With demand for analog records surging in recent years, it comes as little surprise that some of the original turntable manufacturers have been coming out of the woodwork to refine their products for a new generation.
Yesterday, Panasonic unveiled a prototype of the Technics SP-10R, a direct-drive turntable with the world’s highest-level S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio and rotational stability—with plans to put this masterful piece of engineering into production for a summer 2018 commercial release. Yes—this piece of audiophile kit will most certainly cost you an arm and a leg.
In 2015, the 50th anniversary of the Technics brand, Panasonic took on the challenge to combine traditional analog technology with cutting-edge digital technologies to appeal to younger people who are accustomed to digital products. Since then, the company has released two lower-end models to high acclaim—the SL-1200GAE/G, released in 2016, and the SL-1200GR, released in 2017.
Starting with a core-less direct-drive motor, the list of specs on the Technics SP-10R beast only grows more impressive and is sure to make any audiophile salivate—including a three-layer 7 kg platter manufactured from brass for more dead-stable rotation and a newly-developed, ultra-low-noise power supply that lives separate from the main unit.
For the average vinyl listener, these features likely mean next to nothing—but for the select few out there who are happy to fork over five-figures for an audio setup, this is a beautiful piece of kit. That said, no pricing details have been released yet.
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