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$12K Laser turntable vs $12k hi-fi turntable?

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I just read up on the ELP laser turntable. They have a model for $12k that plays 33&45 rpm records. You already know the skinny on laser tables that there is no contact with the lp. The question here is that will that same $12k put into a conventional table, arm and cartridge outperform its laser counterpart. I rarely see laser tables mentioned here. With their cost within the range of some conventional turntable setups, why don't we see more of them on Audiogon? Are they musical? I hear that they are very accurate.
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128x128mitch4t
mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 
it's been 4 or 5 years since i heard an ELP turntable, so it's possible they've been improved. but at that time they had 2 major problems.

--any slight dust or dirt sounded like a gunshot (slight exageration).

--there was a 'veil' of mist over the music that seemed to take away the vividness and immediacey.

it was very detailed.

i could not live with what it sounded like.

in theory it could be good. maybe with 10 years of development the problems could be solved. but it was not ready for prime time when i heard it.
lewm
13,016 posts
 
Mitch, From the tenor of your post, it would appear that you think there are a whole class of laser turntables. Not so. There is ELP and only ELP, as far as I know. Given the cost ($12K must be for their low end model; the top line one costs much more, AFAIK) and their idiosyncracies as touched upon by Mike, you would not expect to see many for sale anywhere. It's nice that the product exists, but it has not really caught on so far. Meantime, $12K can purchase a very high end conventional turntable, tonearm, and cartridge, especially in the second hand market.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,610 posts
 
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Yeah, $12k is the entry level unit, $18k for the flagship model. I saw an $8k Koetsu cartridge here on Audiogon and I started to wonder why audiophiles aren't lining up to get a laser table.

I guess in theory, a laser table sounds like a great idea. In reality, I guess it doesn't measure up to conventional high-end table setups.
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rauliruegas
13,050 posts
 
Dear Mitch4t: ++++++ " and I started to wonder why audiophiles aren't lining up to get a laser table.

I guess in theory, a laser table sounds like a great idea ..." +++++

I have no doubt is a great idea and between other things is great because everything happen in the analog domain.

IMHO the main subject why we can't see it " everywhere " is because we analog advocates/customers are really not aware of its today quality performance against a top other analog rig.
Not only we are not aware of it, we almost don't know nothing in the subject an almost never think on that ELP laser turntable and we almost can't read about on audio magazynes.

Maybe is time to " worry " about, who knows till we heard today in our system we can be aware of its real quality performance, advantages and disadvantages.

Who say I?.

http://www.audioturntable.com/

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
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