Soulution Debuts Linear Tracking Turntable With Moving Platter

[Neil.Antin]

only source material that one can play on this to hear the inherent advantages of great analog playback is limited to LPs from the Golden Age (~58-80).

This could be debated (tongue in cheek). But, when Doug Sax died, "..Acoustic Sounds’ CEO Chad Kassem has purchased The Mastering Lab (TML) from the estate of legendary mastering engineer Doug Sax." http://news.acousticsounds.com/post.cfm/acoustic-sounds-buys-legendary-vinyl-mastering-facility. So, Chad has the complete tube mixing panel that Doug Sax developed.

Also, some of the re-pressing of the older music such as https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/...n-This_Ones_For_Blanton-180_Gram_Vinyl_Record, are really very good, and in this particular case not terribly expensive.

Bernie Grundman can mix with a tube console, and keep it analog to the end, it's up to the customer. https://www.berniegrundmanmastering.com/equipment-technology.html.

Kevin Gary can mix/cut completely in analog, again, it's up to the customer - https://www.cohearent.com/our-system/.

Additionally, there has been quite a bit of work at bettering the vinyl composition that can challenge the benchmarks of say the legendary (and mysterious) JVC compound. So, there are examples of record being pressed today that can challenge the best of years past.

Curious enough, this new Solution 787 Turntable is not very big (~19"W x 18"D x 10"H) and it's not very heavy 36-kg (79-lbs). In comparison to many uber tables, it's downright svelte. So, interesting to see the roll-out and reviews and the price and see the community's overall reaction.

 

[BillK]

Maybe it's just me, but the attractiveness of ANY turntable, new or used, has to be put into perspective with the realization that the only source material that one can play on this to hear the inherent advantages of great analog playback is limited to LPs from the Golden Age (~58-80). For newer LPs particularly those produced using any digital process, why bother?

Total nonsense; the best sounding LPs in my collection were made in the last few decades.

This ignores the fact that even with digital recording and mastering, LP releases can often sound better than their digital counterparts because of a different mastering sensibility and the fact that quite often the master tapes aren't brick walled when an LP is mastered but are for the CD/digital release.

A well-known example of this was the Big Machine release of Taylor Swift's 1985 that was squashed into painful listening on the CD but was beautifully open and dynamic on LP.

 

[hb22]

Maybe it's just me, but the attractiveness of ANY turntable, new or used, has to be put into perspective with the realization that the only source material that one can play on this to hear the inherent advantages of great analog playback is limited to LPs from the Golden Age (~58-80). For newer LPs particularly those produced using any digital process, why bother?

In principle, I absolutely agree with you. However, I must say that we are still struggling with the production of turntables, primarily because to this day there has not been a system (turntable/tonearm/cartridge) that would be able to read and reproduce all the information that is written on an LP.....even on bad new LPs.

 

[mxk116]

Curious enough, this new Solution 787 Turntable is not very big (~19"W x 18"D x 10"H) and it's not very heavy 36-kg (79-lbs). In comparison to many uber tables, it's downright svelte. So, interesting to see the roll-out and reviews and the price and see the community's overall reaction.

I think that's more likely.

 

[bonzo75]

This could be debated (tongue in cheek). But, when Doug Sax died, "..Acoustic Sounds’ CEO Chad Kassem has purchased The Mastering Lab (TML) from the estate of legendary mastering engineer Doug Sax." http://news.acousticsounds.com/post.cfm/acoustic-sounds-buys-legendary-vinyl-mastering-facility. So, Chad has the complete tube mixing panel that Doug Sax developed.

Also, some of the re-pressing of the older music such as https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/...n-This_Ones_For_Blanton-180_Gram_Vinyl_Record, are really very good, and in this particular case not terribly expensive.

Bernie Grundman can mix with a tube console, and keep it analog to the end, it's up to the customer. https://www.berniegrundmanmastering.com/equipment-technology.html.

Kevin Gary can mix/cut completely in analog, again, it's up to the customer - https://www.cohearent.com/our-system/.

Additionally, there has been quite a bit of work at bettering the vinyl composition that can challenge the benchmarks of say the legendary (and mysterious) JVC compound. So, there are examples of record being pressed today that can challenge the best of years past.

Curious enough, this new Solution 787 Turntable is not very big (~19"W x 18"D x 10"H) and it's not very heavy 36-kg (79-lbs). In comparison to many uber tables, it's downright svelte. So, interesting to see the roll-out and reviews and the price and see the community's overall reaction.

Just having a tube console is not sufficient. ERC even has Ortofon Lyrec. Some of the classic records and BG recordings are quite superior to Analog productions or ERC, and ERC pales in comparison to originals except for their expensive packaging. Analog productions on the other hand send to be making good jazz reissues, just poor classical reissues. The engineer matters

 

[morricab]

Doesn’t center off center records…that unique achievement still belongs to Nakamichi.

 

[tima]

Maybe it's just me, but the attractiveness of ANY turntable, new or used, has to be put into perspective with the realization that the only source material that one can play on this to hear the inherent advantages of great analog playback is limited to LPs from the Golden Age (~58-80). For newer LPs particularly those produced using any digital process, why bother?

Nonetheless people still play 'those old records' (there are a lot of them) and enjoy doing so.

Have you heard any of the AAA The Original Source series from DG?

edit: to add that I am pleased to see any substantial effort at analog innovation -- it proves the continued viability of the hobby. Presumaby soulution believes there is a market for their new turntable.

 

[XV-1]

Total nonsense; the best sounding LPs in my collection were made in the last few decades.

This ignores the fact that even with digital recording and mastering, LP releases can often sound better than their digital counterparts because of a different mastering sensibility and the fact that quite often the master tapes aren't brick walled when an LP is mastered but are for the CD/digital release.

A well-known example of this was the Big Machine release of Taylor Swift's 1985 that was squashed into painful listening on the CD but was beautifully open and dynamic on LP.

Thank you for such a common sense response.

So many audiophiles live in the past and for whatever reason, don't buy new music. And a LOT of new music sounds fantastic on vinyl.

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you for such a common sense response.

So many audiophiles live in the past and for whatever reason, don't buy new music. And a LOT of new music sounds fantastic on vinyl.

Music that is new to you is different from new music. Both can be considered new.

 

[XV-1]

Music that is new to you is different from new music. Both can be considered new.

Ked, I am talking about new releases of the past 15 years, not 50, as was BillK.

 

[bonzo75]

Ked, I am talking about new releases of the past 15 years, not 50, as was BillK.

Doesn’t matter, if you have not heard all releases in 50, new to you is new to you. Exploring Beiber, Bonham, Bach can all be new. Doesn’t matter when they are released

 

[Neil.Antin]

Some of the classic records and BG recordings are quite superior to Analog productions or ERC, and ERC pales in comparison to originals except for their expensive packaging. Analog productions on the other hand send to be making good jazz reissues, just poor classical reissues. The engineer matters

There is obviously a loss of skill in the current engineers to work with classical music and that is a sign of the times as much as anything with the diminishing popularity of classical music. Personally, I am not a big listener of reproduced classical music (I do not the environment to do it justice); and instead focus more on attending live performances which I find much more satisfying.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Doesn’t center off center records…that unique achievement still belongs to Nakamichi.

and DS Audio,

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Maybe it's just me, but the attractiveness of ANY turntable, new or used, has to be put into perspective with the realization that the only source material that one can play on this to hear the inherent advantages of great analog playback is limited to LPs from the Golden Age (~58-80). For newer LPs particularly those produced using any digital process, why bother?

Marty,

4 years ago i bought a 3000 pressing classical collection. and turned out after cleaning and sampling each one, about 2400 were very good and had the magic from the pre-1980 Golden Age. was not cheap cheap, but not spendy per pressing either. if one is motivated the records are out there to support gear acquisition. and in the context of the cost of great digital, or even a new turntable, those records were chump change....under $15k including all the covers and sleaves and shelves. i do work cheap.

it did take a commitment and effort and maybe i got lucky. hard to say. you would have to enjoy early music and exploring the corners of classical. these were not the war horses or spendy one's for the most part. i've just made a small dent so far in the deeper listening dive, very delightful.

lack of excellent media does not need to be an excuse. OTOH maybe if one was focused on newer classical performances then doing great tip-top digital (of your choice) is the right way to go. hummmmm.

 

[morricab]

and DS Audio,

Not really the same thing…more detection than solution.

 

[Treehaus Audiolab]

Before the concept is dismissed, consider what is now available in industry. Here is a linear drive (motor) slide with a precision of <0.1-micron https://linear-slide.precision-motion-control.com/pdf/M511HD_Linear-Slide_Data_Sheet.pdf, and with a vertical range of 100-mm and vertical speed capability of 125-mm/sec. The pitch and yaw rating coverts to about 0.0014-degrees. So, the technology to move the platter with a fixed tonearm is available, and this is but one quick example that had some relatively easy to see concept and specifications.

The slide would have the benefit of being mostly enclosed, isolated from dust and other atmospheric debris that linear tonearms can be subject to, while being absent the complications of air bearings and compressor such as the Kuzma https://www.kuzma.si/air-line.html.

But it's an intriguing design that takes a fresh, novel, look at vinyl record playback. Will the design improve vinyl playback, that's the existential question.

Just some thoughts,

Agree. And the reality is, with so many gimmicky turntable "techs" out there, at least this one is kind of unique and offers something new.

Its also interesting that the tonearm on this table is not fixed like a linear arm, so it should be able to still follow inconsistencies if the vinyl is off-center at all.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Not really the same thing…more detection than solution.

it's a real solution, and you are not limited to any particular turntable. the downside is the effort each time. nothing i would ever do as my collection is too large and i play it too often to have it intrude on my experience. too much hassle. maybe if i owned and played 200 records then maybe it would be worth it. but i would not use the Nak tt either.

for very serious vinyl users the fix is worse than the issue.

 

[morricab]

it's a real solution, and you are not limited to any particular turntable. the downside is the effort each time. nothing i would ever do. too much hassle. but i would not use the Nak tt either.

for very serious vinyl users the fix is worse than the issue.

Only if the eccentricity is a bit of hole slop. A true off center pressing requires surgery and then slop adjustment.
I have never heard a TX1000 but they go for pretty big money. I heard that the cheaper Dragon TT is not great sounding but it was never intended to be SOTA.

 

[marty]

Marty,

4 years ago i bought a 3000 pressing classical collection. and turned out after cleaning and sampling each one, about 2400 were very good and had the magic from the pre-1980 Golden Age. was not cheap cheap, but not spendy per pressing either. if one is motivated the records are out there to support gear acquisition. and in the context of the cost of great digital, or even a new turntable, those records were chump change....under $15k including all the covers and sleaves and shelves. i do work cheap.

it did take a commitment and effort and maybe i got lucky. hard to say. you would have to enjoy early music and exploring the corners of classical. these were not the war horses or spendy one's for the most part. i've just made a small dent so far in the deeper listening dive, very delightful.

lack of excellent media does not need to be an excuse. OTOH maybe if one was focused on newer classical performances then doing great tip-top digital (of your choice) is the right way to go. hummmmm.

Mike, I understand your reasoning, but you have been collecting LPs for decades, long before the 3000 collection you acquired. I think TTs best serve those that already have a good LP library. And if they don't, as you said, there are certainly good used LP's available from Discogs, collectors, etc. The take away is that you have put in the work acquiring LPs you enjoy over decades, and then bumped it up when you bought the classical collection 4 years ago. All I am saying is that those buying any high performing TT today without the luxury of a good LP collection often don't realize the commensurate work required to find the material to play on their new rig.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike, I understand your reasoning, but you have been collecting LPs for decades, long before the 3000 collection you acquired. I think TTs best serve those that already have a good LP library. And if they don't, as you said, there are certainly goof used LP's available from Discogs, collectors, etc. The take away is that you have put in the work acquiring LPs you enjoy over decades, and then bumped it up when you bought the classical collection 4 years ago. All I am saying is that those buying any high performing TT today without the luxury of a good LP collection often don't realize the commensurate work required to find the material to play on their new rig.

mostly agree. it's much easier and common sense that collectors are more likely to add, than new collectors getting going.

but as baby boomers are going off to the great gig in the sky, there will be collections coming on market. there are billions of records out there to be acquired if one wants to. the records themselves are not going away.....and especially classical records are not getting worn out.

contact a your local estate auction house and let them know you are a buyer for such a thing. i bought that recent collection on ebay one morning on a lark.