The top 20 most expensive turntables ever made

Maybe some “illuminati” living in a Castle :laughing:

Some more ugly vinyl playback clutter.

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The same tonearm times four seems like a wasted opportunity.

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Probably using 4 different cartridges and very convinced of that arm :wink:

I figured that out but still…

I didn’t know it’s a prerequisite for a high end audio piece to be ugly as sin. These pieces sort of confirm my suspicion: the ultra high end audio is only remotely about sound but mostly about showing off. Bah! Humbug.

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Glad, I am not the only one who questions the investment, judging by the looks. Looking at those pictures, I feel like a proud owner of my Thorens TD105 with spare detachable tonearm to use different cartridges. The set comes probably for the price of the nameplate of some models you showed.

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No Uber $$$ here, but does have a high “Cool” factor! :slight_smile:

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Simply connect to the line input of your preamp or integrated.
Synergy - SME Audio
Comprising of a complete turntable combined with SME Series IV tonearm, Ortofon’s ‘exclusive series’ MC Windfeld Ti cartridge and a specially designed phono stage by NAGRA, all coupled with mono crystal silver wire by Crystal Cable.

It also makes comparing cartridges easier. Hmm, wonder if Michael Fremer has one?

Master Yoda’s design, it is. The force be with you.

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a turn TABLE

If I were in the market for a table - this would be the one - never saw a 100lb pure copper platter before, and at $28k I think represents a good value.

I have their previous version before they went full copper, and I added a copper top to the platter.

when I showed my Koetsu Onyx to the Koetsu rep and others in the know at the Florida Expo, their mouths dropped…‘you have the long body, it was made by Sugano-san himself’

now, a short body, sells for about $11,000 these days, they will charge $5,000 to refurbish mine

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I thought TTW was no longer producing tables?

They are, just made to order and seems like for now only the flagship model. Very happy with my TTW, and their accessories. The only reason they stopped manufacturing for several years was that the aerospace machine shop (which was Larry’s main business) got a massive offer to buy them out. Perhaps due to profitable contracts with Boeing, etc.

Larry took the deal but I suspect was very unhappy not doing what he loved.

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I had an Urushi Gold for years, but it got damaged accidentally (the only time that’s happened here), I sent it to Expert Stylus and they said the internals were knackered anyway, so there was no real loss. I put in a DV XX2Mk2 that Expert Stylus had retipped and it sounded loads better anyway.

Expert Stylus is not a team of 4 engineers, they do a lot of work for and supply parts to other manufacturers because few still have skills to do repairs. They take a humble Denon DL103R and refit with ruby cantilever and paratrace tip for about $1,000. I have one and it’s superb. They sell them by the hundred.

The guy who advised me on turntables reviewed the Onyx.

I must admit I find it difficult to go into that territory. I’ve heard one and the best Lyra at about the same price, with their own prototype step-up transformer. Jimmy doesn’t think the Onyx is hype, but you need deep pockets. I think we are lucky to have a lot of great cartridges these days for sensible money.

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price for Koetsu Blue Onyx now $15,995

don’t know if they still have the diamond cantilever upgrade for thousands more

I wouldn’t want (not only) such a heavy platter without better full than partial isolation of the weight from the pivot point. You’ll have a great inertia but also all the noise of this weight on the pivot point.

The DV XX2mkII is no slouch in the realm of real world priced phono cartridges.