This digital turntable has been around since the
mid-80's, and even back then people were like "whoa,
$15,000 for a record player?"
I've always been curious, so I wrote to the website
and they will send you a free CD demo. It has a 16
minute audio track, and it compares A->B on how a
regular record will sound on your turntable, and how
it will sound on theirs.
Upon first listen, I wasn't completely impressed. I
had assumed if a record was massively scratched, I
could put it on this laser turntable and it would
sound like a clean record. Not exactly. You can play
the scratched record through, but instead of skipping,
it kind of turns into a digital Band-Aid, so that the
laser will stay on the groove. You'll still hear
crackles, but you'll at least get to hear the whole
song.
On warped and worn out records, there was a bit of a
difference. You could tell it was an older, much-used
piece of vinyl, but it still sounded like there was
some life left.
What impressed me more than anything was when they put
on a cracked 78. This would be impossible to play,
but on this turntable, the laser stays in the groove
and creates an audio hole. This means that there will
be a quick blank spot every second, but you'll be able
to hear the song. I think this will come in handy for
collectors who deal in 78's that are impossible to
find, or no longer exist. Or even those old
Recordios.
What this is also able to do is select what side of a
groove to play in terms of mono records. I think the
site gets into the groove walls, and how some needles
will wear out one side of the wall more than others.
The laser turntable makes it possible for you to test
which wall is better, and then you can listen to the
better side.
===
The cleaning unit comes with the turntables. However,
if you want the company to test this turntable in your
home, there's something like a $700 fee. I'm thinking
okay, I can buy two decent turntables with that and
maintain it myself by flicking the needle for dust.
If you have the money and a deep collection, I say go
for it. Or if you're part of some ethnomusicology
program, it would be perfect to digitize everything.
With the technology that exists, one hopes the company
will lower the price a bit just so normal collectors
can afford it.
p.e.a.c.e.
-John Book
john-book.com
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Nov 08 2001 - 01:43:46 CET