Turntables
27/09/07 11:24 |
Turntables
A few years ago we started looking for our ideal
turntable - one that presented music recorded on vinyl
at its best by extracting all the information from the
record without imparting its own sonic signature on the
music.
That search lead in two directions - revisiting classic idler wheel and direct drive designs from vinyl's heyday and also to continental Europe and the US where turntable architecture is more diverse.
Galibier turntables
If it's your intention to buy your last turntable, then we suggest you consider the Galibier Gavia or Stelvio. Galibier is a fascinating new wave turntable designed and built to order near Boulder, Colorado.
Its designer, Thom Mackris, has paid his dues in the audio world and has owned many British products, including Linn and Naim.
What impressed us about the Galibier on first audition was the very low noise level, stunning dynamics and an insight into details not revealed by lesser products, e.g. hearing two instruments playing in unison, where previously it had sounded like one.
The turntable base is machined from a solid aluminium billet. Like many high mass, unsuspended designs, the Galibier turntables have deep, tuneful bass performance.
There is a choice of platter materials (in ascending order of cost and sound quality): pvc (8.4 kg); aluminium (with oil and shot damping chambers) and teflon top (14.5 kg) and the ultimate 20 kg aluminium (oil and shot damped) with a brass flywheel. The aluminium platters have a graphite platter interface to support the record. Graphite was chosen because its acoustic properies are similar to those of the vinyls used in record manufacture, so it is very efficient at sinking resonances from the record through the platter.
Platter drive (33 and 45 rpm) is from a battery powered 12 V motor in a heavy, damped pod by mylar belt. The motor control circuit is very elegant and its constant voltage output and the inelastic belt drive provide excellent speed stability and unmatched transient performance.
We strongly recommend anyone thinking of buying a new turntable to audition our Gavia, because we believe it will set a benchmark for all others. To find out what others think of this popular design, search the analog forum of Audiogon for "Galibier."
Full details are to be found at the Galibier website, however, in our view, the key features are:
● the solid aluminium construction which provides mass damping of vibration and resonances
● the huge, precision-machined bearing
● the carefully tuned DC motor controller that provides exceptional pitch stability and dynamics
● the unique Mylar belt, which does not stretch, again removing a source of speed instability
● the graphite platter mat which sinks resonance away from the underside of the record
Because we are passionate about this turntable, we have taken the unprecedented step of offering it at the US price plus carriage, import duties and taxes. (The norm is for the pre-tax US dollar price to be doubled by the time carriage and VAT are added in the UK).
Indicative prices including shipping, import duty and VAT: Gavia from £3950; Stelvio £9350.
The more affordable Serac model was launched in October 2007, however due to high demand in the US it will be some time before this model is made available to UK customers.
Click here to visit Galibier Design's website and be sure to check out the comprehensive FAQs and support pages.
The Lenco option
If you have a budget of £1000 or less, our advice is to try a restored Lenco idler wheel turntable, re-plinthed in a solid, massy base.
The Lenco has a precision-engineered Swiss AC motor that is very torquey. This guarantees very good speed stability with excellent attack and dynamics.
Restored and replinthed, a Lenco is a very compelling turntable worthy of a good arm and cartridge. The thinking person's Garrard 301!
We can upgrade and service your Lenco or we can supply one that we have selected and tested. In either case, we recommend removing the original arm and replacing it with an Artisan Capriccio or Rega arm.
We have our "proof of concept" American ash plinthed Lenco available for demonstration.
That search lead in two directions - revisiting classic idler wheel and direct drive designs from vinyl's heyday and also to continental Europe and the US where turntable architecture is more diverse.
Galibier turntables
If it's your intention to buy your last turntable, then we suggest you consider the Galibier Gavia or Stelvio. Galibier is a fascinating new wave turntable designed and built to order near Boulder, Colorado.
Its designer, Thom Mackris, has paid his dues in the audio world and has owned many British products, including Linn and Naim.
What impressed us about the Galibier on first audition was the very low noise level, stunning dynamics and an insight into details not revealed by lesser products, e.g. hearing two instruments playing in unison, where previously it had sounded like one.
The turntable base is machined from a solid aluminium billet. Like many high mass, unsuspended designs, the Galibier turntables have deep, tuneful bass performance.
There is a choice of platter materials (in ascending order of cost and sound quality): pvc (8.4 kg); aluminium (with oil and shot damping chambers) and teflon top (14.5 kg) and the ultimate 20 kg aluminium (oil and shot damped) with a brass flywheel. The aluminium platters have a graphite platter interface to support the record. Graphite was chosen because its acoustic properies are similar to those of the vinyls used in record manufacture, so it is very efficient at sinking resonances from the record through the platter.
Platter drive (33 and 45 rpm) is from a battery powered 12 V motor in a heavy, damped pod by mylar belt. The motor control circuit is very elegant and its constant voltage output and the inelastic belt drive provide excellent speed stability and unmatched transient performance.
We strongly recommend anyone thinking of buying a new turntable to audition our Gavia, because we believe it will set a benchmark for all others. To find out what others think of this popular design, search the analog forum of Audiogon for "Galibier."
Full details are to be found at the Galibier website, however, in our view, the key features are:
● the solid aluminium construction which provides mass damping of vibration and resonances
● the huge, precision-machined bearing
● the carefully tuned DC motor controller that provides exceptional pitch stability and dynamics
● the unique Mylar belt, which does not stretch, again removing a source of speed instability
● the graphite platter mat which sinks resonance away from the underside of the record
Because we are passionate about this turntable, we have taken the unprecedented step of offering it at the US price plus carriage, import duties and taxes. (The norm is for the pre-tax US dollar price to be doubled by the time carriage and VAT are added in the UK).
Indicative prices including shipping, import duty and VAT: Gavia from £3950; Stelvio £9350.
The more affordable Serac model was launched in October 2007, however due to high demand in the US it will be some time before this model is made available to UK customers.
Click here to visit Galibier Design's website and be sure to check out the comprehensive FAQs and support pages.
The Lenco option
If you have a budget of £1000 or less, our advice is to try a restored Lenco idler wheel turntable, re-plinthed in a solid, massy base.
The Lenco has a precision-engineered Swiss AC motor that is very torquey. This guarantees very good speed stability with excellent attack and dynamics.
Restored and replinthed, a Lenco is a very compelling turntable worthy of a good arm and cartridge. The thinking person's Garrard 301!
We can upgrade and service your Lenco or we can supply one that we have selected and tested. In either case, we recommend removing the original arm and replacing it with an Artisan Capriccio or Rega arm.
We have our "proof of concept" American ash plinthed Lenco available for demonstration.