New Vinyl Playback Technology

I can't comment on how the laser turntable compares to the traditional high end tables but it is a lot better than my B&O 4002 model with either a EN-20 or CE-20 cartridge. I have only had it a week but can say that most of the opinions regarding the level of cleanliness of the record are overstated. You do need to clean your records but is spending a minute or two to clean a record that bad (many of my albums sure needed a cleaning). This was a major purchase for me and I spent nearly 2 years tracking down owners and getting their opinions (I did not find any that were not satisfied). I think it is a wonderful technology and deserves consideration. I hope Mr Chiba has success at the CES although this is a uphill battle when much of the younger population believes a 128K MP3 file is a quality recording. Have fun, Rick

Does it do a a/d conversion? Trying to imagine how the laser gets the signal to the phono amp or does it go straight to the preamp....

No A/D conversion. The laser reads groove modulations and generates an analog electrical signal which is RIAA equalized and boosted to line level at the outputs. No seperate phono stage needed, just a line level pre.

Also remember, this turntable only can play a black vinyl
record. At the Stereophile show a couple of years ago I picked up a Richard Thompson double album, The Best of the Capitol Years. Great collection, clear vinyl. For 11K I certinally would not want ANY limitations. If you have the bucks & like gadgets, go for it, but as far as wearing out a record, if properly set up, I should live that long.