T.H.E Show, Newport Beach, 2014 Turntables

It’s always a pleasure to see so many turntables on display at a show. The dark days of a dozen years ago when vinyl sales were flat and everyone was considering their ‘final vinyl’ option seem long past now, and the turntable maker’s art is greatly appreciated again. Newport Beach is perhaps not the prime location for showcasing new vinyl replay. Long may it continue to spin!

Here’s some of the best we saw at Newport Beach.

The AMG Viella V12, de coupled spindle, is a two piece construction.  It is unsuspended and weighs just under 57lbs. Heard here with an Ortofon  Cadenza Bronze cartridge.

The Grand Prix Audio Monaco Turntable was coupled with dCS electronics and VTL amps, along with Wilson loudspeakers and Grand Prix Audio system supports and stands. This was truly a force to be reckoned with.

Where do we begin? Brinkmann turntable, Kuzma and Graham arms, Benz cartridges, all on a HRS platform, with every kind of tweak, cleaner, and cartridge demagnetiser imaginable. The CDs were there for ballast. It sounded good though!

Merrill Williams REAL 101, now in revised livery, is fast becoming a popular choice among vinylistas and analogue aficionados; this has an Energy Management Design, and looks and sounds great.

Basis is always a popular choice among American show-goers, although the brand has never found solid footing in the UK, which is a great shame.

This Pear Audio Blue – Kid Thomas Turntable with Pear Audio Blue – Cornet 2 Tonearm, coupled with an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze Cartridge, was very impressive.  The Lehman Decade phonostage at $2,099 complemented the set up very well.  My sources tell me that there is a new entry level model on the way, which will have a promotional price of around $2,995. Be on the look out for this!

The Transrotor Orfeo Table, with just one motor and arm here (can handle three of each); in this case, a Triplanar Mk VII.

VPI has subtly changed the Classic line of turntables recently, moving the motor position and making a bigger, bolder top-plate statement. In the process keeping it more in line with the new Direct Drive flagship.