Most beautiful turntable under $5k
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but thought this might be a fun topic. Obviously the most important thing about audio gear is how it sounds, but I find some of it truly beautiful to look at too, particularly turntables, which almost by necessity are best placed somewhere on display. Some days I love the simplicity of something like the Clearaudio Concept Wood (particularly the dark wood)….other days the “audio jewelry” appearance of EAT or VPI. My personal vote, however, would go to the Gold Note Pianosa. For me it has a timeless beauty and elegance that’s never over the top. I can’t imagine ever tiring of looking at in and think it would look great with a wide array of decor.
What would be your personal choice for most beautiful turntable under $5k? What about cost-no-object options?
I remember wanting to get a 'statement piece' for my final turntable...but I had such a great ownership experience with my original Technics 1200mk2 that I decided to double down and get a 1200G. It's more beautiful and sophisticated in person than photos can express. I know I will never need to worry about it ever. That's beautiful to me.
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Funk Firm Sapphire or Vector. Form follows function. |
On the polar opposite: Mag Lev ML-1:
I had one to try for couple of months. Utter beauty to see that levitating platter in action. ...but plain annoying operation (super-slow star- and slowdown times) and sonically not as pleasing, you could hear nearly 1/5th of note variation (wow/flutter) by ear on loud sections and relatively noisy at low level sections, especially in loud environment. But boy, it’s a work of art in it’s phisics-curiosity looks when it plays :)
(For comparison 1200G is like a blitz fast rock solid table, utter simplicity and ease of use, class-leading stability and silent as a church mouse even in open-air festival-amplification sound levels and those who ask: for me actually more beautiful in that silver!) |
