High End Fully Automatic Turntable

[John]

After many years without a turntable, I've decided I want to add all tube 2 ch gear and turntable to my system..I see many fully automatic tables under $200..
I can't seem to find one in high end, which seems really unusal to me as this is a nice feature to have and they should be able to include this without any comprimise in performance. Can anyone point me to a company that makes high end fully automatic tables?

John

 

[mtemur]

There is none that I know of. Convenience is the enemy of quality vinyl placback.

 

[twitch]

John, surely you jest ...........

 

[John]

There is none that I know of. Convenience is the enemy of quality vinyl placback.

This truly surprises me - of all the many TT manufacturers , you would think someone would offer this simply as a way to differentiate their products..

I will take a serious look at the ELP laser table...

 

[jeromelang]

Welcome to the club

 

[John]

I've read some reviews and most speak highly of the unit...

Any regrets Jerome? how long have you owned it and has it ever had to go back to Japan for a repair?

 

[jeromelang]

in 2012 I bought it, together with 2 other friends.
we travelled to Japan to the ELP factory to listen to them with the view to buy a unit each if the sound is satisfactory.
we were welcomed by Mr Chiba to the sound demo room where he demonstrated 2 models - standard and hi-res model.
all 3 of us ordered 1 unit each upon return.
i ordered the hi-res version, while my 2 friends ordered the standard version.

all 3 units were delivered to me first, so that i can do a check of all their operations for my friends.
i tested the standard unit first for Richard, who owns a CD/vinyl store. he intended to use it to make non-destructive demos of vinyl.
the other friend, johnson, the lucky fellow, he got sent a hi-res model by mistake.
(chiba informed us by email, but he did not asked for the extra payment).
i next tested the hi-res unit that was designated to me.
it worked and sounded perfect. (sounded much better than the standard model)
i then tested the unit for johnson. about a week into the test, suddenly, while it was playing a record halfway, i heard a loud pop.
i took the record out to inspect whether was there any debris on the vinyl surface and couldn't really see any.
i put back the record and it wouldn't be played anymore.
in the end we had to send it back to Chiba to check it.
i gave my original unit to Johnson and waited for the other to be repaired and returned to me.
it had performed well ever since.

sometime around 2021 while shifting the unit to another room, i accidentally knocked it on the wooden audio rack.
it refused to play any disk afterwards.
in 2023 i sent the unit to Japan to get it repaired and upgraded to the LT-Master version.
That was when i was told Mr Chiba had "disappeared" in 2016.
His heir ( a nephew) now in charge of the company allowed me to trade in and get a brand new LT-Master unit.
It operated perfectly. Actually better - in the sense that when doing the disk calibration, the whole process is smoother.
the sound is better too.
i couldn't be happier.

just 2 months ago, after more than a year, while playing, i heard a loud "pop" sound.
when i tried to play the disk again, i found the sound somehow "different"
i tried to re-calibrate it but the "different" sound stayed the same.
over next few weeks i tried re-calibration each time after playing some disks, but it just doesn't sound like how I originally received it.
there seems to be some distortion creeping in progressively.
i think i might have to send it in again.

despite these problems, overall, i think i have no regrets having the 2 ELP turntables.
they have given great sound performances time and time again with a wide variety of music genres.
i have encountered some disks that cannot be read properly - like all 3 copies of the OST From Dusk Till Dawn (MOV pressing)
and coloured vinyl of course.
the later mofi 1step records starting from Simon/Garfunkle Sounds of Silence (semi translucent) cannot be read.
Mofi Santana Abraxas 1step is ok.

if you ask me now would i buy the ELP player again - my answer is YES.

 

[spiritofmusic]

The Wilson Benesch GMT One should suit your needs, a snip at £300k

 

[John]

Thanks for your feedback Jerome..I received their email and will definately buy their latest Master unit..

That GMT is stunning! if it were $70K us vs $370K I would get one..

 

[jeromelang]

I know a couple of special tricks that can expand the ELP laser turntable soundstaging twice the size (its original size actually), and also making it sound even more dynamic and musical - closer to live music.

Free.

 

[John]

I know a couple of special tricks that can expand the ELP laser turntable soundstaging twice the size (its original size actually), and also making it sound even more dynamic and musical - closer to live music.

Free.

Hi Jerome - My ELP finally arrived - my initial impression is that I'm not happy with it - despite having a circuit to reduce surface noise, I'm convinced this unit magnifies the crackling especially between tracks. This is even with brand new LP's that have never been played. My cleaning machine has not arrived and I hope ultrasonc cleaning will get rid of most of the noise.

 

[jeromelang]

May I suggest you hold on playing any records on the ELP till you've received your record cleaner and done some cleaning cycles?

I never play any record without a wet clean first, even on my technics 1200, the Bergmann modi/thor turntable, let alone on the ELP.

It's all about the sound.

Wet cleaning does something to the sound of the record, even if it doesn't succeed in removing any of the dirt.

I alternate between tap water and distilled water as the final rinse to condition the record to the "sound" that i want.

No vacuum dry. No wiping dry with fabrics materials. Only spray water and spin dry (totally contact-less).

 

[jeromelang]

While i have a ultrasonic cleaner, I still use the spinner box as the final rinser/conditioner. On days when I feel lazy, if the record is clean (cleaned the day before) i'll just spray water and spin dry.

I'm kinda addicted to the wet-clean/contactless/spun-dried sound, regardless of the type of turntable, laser or needle.

 

[Gregm]

After many years without a turntable, I've decided I want to add all tube 2 ch gear and turntable to my system..I see many fully automatic tables under $200..
I can't seem to find one in high end, which seems really unusal to me as this is a nice feature to have and they should be able to include this without any comprimise in performance. Can anyone point me to a company that makes high end fully automatic tables?

John

have you considered the Goldmund ref TT? It's a vintage solution but an outstanding device, probably the best TT by far in its time and excellent overall. It's auto and, IIRC, remote controlled as well.

 

[mtemur]

Hi Jerome - My ELP finally arrived - my initial impression is that I'm not happy with it - despite having a circuit to reduce surface noise, I'm convinced this unit magnifies the crackling especially between tracks. This is even with brand new LP's that have never been played. My cleaning machine has not arrived and I hope ultrasonc cleaning will get rid of most of the noise.

Apart from its sound signature the ticks and crackles you’re hearing is most probably related with dust and therefore static electricity. ELP is known to be very sensitive to dust particles on the record but performs well with scratches. It even plays a broken record according to demonstrations.
Dust is attracted by static charge on the record. It’s important to remove that static by wet cleaning using de-ionized water, especially the new records. Alternatively you can try using Gruv Glide to eliminate static.