NEWS: The world's most expensive turntable
Is that really a £150,000 turntable? Yes, friends, it really is. There are high-end products, rarefied hi-fi treasures, and then there's this – the Goldmund Reference II, which is being billed as the world's most expensive turntable.
Goldmund is only planning to build 25 of these beauties, at a rate of just 5 per year. It's a beautiful piece of tooled metal, with an astonishing specification that will draw a sigh of aspiration from true record lovers and incurable vinyl heads everywhere.
The specification includes: a dynamically balanced 20kg platter, with level and concentricity calibration to <1/100mm; a 5-layer platter design (3 metacrylate and 2 brass) with 12 lead damping inserts; a cog-free motor with very low electrical and mechanical noise, shielded and dampened by 15kg of brass; and a liquid-nitrogen-rectified belt.
It also boasts touch controls integrated into the tabletop for the turntable (33 / 45 / 78 rpm) and the T8 tone arm, and an ultra-precise ball-circulation Linear carrier with zero-play and micron precision.
Notwithstanding that there are still parts of the UK where you can still buy a fairly sizeable house for the price of this deck, we have to admit it's a real beauty. But is £150,000 too much to pay for a turntable, no matter how good? Give us your opinion by leaving a comment below, or start a thread on the forums page.
Technorati Tags: Goldmund, hi-fi, high-end, Turntable, vinyl
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Comments
just wish i was in that bracket could also have two jags!
Crikey! il have one, bargain that, just one problem though my nu-vista amp and westminster royals arent good enough for it, cant afford anything better after buying the turntable, err only kidding, seriously though yep im a true hifi enthusiast but there is a limit, im not saying its not worth it, after all my dad paid more for his patek watch so considering that i rekon its just a nice thing to own.
hi all audio lovers. i have the lastest audio lab system with two mono blocs. my wife bought me a technics sl 1200 turntable because she thought it matched. i run this through a project phono box and have to say the sound is very pleasing, rich and full with good bass. now i'm not saying the sound could not be bettered, most sounds can, but for the money, the build, convenience and looks, you could do a lot worse as a secondary source
Bloody hell! Has the world gone mad? £150k for a turntable - I don't care how good it is, that's ludicrous.
And not a sniff of an arm in that picture. How much does that add to the price?
It's madness I tell you, would never have happened in my day, I blame Blair, etc. (Wanders off, muttering to himself)
150k for a turntable ... are you having a laugh ??
Mmmm... two Jaguars, or one turntable? Let me think. Question: what amplification and speakers could do the thing justice?
150k? I would prefer to buy all the lp's I always wanted (and play them on my humble thorens...)
£150k could save thousands of children's lives in Africa. Which is more valuable???
I imagine the Goldmund salesman might try to persuade you to pick up their Epilogue speakers (~£135K) and their Telos amp (~£50K) to go with your new deck. Maybe you get a £20K discount if you buy them as a set?
If you have that sort of disposable money, why not,every
little helps your quality of life.Unfortunatly the people who have this sort of money do not have the ability to enjoy such things..
I think we are missing the point. This is not just another turntable. It is a statement. It has nothing to do with "children's lives in Africa".
£150,000 for a turntable is ridiculous.
I'll be keeping my money in the bank and save up for something a little more practical... a diamond encrusted skull maybe.
No it isn't about childrens lives in Africa, or street cleaners in India having to use their hands to pick up litter because they cannot afford gloves. But I think people should have some conciousness outside of ME, and I actually believe it is completely immoral, when people have genuine need, lack of food, comfort, warmth, etc in the world to spend money on this kind of thing, also automatic gear boxes for £1000, etc etc. It is a statement to own this thing. It says I am a berk.