ELP Laser Turntable & Trickle Down

Several CESs ago, I heard a demonstration of the Elp versus master tapes and another quality tt. They had bought a quality tape and made a record of it and had several copies. We compared the master tape, the record on the Elp and on another tt. The Elp was clearly superior to the other table, which unfortunately I cannot name. Interestingly many thought the Elp was superior to the master tape.

About that time there were several reviews of the laser table which were curious, most were impressed but reserved. I explored buying one and found several for sale. In conversations with those selling, they too liked the table but were reserved.

Frankly I cannot decide what is going on. Does the Laser show the limitations of vinyl by being too accurate? Is there something about it that grows tiring? When I heard the first prototype probably 25 years ago when CES was still in Chicago, I was shocked by it- until it hit some dirt in the grooves. I thought if they could solve this problem, there would be no other tt sold. They seem to have largely solved this problem by thorough cleaning, but still it has not taken over. Perhaps it is just too accurate.

Vanmeter suggests that music preferences and the nature of how these records are done might make accuracy a liability. I wonder if anyone into classical music has an Elp.

I'm curious; what style/genre of music did they use?

Vanmeter, I assume you are talking about the demo at CES. It was classical.

Interestingly, it was the promise of this TT that got me back "into" audio. After college, I usually had some good sounding consumer gear, Kenwood seperates, Rotel reciever, Phillips, garrard, Dual TT, and the like.) Around 1985, I picked up a copy of Stereophile or Absolute Sounds at this newstand on W8th St in NY (or thereabouts) and read about this new laser TT technology. I was so fascinated that I started to read Sphile and AS semi-regularly to get updates about the "soon-come" availability of this cool device. Of course, I didnt realize at the time it would cost $10K - but by the time I did, I was re-hooked on other aspects of Hi-Fi-dom. Namely, vinyl and single ended.

This stroll down memory lane brought to you by:

Mike :)

I guess I just don't get it... of course, I've never heard one so I may just be an idiot with an unfounded opinion.

Is record wear really that big of a concern anymore? I know I don't concern myself with it. Advances in stylus geometry have come a long way in the last 20 years. With a properly aligned micro-ridge stylus like the one on my Dynavector 20XL, I don't think about it a bit!

Another part of me, perhaps naively, sees this as too much a part of the digital realm... it's certainly not "pure analog" the ELP is pulling. If I want high-rez digital, there are other, cheaper options.

For $10k I can put together one hell of a proper traditional analog rig.