ELP Laser Turntable & Trickle Down

Trickle down requires production scale benefits (scale which inspires
competition, usually). I don't think we have come near that scale. I can count on
very few hands the number of times I have seen units for sale. As for the
number of people I know personally who have bought one, that I can count on
no fingers (though that's probably just sample issues).

I've only read one article about these in a hi-fi mag awhile back so I'm not so sure they are as well known as you claim. At about $10k, I don't see them catching mass appeal anytime soon. They were supposed to be the replacement for conventional turntables in the 80's but the CD came along and swept them into obscurity. However, with the resurgence of the vinyl market, there may be hope yet.

I really have been thinking about selling mine...frankly, I don't use it much at all now that the new has worn off (had it about two years). I just hesitate in today's economy, even though I don't expect to get full price out of it.

there is something nostalgic in regard to a conventional turntable. watching a record spin...watching tubes glowing, and watching drivers moving has an incredible effect on people. even a top loading cd player has a nostagia factor. the greatest technology often surrenders to the 'i just like it' factor.

I've used my Technics more than my ELP...for the kind of music I listen to, it's just more transparent. My ELP - and it's been back to Japan to be serviced once - distorts on hot-cut cymbal crashes, vocal sibilants, etc., and the company suggested that that's probably the way the records are cut and the ELP just shows them for what they are (which makes sense to me). However, as somebody who listens to a lot of old pop, rock and R&B, closely-miked things that often are cut pretty loud, in this case the conventional table is clearly the choice. I would suspect that for somebody who was into classical or such it might be revelatory.