turntables

Wow. When we first saw this photo on Akihabara News, it felt as if we'd fallen into a time machine. This system looks exactly like a Panasonic stereo we had in 1985.

Yet the "Faltima 010" is indeed a new product, though it does have a distinctly retro-looking built-in turntable on top of the stack. But unlike the all-in-one compact units of the past, this one is self-contained to make it easier to convert tunes from vinyl to CDs, MP3s or pretty much any digital format you wish. (Sorry, there's no 8-track slot so far as … Read more

Just when we were about to begin a self-imposed moratorium on highest-end turntables, along comes another one that we simply can't resist.

The luxury edition of the "AAS-Gabriel" from Switzerland's Da Vinci Audio Labs looks more like fine porcelain than a piece of entertainment equipment, accented with 24-karat gold plate. As for its technical performance, Technabob offers this explanation: "The turntable is designed to produce absolutely zero noise or vibration, and goes so far as to completely isolate the pick-up arm from the rest of the player."

Makes sense to us, though that's … Read more

Are you the kind of person who delicately dismantles expensive electronics? I know, sorta scary--you don't want to risk not being able to put it back together, and once you crack the case, your warranty's all over. TechRepublic understands. They're impatient hardware types who can't stand not knowing how stuff works. You can check their site for the "Cracking Open" series, where folks go to get their circuitry-related jollies.

Computer guts make for great photography, too. Watch and learn as TechRepublic dives into the innards of the Ion USB vinyl-to-MP3 turntable over on our … Read more

Puma sweats? Check. Adidas shell toes? Check. Kangol? Check. But you still need a watch to keep yourself on point and on time.

The Stamps Disco record turntable watch is a perfect fit for b-boys and vinyl aficionados, offering a miniature turntable as its face. You can also swap in a disco-ball-themed faceplate, but the turntable looks doper.

The $55 watch is available online through Urban Outfitters.

In a perfect world, the watch would actually play miniature records, but unfortunately, the face is just for show. But what a sweet show it is.

[Via Retro To Go]

Hint: It's not a kitchen appliance. Another hint: It's not military equipment. And it's not both.

If you guessed turntable, you're either a true audio aficionado or a cheater. We thought it was some kind of high-tech meat slicer.

Modestly dubbed the "Work of Art" by Basis Audio, the player in question boasts a list of technical specs as long as long as the title track of "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes. Among its many attributes is an anti-vibrational technology called a "Resonance Annihilator," which makes us think that … Read more

In the esoteric world of turntables, it sometimes seems that the most complicated assemblies are the most valued. That was certainly the case, for instance, with the "Transrotor Artus"--a $150,000, 485-pound beast.

Few have approached that in either price or gross tonnage, but a vintage "Gale GT2101" now being auctioned on eBay is no slouch either as far as moving parts are concerned. This 1975 model looks more like a finely tuned laboratory instrument than a vinyl spinner, not unlike some retro-style tube devices we've seen recently.

No matter how well this turntable … Read more

My review of the Stanton T.90 USB turntable has officially posted on CNET.com, and unfortunately it's time to send the T.90 back. I'll be sad to see it go, but honestly, I'm happy to have some desk space again. It's a very fun turntable, and it surpassed my expectations (though I still want a Numark TTX). When all is said and done, the best thing I gained from this review was the opportunity to archive some of my vinyl collection. I even went the extra step and added album cover art into iTunes. … Read more

Turntable manufacturer Stanton recently announced its new T.90 high-torque turntable with built-in USB and S/PDIF digital outputs. Even if you're not an aspiring DJ scratch battle champion, the ability to record your vinyl collection directly into a computer is big convenience. While USB-capable turntables such as the Numark TTUSB have been around for a while, the Stanton T.90 is the first to include features that today's DJ really want, namely digital key locking (the ability to change a song's tempo without changing pitch) and a high-torque direct drive motor that puts an unholy amount … Read more

Listen up, bargain-hunting audiophiles: There's been a major price reduction in a high-quality turntable from Japan's ELP. Its flagship product, the "Laser Turntable," is being marked down by more than 30 percent. How much is that, you say? Details, details. OK, the bargain-basement price is a mere $9,900 or $14,000, depending on which model you choose.

Before you close your browser, you should know that this turntable not only offers superior sound quality for records in good condition, but it also plays vinyl discs that have been badly worn down or even warped. "… Read more