Turntables, Part 2

The VPI HR-X with the new Rim Drive option was producing a wonderfully spacious and natural soundstage, with excellent speed stability, in concert with Herron Audio electronics and custom speakers. Although the Rim Drive is surprisingly massive, it can be easily added to several VPI models. A new custom turntable from PBN Audio uses a VPI drive system and platter, SME 312S, and a plinth made of four layers of maple ($8000 with arm). Combined with a Clearaudio Accurate cartridge, PBN electronics, and the Montana KAS2, music was portrayed with a great sense of the hall acoustic, with both delicacy and slam, but without stress or strain.

Last year, I was very impressed by Merrill-Scillia’s MS21 turntable ($24,000) with its aerospace machining, advanced suspended design, and sophisticated speed control. Its performance has been improved by new precision-machined springs, providing even compression and eliminating side deflections. Combined with a Tri-planar VII arm and Ortofon Jubilee, it offered rock-solid speed stability, jet-black backgrounds, and incredible inner detail. A less costly version, the MS2 ($8000) has the same spring technology and “guts” as the MS21 and can be upgraded with the MS21’s digital 2-speed power supply.

Another great analog front-end featured Artemis Labs’ new turntable (~$6000), designed by Frank Schroeder, incorporating a multilayered plinth made of bamboo, a 15-pound platter fashioned from aircraft aluminum, and a huge bearing. It uses a self-tensioning tape drive, comes with a universal armboard, and will be manufactured in the U.S. The demo ’table sported a Schroeder arm and a Soundsmith “Voice” cartridge, with Artemis Labs electronics driving Verity Fidelio speakers. The sound was as natural as I heard at both shows.

McIntosh and Thorens introduced high-performance ’tables that match their respective electronics. The McIntosh MT10 ($9000 with arm and MC cartridge) uses a magnetic bearing and is set up at the factory, and the beautiful Thorens TD 550 ($12,925) is a suspended design with an Ortofon arm and balanced and unbalanced jacks. It can accommodate 9-, 10-, or 12-inch arms. Thorens also showed its impressive new TD 160 HD ($2899 with arm) with its progressively dampened, suspended subchassis.

To sum up, more companies used analog front-ends to highlight their products this year. In addition to the new releases, the VPI HR-X and TNT-6, SME 20/12 and 20/2, Basis Audio 2800 Signature and Debut Signature, Grand Prix Monaco, TW-Acustic Raven AC, among others, were spinning away. It was quite an analog fest!

Next: Tonearms

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