will be from Pro-Ject Debut III/Phono USB for $499:



USING YOUR REGULAR TURNTABLE

You have the option to set up your system like mine (as explained at the top of this post) by using a pre-amp and a better-than-basic computer soundcard.

You can also get a USB external soundcard that has phono inputs, such as the ART USB PhonoPlus V2:



Here's a very simple to use unit from the same company that makes the most popular USB turntables called the Ion U-record Music Archiver:



This is a very portable interface. I've used the original version and did not like it, but the most recent "Plus" version is supposed to be much better to use. The Gemini iKey Plus USB Recorder:



For superior audio quality this Phono Pre-amplifier with A/D converter and USB output is what you want. The Pro-Ject Phonobox II USB for only $199



For that beloved tube sound that audiophiles rave about, you can go for this nice higher-end unit, the Rolls VP530 Tube Phono Preamp with USB:

You Say You Want a Revolution (at 33 1/3)

WHEN Melissa Walker, 31, was growing up, vinyl records were nostalgic artifacts. But when three crates of LPs were left in an apartment she had rented, a $10 thrift store record player turned those records into a kitschy novelty. And when her boyfriend bought her a Rega P1 turntable and a Bill Evans jazz album for her 30th birthday, playing the records became a daily ritual.

“Dave brought it home, and we dimmed the lights and sat on the couch with a glass of wine, and I felt like we were in a jazz club,” Ms. Walker said. “I could hear the musicians breathing. It felt like I could hear them smoking.”

Now she holds listening parties in her Brooklyn apartment, introducing friends to the rich sound of vinyl. “There is something I like about the process of listening that way,” she said. “Having to listen to it in the order the musicians intended, and turning it over. There is something social about it.”

Sales of new LPs show that Ms. Walker isn’t the only one rediscovering vinyl. While CD sales dropped last year, sales of records were up 36 percent, although they are still a minuscule part of the music market.

All those records have to be played on something. And when it comes to turntables — no one would dare call them record players these days — there are many options, from bare-bones $99 models to ultra-high-end audiophile equipment with price tags of $100,000 or more.

There are so many choices, in fact, that it can be tough for a shopper to know where to begin. “You can buy too much turntable or too little turntable for the rest of your equipment,” said John-Paul Lizars, marketing director at Sumiko, which imports and distributes turntables. He recommends investing about a third of your equipment budget in a turntable. “I urge people to get the best turntable, cartridge and phono preamp as they can,” Mr. Lizars said, “because if you don’t capture the content at the source, no other component can enhance it.”

A turntable is a basic piece of equipment — a motor turns a platter on which the record sits, and a tone arm holds a needle and a cartridge. The needle wiggles as it rides the record’s groove, and the cartridge converts those vibrations to electrical signals that go to an amplifier.

But in those few parts lies a world of variation.

Modern turntables are usually either direct drive or belt drive. Direct drive has been popular with radio and club D.J.’s because the record gets up to speed very quickly. The downside is that motor rumbles can be audible on lesser models.

Belt drive is more common, with a rubber belt insulating motor noise from the platter. Belt drive turntables can require maintenance (belts occasionally wear out), and they can be less precise, causing speed variations heard as wow and flutter. But that is not a problem in audiophile-quality equipment, said Ed Dorsey of Soundscape, an audio boutique in Baltimore. “The wow and flutter is so small, the average person isn’t going to hear it, only the musician with perfect pitch.”

Less expensive turntables, like the Denon DP-29F, which lists for $150, and the Pioneer PL-990, which lists for $130, generally come with permanently installed cartridges. That means no souping-up the turntable with aftermarket parts.

But adding a new cartridge is the most common way to improve a stock turntable. “Most of the time turntables come with an entry-level cartridge,” said Ken Bowers, manager of Needle Doctor, near Minneapolis. A better cartridge will get more information from the record groove for more detailed sound, he said.

As prices go up, the quality of the parts improves. The turntable bases, instead of hollow plastic, are made of metal or dense wood, which dampen vibrations. “You’ll get tighter bass, better imaging, more detail,” Mr. Bowers said.

On high-end equipment, motors tend to be heavier and more precise, the bearings in the tone arms present less friction, and the level of craftsmanship is higher. “You are buying build quality, you are buying precision,” Mr. Lizars said.

Once again, more precision means more detailed sound. The price of turntables with solid bases and replaceable cartridges generally begins around $300. Ms. Walker’s Rega P-1 and the Pro-Ject Debut III, which is imported by Sumiko, both list for $350 to $400.

To those audiophiles returning to vinyl, that may seem like a small price for high-fidelity quality, but like all things technological, turntables have become cheaper and better. “The $300 turntable of today is vastly superior to the $300 of 20 years ago,” Mr. Lizars said.

Those who want to spend more can do so easily. “Our turntable lists at $46,000, but we are far from being the most expensive,” said Lloyd Walker of Walker Audio in Audubon, Pa., who handcrafts the company’s Proscenium Black Diamond turntable. “They go up to a quarter of a million.”

For $46,000, Mr. Walker said, you get 250 pounds of turntable with a platter and tone arm that float on a nearly frictionless cushion of air. And Mr. Walker comes to your listening room to tweak every setting for optimum performance. “Setup is extremely important,” he said.

That is also true of less expensive turntables. The cartridge must be correctly aligned and the tone arm weighted properly. Some cartridges or tone arms come with an alignment tool, but they can be bought separately for $5 to $275. Likewise, a stylus force gauge, which measures the pressure of the needle on a record, can cost $25 for a weighted balance or $450 for a precision digital model.

To check your work, there are test LPs that play a series of signals that let you hear, for instance, whether both channels are equally loud. Such recordings can cost from $30 to $100.

Of course, for a fee you can usually get the shop that sold you the turntable to set it up.

Among the pleasures of turntables are the tasks and rituals that surround preparing to play a record. That means cleaning off dirt and dust and removing static. Mr. Walker said that nothing less than a machine that vacuums a cleaning fluid from the record would remove the manufacturer’s release agent — a lubricant that makes a record come out of a mold. “It will sound 30 to 50 percent better,” he said. “It’s a big difference.” Such devices can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Others may be satisfied with an inexpensive carbon fiber brush or the classic Discwasher cleaning fluid and pile brush for $20.

But Mr. Bowers warns against fixating on minute technical details. Better to spend your time at thrift stores finding music that will never appear on a CD. “Playing records,” he said, “should be fun.”

[NY Times]

Ace Hotel is for Vinyl Lovers

When the original Ace Hotel opened in Seattle, Time described it as “a superaesthetic barrack, with an in-the-know economy of style.” The new Ace Hotel in New York, located in the former Hotel Breslin and set to open in February, fits the same description: turntables in every room, vintage furniture, retro plumbing fixtures. Roman & Williams, the team behind the revamped Royalton Hotel, was in charge of the overhaul. The ambience promises to be achingly hip, with a curated music selection from Other Music at the front desk (guests can purchase CDs and vinyl). Product collaborations include custom Pendleton blankets and a boxing-robe-meets-hooded-sweatshirt by Wings and Horns. The team behind the Spotted Pig is in charge of the restaurant, and Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters is providing the caffeine. On the corner of Broadway and 29th Street; go to Ace Hotel for reservation information.



[Remodelista]

Mini Turntable-Speaker with Scratch Effects

Funky DJ Turntable (Nano-sized), Cellphone Strap Speaker with Scratch Effector.

Comes in Black, White or Red. Includes siren sounds, voice samples and scratch effects that are made with simple finger touches. Can be used with any iPod or mp3 player. Has built-in mono speaker. Connects via 3.5mm mini earphone plug and charges via USB (USB cable included).

Only $29.99

Get Them Started Early ...

DJ Toys for the Kids. Some holiday ideas for the young ones.

DJ Battle Mix Electronic Game of Makin' the Music
Play against a friend or play against the machine.
Head-to-Head electronic game of making music and mixing it up
The game with its' own MC inside
The game where you have to play back the moves your opponent makes
Use the disks and the sound slide to scratch a tune
For 1 or 2 players / Requires 3 "AA" batteries - not included

DJ Scratch CD Mixer with Radio
For rap artists or DJs in the making, this Scratch CD Mixer is a great addition to any party. Features five loop effects and sound effects; cassette recorder and CD player; microphones, professional sliding DJ controls, and even a spinning disco ball! Requires 6 "C" batteries (not included). Measures 21"L x 11.5"W x 5.5"H.
The Kidsway DJ scratch CD mixercan record music and sound effects with the use of a cassette tape
Young DJs get to scratch, mix and match sounds with five loop effects, five sound effects,
The spinning disco ball creates the right atmosphere with spinning lights everywhere!

Jumpin’ Banana Finger Beats DJ Mixer Portable Music System
Mix Music Like A DJ! Make Music With The Tap Of Your Finger! Features: Touch Sensitive Game Play. Backing Tracks to play along to. Record and Play your own tracks. MP3 Input: Play along to your favorite music. Headphone Jack: Keep your sounds to yourself (Headphones Included). 16 Sample Beats. Scratch Button: Get your beats pumping with different scratches. Record Button: Save your beats to play again. Playback Button: Plays back the beats you saved. Stop Button: Turns off all sounds. Switch Button: Choose between 2 different sets of sample beats. Music On The Go!
Includes touch sensitive pads, backing tracks and MP3 lead headphones
Great for kids
Tracks to play along to record and play your own tracks
Headphone jack lets you keep your sounds to yourself
Play Time of Less Than 30 Minutes
Batteries Included: 4 AAA Batteries

Children's Electronic Music D.J. & Scratch Mixer
Let's get this party started! Children's Electronic Music D.J. & Scratch Mixer Keyboard. Enjoy 'scratchingdiscs to the beat' with this great mixer. Move and grove to the beat with six different rhythms, two turntables, volume and tempo control. Perfect for ages 4 & up. Great gift idea!

DJ Mixer by Lollipop
All the bells and whistles of a high-tech studio! Little DJs find their groove mixing 32 sound effects, 24 rhythms, and 12 scratch effects. Wow: includes pro-style mixing pad, disc scratcher, and keyboard with 9 instrument sounds! With built-in bass speaker, headset mic, and volume control. And yes, you can record your creations, too. Requires 6 "AA" batteries (sold separately). For ages 6 and up.

Polly Pocket Stylin' Pose Rick as Dj Doll Set by Mattel
Totally posable!
Style his hair!
8 x 3 x 6 inches ; 12.8 ounces

Barbie At the Hop Action Musical
This music "box" looks like an antique record player with barbie and ken dancing on the records. plays at the hop as they dance

The "Smallest" Portable Turntable

Only available from Hammacher Schlemmer, this is the smallest portable turntable available, capable of playing full-sized LPs through two 5-watt, full-range speakers built into the front of the hardwood case. Its three-speed belt-driven mechanism can play 33 1/3, 45, and 78-speed LPs. The diamond stylus picks up all the nuances of vinyl records, and the speakers deliver clear sound with volume and tone controls. The case's top removes completely; both halves secure with sturdy clasps for storage or transit. It also has a sturdy handle. Plugs into AC with the included adapter. 4 3/4" H x 14 1/4" W x 8" D. (8 lbs.)

Item 76113 ................... $99.95

[Retro Thing]

Need a new Turntable Cartridge ... that costs as much as some people's cars?

AIR TIGHT PC-1 SUPREME MC CARTRIDGE 0.4mV


Item Number: AIRTPC1S
Brand/Label/Format: *AIR TIGHT*
Unit Price: $8,999.99
In Stock

The Air Tight PC-1 Supreme offers an astounding inner impedance as low as 1 ohm. To make this possible, on top of the epoch-moking SH-uX, Air Tight employed thicker wires, succeeding in reducing winding number in the coil by as much as 40%.

"As good as the AT PC-1 is, this new, considerbly pricier moving-coil cartridge from Air Tight is substantially better. Like the PC-1, the Supreme is a model of low internal impedance and high energy. Killer good on transients top to bottom, with phenomenal grip and definition in the low bass, it is also exceptionally lifelike in the midband, with even more of the gorgeous density of tone color, high resolution, and superior soundtaging that made the PC-1 one of JV's (Jonathan Valin) mc references. A top contender for best mc." - Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound, October 2008 Issue 185, page 92

Further advantages achieved include:
• Expansion of reproduction bandwith
• Extension of dynamic range
• Improvement of transient characteristics
• Bettermnet of phase characteristics (smaller phase shift)

In terms of playback music, expansion of both the bandwidth and dynamic range provides clearer, life-like soundstage presentation, whilst improvement in transient and phanse characteristics makes it possible to seperate ultra heavy bass range and to offer higher resolution in orchestral performance, making it possible to distinguish individual instruments.

The Air Tight PC-1 Supreme steps forward to the perfection of the theses "High Energy Output and Low Impedance." These two inconsistent themes were made successfully compatible thanks to the acclaimed SH-uX core material and the lowest turning number in coil windings.

SH-uX core offering ultra Hi-Bs & ultra Hi-u:
Suprisingly high performance magnetic circuitry composed of the newly developed core realised, in an optimum combination with the maximum reduction in coil windings, an unprecedentedly high-efficiency energy output: 0.4mV output voltage under 1ohm inner resistance.

Semi-line contact stylus:
Microscopic .1mm-square diamond tip featuring 3 x 30um semi-line contact stylus offers a superb trackability with remarkable abatement of tracing distortion.

Boron cantilever:
The step-taper holding structure by duralmin pipe assures tight, stable support of the cantilever made of pure boron.

Thick wire & lead-free solder:
Unusually thick coil wire notably lowers inner loss conjointly with minimisation of coil windings given by the SH-uX core material, and particularly for sonic excellence newly employed is the lead-free silver solder.

PC-1 Supreme Specifications:
Type: Ultra-low impedance MC cartridge
Output Voltage: 0.4mV/1kHz
Magnet: Neodymium #50
Channel balance: within 0.5dB (1kHz)
Weight: 12g
Frequency response: 10-50.000Hz
Inner impedance: 1 ohms (DCR)
Stylus pressure: 1.9-2.2g
Crosstalk: more than 30dB (1kHz)
Plating: Gold