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WCES 98


   Analogue is alive and thriving even as DVD starts hitting the shelves at stores! Music... the vinyl frontier. These are the voyages that brings me much joy in my life.


Oracle Turntable      Oracle is showing their newly updated MK V version of their turntable. A new record coupling system via a specially designed center record clamp is claimed to have little to no resonance. This helps to enhance music reproduction while keeping the vinyl firmly on the platter. Also new is a better, highly sophisticated dampening system. This new system uses seven different mechanical filters working in concert to lower floor borne resonances. A massive 8 lb. platter is employed while a unique bearing which uses six precision surfaced nylon set-screws. A special low voltage AC German made synchronous motor rotates the turntable. A special high performance power line conditioner is also available for an extra fee. Prices of the turntable is $3,100 for the clear acrylic base whereas the granite base will set cha back $3,400.


Pink Triangle
     Pink Triangle had this really cool lookin' turntable. DARN, i have the photo but lost their literature :-{(+ . If my brain is working correctly is includes the Rega 300 tonearm, is very easy to setup and retails for about $1,100. It looked, like, totally killer.
Wilson Benesch Circle      Wilson Benesch had their new Full Circle turntable playing some groovy music. This turntable is a modular design for ease of upgrading, yet is of a simple yet effective design. Included with this table is Wilson Benesch's a.c.t. 0.5 tonearm and PLY cartridge (more on this later). Pricing is $3,805.

      They were also showing the a.c.t. 0.5 tonearm ($1,495) which uses a curved carbon fiber tonearm, kinetmatic bearing, and unique counterbalance arrangement. The PLY cartridge is a derivative of the Matrix cartridge (Wilson Benesch version of the Benz Glider). This cartridge is only sold as part of the Full Circle package. It uses a nude elliptic diamond, solid boron cantilever, pure iron coil former, copper coil wires, and a solid woven carbon fiber body. The cartridge's output is rated at 1.58mv with a frequency response from 10 Hz - 50 kHz. Recommended tracking force is about 1.9 grams.

 

Clearaudio Evolution Turntable      Clearaudio has just announced a new, tasty, yummy, ab-so-amazing-lutely new user friendly turntable/arm/cartridge package. The Evolution Turntable features a synchronous motor mounted in a massive brass housing. A linear tracking arm which rides on precision bearings is held on this really cool Plexiglas arm holder thingy that slowly goes down towards the record. Then you flip this little level to lower the included, yes, included MM cartridge. An inverted bearing is used for the platter. It's also belt driven and can play at 33 1/3 and 45 rpm. Clearaudio has eschewed any suspension in favor of creative geometric designs and heavy-duty spiked feet. The output from the cartridge goes to antimagnetic gold plated RCAs. All i can say is that i drooled, drooled some more, begged for one. Priced at $2,500 it's a very high quality drop and go solution for those who've always wanted turntable with a liner tracking arm.

     Thorens is introducing the MK II version of their TD 295 turntable. This $999 table can play at 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm. whereas the older version could only play at the standard two speeds. This belt driven unit uses a a 24-pole synchronous motor with their 8" TP40 tonearm. It comes in many lacquered finishes such as while, black, walnut and rosewood. The anti-skating is achieved by a weight on a string and includes a solid acrylic base on pedestal made of medium density fiberboard (MDF). Wow and flutter are rated at <0.04% and the rumble is rated at >70db.

     Audio Note was showing their IQ-1 and IQ-2 cartridges. These are copper wired MM units that use a removable stylus and a very solid synthetic body with the screw threading on the body of the cartridge itself. The only difference between the IQ-1 and IQ-2 is the cutting of the diamond stylus. In other words you can buy an IQ-1 and upgrade it to an IQ-2 when funds permit simply by getting the IQ-2 stylus! The IQ-1 retails at $200 whereas the IQ-2 costs $300. Also just told to me was the plans for the IQ-3 which will use silver wire, titanium cantilever and will also be an MM cartridge like the lower models. Price for the IQ-3, approximately $400.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
 

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