Showing posts with label turntable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label turntable. Show all posts

12.6.22

Ikea announces record player that might actually make it to stores this time


Designed in collaboration with Swedish House Mafia.

Ikea, which has never been scared to dive into new product categories, has announced plans to release a record player as part of its new Obegränsad collection this fall. The record player was designed in collaboration with house music supergroup Swedish House Mafia, and has a chunky design in line with a lot of the other consumer electronics Ikea has produced. Alongside it, the Swedish retailer has also announced an armchair and desk as part of the collection.

This technically isn’t the first record playing device that Ikea has announced. Way back in 2018 it announced a turntable made in collaboration with Teenage Engineering that it hoped to release the following year. But according to a Teenage Engineering support page, the player never made it into the final collection.

Its design and controls are designed to be simple. Image: Ikea

Ikea engineer Carmen Stoicescu alludes to this previous attempt in an interview about the new record player on Ikea’s site. “When the question came to me, I just said, ‘We actually tried to do a record player before, so we could use the same supplier maybe?’” she says. The writeup contains a couple of hints about the player’s functionality, like the fact that it has a built-in preamp, is powered over USB and features a replaceable cartridge and needle. In a press release Ikea also notes that the player will work with its Eneby Bluetooth speaker, but because it doesn’t actually support Bluetooth it’ll only work over a wired connection. Otherwise, technical details are slim. It’s not clear whether the record player has built-in speakers or whether it’s limited to wired output.

We’ve put these questions to Ikea along with questions about how much the device is expected to cost. It’ll be available this fall along with over 20 other products that make up the Obegränsad collection.

Jon Porter

4.6.22

June’s best new albums



This month’s wantlist

All the records to keep an eye out for this month, selected by VF’s Gabriela Helfet.


Salamanda
ashbalkum

(Human Pitch)

Due: 10th June

Conjuring silky lo-fi house and downtempo, South Korean producer duo Salamanda, aka Uman Therma and Yetsuby, ready their latest long player, ashbalkum, via Human Pitch. Alongside their house hypnotics, the duo incorporate influences including dub, reggaeton snares, dembow rhythms, ambient, and augmented vocals,. Written across the summer of 2021, it reflects the ennui and uncertainty of this time, “a portal into unseen worlds, enchanting stasis and laughter in the face of our evolving realities.”


Toshiya Tsunoda
Landscape and Voice

(Black Truffle)

Due: 10th June

Experimental Japanese sound artist Toshiya Tsunoda makes a rare and welcome vinyl outing with Landscape and Voice. As Tsunoda shares, the LP focuses on exploring “how I can establish a subjective relationship with an environment, rather than seeing it merely as an object to be recorded.” On Landscape and Voice, this is realised in three compositions. Each uses a field recording which is looped, fragmented, sliced and diced into distinctly unique formations. Expect a hypnotic journey into sound.


µ-Ziq
Magic Pony Ride

(Planet Mu)

Due: 10th June

Planet Mu head honcho Mike Paradinas, aka µ-Ziq, returns to the label for his fist LP since 2013, with Magic Pony Ride. As its name suggests, the record promises to be a fun-filled ride. Across its 12 tracks, Paradinas takes thematic inspiration from travels to Iceland, while sonically letting jungle lead the way.


S A D
Studia Spiritual

(12th Isle)

Due: 10th June

Weaving extraterrestrial synths with affecting tape distortion and funky rhythmic riffs, 12th Isle collects recordings from Vasily Stepanov and Vlad Dobrovolski’s S A D project. Incorporating influences spanning kosmiche, free jazz, and field recordings alike, Studia Spiritual hears the duo utilise a collage-style in their creative process. File under: yet another solid release from the always wonderful 12th isle, one that is perfect for ushering in all kinds of summer weirdness.


yaya bey
Remember Your North Star

(Big Dada)

Due: 17th June

Mixing soul, r’n’b jazz, reggae, Afrobeat, and hip-hop, Yaya Bey steps up on Ninja Tune’s Big Dada label with Remember Your North Star. “This album is kind of my thesis,” shares Bey. “Even though we need to be all these different types of women, ultimately we do want love: love of self and love from our community. The album is a reminder of that goal.” Count us in.


J. Rocc
A Wonderful Letter

(Stones Throw)

Due: 17th June

Inimitable producer, DJ, and Beat Junkies co-founder, J. Rocc returns to Stones Throw with A Wonderful Letter. The album was created as a sonic love note to his native Los Angeles. Revisiting his roots in the city’s underground beat and hip-hop scenes, the album, features cameos from Steve Arrington, The Egyptian Lover, The Koreatown Oddity, Budgie, MED. Stay tuned for a forthcoming VF Live featuring J. Rocc direct from Stones Throw’s Gold Line Bar later this month, too.


Binker Golding
Dream Like A Dogwood Wild Boy

(Gearbox)

Due: 17th June

Tenor saxophonist Binker Golding returns to Gearbox with his second solo album, Dream Like A Dogwood Wild Boy. This time around, Golding takes new inspiration from blues, rock, and Americana as a fresh launch point for his jazz musings. Written, arranged, and produced entirely by Golding, its seven tracks feature his signature sax alongside a band including Billy Adamson on guitars, Sarah Tandy on piano, Daniel Casimir on double bass, and Sam Jones on drums.


Zola Jesus
ARKHON

(Sacred Bones)

Due: 24th June

Unearthing “buried tools for bearing grief, loss, and disappointment,” Zola Jesus readies her latest album, ARKHON, on Sacred Bones. While she previously created her albums solo, on ARKHON Zola joins forces with producer Randall Dunn and drummer and percussionist Matt Chamberlain. Expect Zola’s signature cinematic vocal crescendos to pull you in, as per usual.


Ron Trent
What do the stars say to you

(Night Time Stories)

Due: 24th June

Chicago DJ and producer Ron Trent is back with his first full length LP in 11 years, featuring a bevvy of illustrious, and somewhat unlikely, collaborators in tow. Cameos across What do the stars say to you’s 10-tracks include Khruangbin, Gigi Masin, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Azymuth. The album sees Trent drawing on both live instruments and electronics, to create a record that is “designed for harmonising with spirit, urban life and nature.”


Hatis Noit
Aura

(Erased Tapes)

Due: 24th June

Japanese voice artist Hatis Noit makes her debut on Erased Tapes with Aura. Noit’s practice is inspired by Gagaku — Japanese classical music — folk music, Bulgarian and Gregorian chanting, and avant-garde vocalists. Its 8 tracks were created almost entirely using nothing but her own voice, with the exception of field recordings of the ocean featured on ‘Inori’.

Carlos Alves de Sousa
VF Team

25.5.22

When should I change my needle?


A good turntable can keep you spinning records for years, if not decades. But the stylus, or needle, which actually draws the music out of a record’s grooves, and the cartridge into which it is inserted, are considerably less durable.

A good turntable can keep you spinning records for years, if not decades. But the stylus, or needle, which actually draws the music out of a record’s grooves, and the cartridge into which it is inserted, are considerably less durable.

A dozen different websites will offer you a dozen different suggestions as to how frequently a stylus should be changed, often conveying that information in terms of playing hours — as if anybody actually logs every record they play, totting up the total times until they hit the magic number. But you should invest in a new needle at least once a year, and sooner if you play a lot of records a lot of the time, or if you enjoy churning through scratchy and/or dirty discs.

One thing is certain: Do not wait until you notice the sound of your records deteriorating as you play them (distortion, fuzz, skipping, etc). Because it’s not only your needle that is finished. The original fidelity of your record is on the way out as well.

What needle do you need?

That can be tricky. Recent years have seen a lot of turntable manufacturers (particularly at the lower end of the price scale) neglect to offer this information on either their websites or in the literature that comes with the player — why, one can only guess.

Thankfully, a lot of stylus merchants will provide a checklist on their website, allowing you to match the make and model of your turntable to the appropriate needle.— so, again, before purchasing a particular turntable, do yourself a favor. Find out (a) if replacement needles are readily available from any source beyond turntable’s own manufacturer; and (b), how much they’re going to cost you. Because that can sometimes be a shock.

The cartridge that holds the needle will also require replacing at some point, although that is further on down the road — and it can often also be upgraded as well, to improve the turntable’s sound even further. (Just remember, the stylus you require might also change, to fit the new cartridge’s specifications.)

The final thing to watch, or rather listen, for is the condition of the turntable belt — the fat elastic band that makes the platter spin. These will, over time, begin to stretch, subtly altering the speed at which you are listening to a record. This will not harm your record, but it might damage your appreciation of what you’re listening to. So pay attention!

There is one other area that you need to get a grounding, and that is how to look at a record and decide whether or not it’s in good enough condition to actually listen to.

Dave Thompson

UNITED PHOTO PRESS

The Beatles Yellow Submarine turntable back in limited numbers



I thought we had seen the last of this, but The Beatles Yellow Submarine turntable is back in limited numbers.

This Crosley-made record player was a limited edition and the ‘exclusive turntable’ of Record Store Day 2021. 1,500 were made available for that day and all sold out. That was the end of it. Or at least, that was what we all thought.

No, the player is back, with Rough Trade now taking pre-orders for the Beatles-themed player, with a due date of July.

.

In essence, this is a typical Crosley player with all the functions and details you would expect. So the ability to play your vinyl at 33, 45 or 78 rpm, an Audio Technica stylus and a functional counterweight plus, as a bonus, a built-in Bluetooth receiver streams music directly from your smartphone direct to the speakers.



But you are probably buying it because of the design, which features the cartoon Fab Four on the inside, a yellow and red colour scheme plus the Yellow Submarine logo on the top.

£189.99 is the price, with pre-orders now being taken. Don’t miss out.


You might also recall that Pro-Ject produced a limited Yellow Submarine turntable shaped like the sub. Do check it out if you missed it. Sadly, no longer available, although they do turn up on auction sites like eBay now and again.

The latest in a series of Fab Four designs and perhaps the pick of them so far. That’s The Beatles Yellow Submarine turntable by Pro-Ject.

Of course it was going to be Yellow Submarine in 2018. After all, the animated movie is 50 years old and returning to the big screen as a 4K restoration to celebrate the event. A lot of related merchandise too. I mentioned the Pretty Green clothing range already (which also includes some design pieces) and I would guess that this record deck will not be the last tie-in we will see this year.

But it is the most recent one, so let’s focus on this one right now, as it a lovely piece of kit.

Of course, this is a deck designed to imitate the submarine at the centre of the movie and in that respect, it rally is job done. This is an incredibly eye-catching piece of design, especially if you are a fan of the band or animation.

Technical stuff? Ok, I have that too. The deck is handmade in Europe and comes a ‘rigid’ MDF chassis and is belt-driven with a synchronous motor. It also has a specially designed Ortofon Concorde pickup , vibration absorbing feet, a glass platter, a ‘highly precise and light’ aluminium tonearm, gold-plated contacts and a silicon belt with optimum dampening.

Oh and one other thing, which is the price. The Yellow Submarine turntable will be priced at £389, with a dust cover available but for extra cash. I said ‘will be’ because as yet there isn’t a definite shelf date, but I would guess the release will tie in with the film release.

Find out more at the Amazon website

The Beatles Yellow Submarine turntable by Pro-Ject

UNITED PHOTO PRESS

22.5.22

High End 2022: Acoustic Signature Tornado Neo Turntable with TA-2000 Neo Tonearm


I have had multiple experiences with setting up and/or listening to the original Invictus, Invictus Jr., and Ascona ’tables from German turntable specialist Acoustic Signature. Since then, the company has updated its entire lineup of nine turntables, from the Invictus to the lowest-cost Maximus, in addition to refurbishing its complete tonearm catalog. The word “Neo” is applied to all models in the new series. Briefly, Acoustic Signature says that the across-the-board Neo improvements are an accumulation of at least 25 years of industry experience, along with the present-day implementation of its innovations in areas of vibration control, platter-bearing design, and constrained-layer damping.

The subjects of this report are the Acoustic Signature Tornado Neo turntable ($7495) with TA-2000 Neo tonearm ($3495). The Tornado is one of three similarly shaped turntables within the full Neo series: the other two are the more costly Hurricane and Typhoon. The Tornado Neo is made of anodized aluminum and is available in silver, black, or a combination (platter/chassis) of the two colors.

The chassis of the Tornado Neo is 1.7″ thick and machined from a single billet of aluminum, including the three-point integrated supports for footers. The chassis is cosmetically machined with outer grooves along the edges to break up the visual appearance and provide a look of three pieces of stacked material, when, in reality, the chassis is a single piece of aluminum. The feet of the Tornado Neo are all adjustable for leveling and also gel-damped to minimize the effect of external vibrations from the support shelf.

The top of the chassis has a machined recessed area (hidden by the platter when installed) to incorporate what Acoustic Signature calls the “Dura Turn Diamond” bearing, sub-platter, and fully isolated dual-belt-drive AC motor. The main platter is a 1.97″-thick, solid piece of aluminum with four brass damping elements, called Silencers, imbedded 90-degrees apart from their nearest neighbors and evenly spaced at a distance, when viewed from the top of the platter. The platter is supplied with a record mat that adds an additional level of constrained-layer damping; bonded to the underside of the platter is a similar type of material.

The motor used in the Tornado Neo is a dual-coil, 24-pole, AC synchronous model. Acoustic Signature uses the DMC-10 Digital Motor Controller to monitor and custom-adjust the in-phase and in-quadrature (I/Q) drive signals of the motor, automatically stabilizing and further reducing vibrations in real time. The I/Q drive-motor signals involve the use of two sinewaves that have identical frequency and a relative phase shift of 90 degrees. The result of this signal processing and real-time motor-specific adjustment approach is much quieter rotation with reduced vibration (as I’ve also observed in other loosely similar applications), which translates into significantly lower motor noise when subjectively observed or objectively measured.

The Tornado Neo components arrived well packaged and secured between custom-cut layers of high-density foam within a double-boxed container. Once the items were removed from the container (the turntable, motor controller, control unit, accessories, and installation manual), I began the assembly and set-up process.

Quickly covering this procedure, I set the chassis on a level surface and removed the motor cover-plate as instructed. Next, I leveled the adjustable feet under the chassis and carefully installed the sub-platter with its attached upper portion of the bearing into the lower-bearing section already mounted on the Tornado Neo chassis. Then, I installed the twin belts around the sub-platter and the dual-groove motor pulley. After the motor cover-plate is reinstalled, the main platter is carefully placed on the exposed sub-platter, after ensuring there is no dust or debris in the mounting location that would diminish the turntable’s precision when operating. The motor controller (DMC-10) is then connected to the Tornado Neo via a D-Sub connector cable, which runs from the turntable chassis to any of the three available D-Sub connectors on the DMC-10. I chose the “Motor 1” D-Sub connector. The control unit for power on/off and speed selection (33.3/45rpm) gets connected to the DMC-10 via a supplied RJ-45 patch cable at the remote panel-connector identified on the motor controller (as outlined in the manual). The final connection is the 120VAC wall-outlet power cord to the IEC inlet of the motor controller.

At this point, the manual instructs you to turn on the DMC-10 and use the two buttons on the wired control unit to start/stop the platter rotation and select speed 33.3/45rpm. Additionally, the manual explains that when an LED on the wired control unit is blinking it indicates the target speed is in the process of stabilizing. The LED stops blinking and becomes fully illuminated when the target speed is locked. On the control unit, a green LED indicates 45rpm, while a red LED indicates 33.3rpm. No LED illumination on the control unit indicates that the platter is inactive. The wired control unit can be placed in any location the user prefers for ease of use (within the limits of the connecting-cable length). I ended up with the control unit placed partially under the front of the Tornado Neo below the label and out far enough for the control buttons to be easily accessed.

The 9″ TA-2000 Neo tonearm was shipped in its own double-boxed package with all the necessary tools and items for installation. The tonearm was set up using the attached SME-style mount. One of three cartridges used was installed and aligned via the supplied alignment tools. Additional documented adjustments available on the TA-2000 Neo include overhang, offset angle, arm height (VTA/SRA), and anti-skate. Azimuth adjustment is also available, but the procedure is not documented in the installation manual. Later in the evaluation, I also completed cartridge-installation adjustments using the more thorough and time-consuming procedure I regularly apply for completeness during an evaluation.

I encountered a small hiccup when using the 5-gram Hana SL cartridge. The TA-2000 Neo specifications list acceptable cartridge balance-weights of 4 grams to 16 grams. Unfortunately, the Hana SL could not be balanced to 2 grams of tracking weight. This brings up the additional consideration needed to properly balance your cartridge. The combination of the cartridge “balance” weight and the required tracking force may be what sets the minimal weight with the cartridge in question. For the Hana SL, the tonearm would not allow the cartridge to reach its intended tracking force. The TA-2000 Neo’s minimal “balance” weight is 4 grams. The Hana SL weighs approximately 5 grams. The tracking force required for proper operation of this cartridge is 2 grams. The result (measured and verified) yields nearly 1 gram of tracking force with the balance weight at its lowest weight setting. In order to use the Hana SL, I had to add a headshell weight to achieve proper tracking force. (Both horizontal and vertical cartridge-resonance-frequency performance parameters were still within the generally accepted 8–12Hz range when completed.) The key takeaway is that the TA-2000 Neo specifications list the cartridge “balance” weight. Therefore, the user should account for the additional tracking force required for the cartridge to be used. The other two cartridges drafted for use during this evaluation (Hana Umami Red and Lyra Etna) worked without issue. [Acoustic Signature now offers a lighter counterweight for low-mass cartridges. —Ed.]

A second problem, while minor, prevented me from using a couple of my phonostages with the TA-2000 Neo’s supplied tonearm cable. The available distance between the left and right RCA connectors used to connect to the phonostage would not allow the supplied tonearm cable to spread far enough apart to complete the input connection on two of the three phonostages I have in-house. Prospective users should check the distance between the phonostage inputs and ensure the supplied (or desired) phono cable will spread far enough apart to make the connections

Once the issues mentioned above were addressed, the Tornado Neo with TA-2000 Neo performed and operated flawlessly during the evaluation period. The primary buttons on the wired control unit for start/stop and speed selection were fully operational and easy to use. Additionally, cueing the tonearm when playing vinyl records was simple and straight-forward.

With the trio of cartridges, the Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo produced excellent sound in most cases. The Hana SL displayed the majority of its overachieving performance, as did the outstanding Hana Umami Red and the always first-rate Lyra Etna. The known differences and scaling of performance between the cartridges installed on the Acoustic Signature combo were apparent and observable.

If nitpicking, the one area where this vinyl playback combination held back the performance of all three cartridges was a wee bit of shaving off of the visceral force and impact of dynamic transients, particularly in the bottom octave. While other admirable performance characteristics in this area were on display, the Tornado Neo didn’t quite capture all that these cartridges are capable of delivering. Regardless, the Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo were generally well behaved and very enjoyable to listen to.

Mighty Sam McClain’s album titled Give It Up To Love (AQ-LP1015, AudioQuest Music LP; APB 1015, Analogue Productions LP) serves as a good example of the excellent playback of the Neo combo of Tornado and TA-2000. Both LPs played well and showed most of the power of the bass drum with bass guitar overlay, while both parts of Kevin Barry’s dual guitar playing on overlaid tracks were identifiable in their individual space, as selected at the mixing board for this multitrack, all-analog recording. The combo revealed McClain’s unique and identifiably soulful vocals with plenty of emotion, while the timing of all songs was spot on. Particularly, during the playback of “Too Proud” via either version of the LP listed above, the Acoustic Signature combo exhibited Bruce Katz’s Hammond B-3 organ saturating the soundstage in a steady and controlled, yet fully attention-capturing way. Riding on top of the organ were the sometimes penetratingly dynamic bluesy guitar licks and powerful, but slightly less-intense-than-usual drum whacks, which still sounded impressive.

The overall spatial presentation on both albums was very good in terms of in-room energy and instrumental clarity. By comparison, APB 1015 pressing showed its characteristic additional warmth and fuller lower register, while the AQ-LP1015 version displayed more clarity and transient speed, and greater openness. The Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo combo was capable of delivering the unique characteristics of the individual LPs, while staying true to the performance of the recorded material. Well done.

For a steadfast display of dynamic energy and the ability to unravel complex musical passages, Malcom Arnold’s overture to “Tam o’ Shanter” was selected from two different albums: Witches’ Brew (LSC-2225, Analogue Productions reissue) and Mephisto & Co. (RM-2510, Reference Recordings). The Overture to “Tam o’ Shanter” offers a thrill ride of full-on orchestral power with delicate instrumental details woven within the performance. The music and orchestration gives one a look into the ability of a vinyl playback system to transparently parse, focus, and portray intensity and delicacy, along with the potential emotional roller-coaster ride that is available with such performances. With a capable cartridge and phonostage, the Acoustic signature combo proved to be up to the task of satisfying all criteria.

Both album versions of this overture (different orchestras, conductors, locations, and recording equipment) had nearly identical overall timing, yet provided appropriately unique sound signatures when played back with the Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo. The Witches’ Brew LP had a more forward presentation with additional upper-midrange emphasis (think strings, woodwind, brass, and non-bass percussion), while maintaining excellent clarity and dynamic agility. Timing and pacing, as presented by the combo, were as good as expected and proved to be a conduit for a bundle of energy when called upon. The Mephisto & Co. version of “Tam o’ Shanter” presented additional fullness and power in the lower registers of all instruments (especially in the bass region), while maintaining the rhythmic pacing of the performance. Energy was excellent, tilting a good bit towards the lower register of any instrument used during reproduction. This contrast is normal for these recordings and consistent on any of the playback systems I have in-house. The Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo combo reproduced the expected differences in these performances with relative ease.

With an already solid construction supported by the Neo advancements that Acoustic Signature has implemented across the board on all products, the Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo provided near-exceptional performance in its price class along with countless hours of musical enjoyment.

Associated Equipment
Analog tape: Otari MTR-10 Studio Mastering (¼” 2-track) tape deck with custom Flux Magnetic Mastering Series repro head and secondary custom tube output stage, Studer A820 Studio Mastering (¼” 2-track) tape deck (x2), Studer A80VU MKII Studio Mastering (¼” 2-track) tape deck, Stellavox SP7 (¼” 2-track) tape deck with ABR large-reel adapter, ReVox G-36 (¼” 4-track) tape deck
Analog vinyl: Basis Audio Debut Vacuum with Synchro-Wave Power Supply, Basis Audio 2800 Vacuum ‘tables; Basis Audio SuperArm 9, Basis Audio Vector IV (x2), Graham Phantom III tonearms; Lyra Atlas, Lyra Atlas SL, Lyra Etna, Lyra Etna SL, Lyra Titan-i, van den Hul Colibri XGP, Hana SL, Hana Umami Red cartridges
Phonostage: The Raptor (custom), Ayre P-5xe, Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ w/Linear Charging Power Supply
Preamp: Dual Placette Audio Active linestage
Amp: Custom/modified solid-state monoblocks
Speaker: Vandersteen Model 3a Signature with dual 2Wq subwoofers and dual Sub Three subwoofers using M5-HPB high-pass filter
Cables: Assortment of AudioQuest, Shunyata, Tara Labs, Acoustic Research, Cardas, and custom cables.
Racks/accessories: Minus-K BM-1, Neuance shelf, Maple wood shelf, Symposium Ultra, Aurios Pro, Pneuance Audio, Walker Audio, Klaudio RCM, Kirmuss RCM, VPI RCM, Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic RCM
Room: 18′ x 8′ x 43′

Specs & Pricing
Tornado Neo
Type: Belt-driven turntable
Motor: AC synchronous
Drive system: RPM-regulated double-belt drive with speed fine adjustment for the sub-platter
Tonearm base: Up to 3 (one supplied)
Dimensions: 17.8″ x 6.26″ x 18.1″
Weight: 58.4 lbs.
Price: $7495

TA-2000 Neo
Type: 9″ tonearm
Pivot to Spindle Distance: 222mm
Effective length: 239.3mm
Effective mass: 9.6 grams
Price: $3495

ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE
AS-Distribution GmbH
Hillenbrand Strasse 10
73079 Suessen
Germany
+49 7162 207 97 0

Andre Jennings
UNITED PHOTO PRESS

22.6.20

Take a first look at the flagship Technics SL-1210GAE turntable "Limited Edition"



A new video shows the all-black Technics SL-1210GAE limited edition, 55th anniversary turntable, in all its glory.

Few things get us hot under the collar like a new Technics turntable. Last month Technics gave us the lowdown on a new limited edition, flagship record player, the SL-1210GAE, and now the company has given a first look at the deck in the flesh.

The video sees Bill Voss, the Technics Business Development Manager in the US, walk us through the product, giving us a better look at the new all-black design on this new 1210GAE model.
The turntable is a 55th anniversary, limited edition special, with only 1000 units set to be made available worldwide. Based on the SL-1200G, and following in the footsteps of the limited edition SL-1200GAE from 2016, the new SL-1210GAE has a 10mm-thick aluminium top panel complete with an anodized black brushed finish. The buttons and tonearm also have the same all-black finish.

As well as the all-black design, the GAE has a special badge with inscribed serial number, upgraded insulation and, for the first time, the European models will ship with a specially-tuned Nagaoka MM cartridge.
You can turn off the strobe light on the 1210GAE, a first for Technics, which Voss demonstrates in the video by holding the x2 pitch button for 5 seconds. 
He's also keen to show-off the high torque, holding his finger against the rotating platter while the motor corrects the speed to keep a constant rotation. 

Tipped to "sell out very quickly", the SL-1210GAE is due on sale this month, priced at €4719. You better speak to your friendly dealer sooner rather than later if you want to splash the cash. A little dear for your tastes? 

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