Esoteric Grandioso T1 Turntable

Audire

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Jan 18, 2019
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There’s a new turntable out -

Esoteric Grandioso T1 Turntable​

More pics here: Esoteric T1 - http://www.avcat.jp/main/avnews/2021/11/04/esoteric??-???????-grandioso-t1-????/


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But I thought vinyl has been dead for 38 years?
 
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Great looking turntable. Probably a bit heavy for my wall shelf unfortunately
 
Goodbye shelf...and likely goodbye wall.
 
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for some reason the Esoteric table reminds me of the Kondo table. This is a better colour and finish


Kondo Audio Note Ginga Belt Drive Turntable w/SME 312 Tonearm analog hifi |  Audiophile turntable, Turntable, Hifi turntable
 
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Final production version is published. T1 now has the more distinct Grandioso aesthetic, external power supply, and 10 Mhz master clock input to syncronize the MagneDrive speed. Price unknown.
 
Do I see a gear drive system for the platter?
 
The drive system is magnetic coupling. There is no physical connection between the motor and the platter.
 
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$75k to incl arm, I believe.
 
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$75k to incl arm, I believe.
I get that engineering costs and limited volume drive prices higher. But some of these top end tables are getting way up there...

That said, it's great to see a new drive system concept. I know others have tried magnetic drive, but Esoteric's implementation looks new to me. And it maybe the first table I've seen that a master clock helps it!
 
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J, you can be sure the next Monaco likely pushes into this price bracket.
 
I get that engineering costs and limited volume drive prices higher. But some of these top end tables are getting way up there...

That said, it's great to see a new drive system concept. I know others have tried magnetic drive, but Esoteric's implementation looks new to me. And it maybe the first table I've seen that a master clock helps it!

Not so new, Kodo the Beat has magnetic drive topology. So did the older Teres Certus turntables.
Btw the Esoteric turntable looks great and I also like the drive system choice, not very common so a breath of fresh air (albeit a very expensive one). The possibility to use an external Esoteric master clock looks like a great idea IMO and AFAIK no other turntable offers that possibility.
 
Esoteric's magnetic drive is a concept not shared by others that use the terminology "magnetic drive". Kodo, Teres, Technics, Grand Prix Audio or any other direct drive turntable use magnetics as part of the motors. The difference is Esoteric has the motor outboard of the platter turning it almost like a rim dive concept using magnetics. That is what I see in their photo. Everyone else is a direct drive and the spindle is essentially the motor armature.
 
Esoteric's magnetic drive is a concept not shared by others that use the terminology "magnetic drive". Kodo, Teres, Technics, Grand Prix Audio or any other direct drive turntable use magnetics as part of the motors. The difference is Esoteric has the motor outboard of the platter turning it almost like a rim dive concept using magnetics. That is what I see in their photo. Everyone else is a direct drive and the spindle is essentially the motor armature.

Indeed it is a new concept. If you watch the Fremer vid on Analog Planet on Munich 2022 it is explained.
 
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