2. analog
  3. 169429-486

3 New UBER Decks - Is this Turntable's SwanSong? 🦢

Michael Fremer has recently reviewed three new turntables designed to be the 'Last Word', 'Cost no Object' STATEMENTS!!!!........Do I recall hearing this claim before??
I love Mikey and have followed (and trusted) him for decades.
He has been the longest and foremost published 'champion' of the superiority of vinyl (uber alles) in the world.
I am thus ecstatic that he has been able to listen and compare these decks in his own room, with his own equipment virtually side-by-side
It's almost a 'given' that he will be the ONLY person on earth given that privilege....

So what Mikey HEARS.....is indisputable

Given his 'character' and desire for accuracy and honesty.....years ago, Mikey started including some 'objective' measurements in his turntable reviews.
These measurements were done utilising the Dr Feikert PlatterSpeed App which has since been discontinued.
As the App only worked with the Mac iOS of many variations ago.....Mikey has kept an old iPhone which can still operate the App.
The PlatterSpeed App had a few technical limitations.....
Foremost amongst these, was its dependence on a 7" record with an embedded 3150 Hz Frequency track to produce a test-tone which the App could process through its algorithm to produce the graphs and all the corresponding numbers.
To stamp hundreds of 7" discs with perfectly 'centred' HOLES is a nigh impossibility.
It's almost impossible to do it with a 12" disc!!!

This means that ALL the figures produced in their Chart Info are dubious and mostly UNREPEATABLE!!!!
I have Chart Infos for the same turntable/arm combination but with the 7" disc moved slightly producing different figures.
I even have Chart Infos produced with the same turntable but different arms ALL with different figures (the arms are in different positions surrounding my TURNTABLE).

So what is my point......?
The GRAPH produced with the PlatterSpeed App is accurate and USEABLE when looking at the 'Green' Lowpass-Filtered Frequency.
If the hole was PERFECTLY centred.....this 'Green' line would be perfectly STRAIGHT......but only if the turntable was maintaining its speed PERFECTLY.
The wobbles in the 'Green' line are due to the hole's eccentricity as well as any speed aberrations.
So the best performing turntables are those with the most constant and even wobbles approaching as closely as possible a STRAIGHT LINE.

Now the SAT Direct Drive Motor is actually the same as Technics developed for their latest SL-1000R except with some bespoke modifications.
It appears that SAT have corrupted what is a very good DD Motor unit....🥴

Mikey says that the OMA-K3 produced the best PlatterApp figures of any turntable he has tested 👏
Does this mean that the OMA-K3 is the most accurate turntable of these three decks.....or maybe of ALL turntables?

Mikey can't (and won't) test and review products from the past which are no longer produced because that's not his job!
But wouldn't it be great if someone WOULD review products from the past against the modern equivalent?
Classic turntables with reputations....gravitas...like the legendary EMT 927 and Micro Seiki SX-5000 and SX-8000.
And what about the NOW lauded Japanese DD Turntables from the '80s...the 'Golden Age' of Analogue?
  • Technics SP-10Mk3
  • Kenwood L-07D
  • Pioneer P3
  • Victor TT-101
  • Yamaha GT-2000
Because we know that Direct Drive is now 'Flavour of the Month' for the new Uber Decks due to their superior speed accuracy....a 'Flavour' that started with the legendary Rockport Sirius III.
But what about Belt-Drive units like my 20 year-old Raven?
So much for science and technology.......

We can do things today that were only dreamt of even 10 years ago
Except learn from history, harvest experience, expertise and craftsmanship......

Here endeth the Sermon for today 🤗


halcro
rauliruegas
13,129 posts
 
Dear @sensesundertime : ""  It should be self evident that when 3, $250k (approx) turntables sound different, even to somewhat causal listeners, that turntable and vinyl long ago had their swan song and they are nothing but flawed but lovable relics.  ".

Not exactly  but you are rigth. I like the analog alternative and I like too the digital one. So I know for sure its main differences.

The analog alternative is far away to be not only perfect but near perfect and yes is flawed/imperfect alternative and even that I like it.

It's so imperfect that not only those 3 TTs " sounds "/performs different but you can't find out two TT that " sounds " the same. So what?

Yes, digital is accurated and puts all nearer to the recording: good and again: so what?

I like both.

R.


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daveyf's avatar
daveyf
3,086 posts
 
Why is it that these digital vs analog arguments are so prevalent? IMHO, there is room for both formats. Each one has its own benefits and detriments. No wrong, no right. BUT I am very pleased that both are available. IME, Analog sounds better, but it depends on a number of variables.
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chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
It’s hard pill to swallow, one that I did long ago but which many audiophiles may never. You may love your turntable sound but recognize you love the flaws. It’s okay.


In reality you don't have to buy even a $10k turntable to enjoy analog records, do not try to justify a $300k turntable made for a small niche of people, it has nothing to do with a real world of music lovers, record collectors, audio enthusiasts.

Most of the greatest records were made a long time before digital was invented. You can enjoy all of them in digital format (we do, actually), but it will never be an original format, those records made in analog over 45 years ago. If you're ok to replace original (analog) with digital copy from the analog then you can do the same with art for example? Just make a digital copy to pretend you own something unique, but It's only an illusion.  
There is a different philosophy behind record collection, you can't replace it with digital illusion (except for music made in digital format from the start).

You post is like saying: "I'm smart, I listen to a perfect digital. You are fools, but it's ok if you're listening to a faulty media formats - old analog records". 

Who cares? 

In fact, each time I read a statement like this I'm sure a poster does not understand why vinyl is a long life media format. Definitely not because of the small group of people who can buy $300k turntables, not even because of the audiophiles in general.  

 



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