Date:         Tue, 26 Apr 2005 17:42:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         steven austin <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: [MLA-L] Requesting feedback on laser turntables
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Rebounding off Jeff's post...is anyone using it to write to digital,
then go back and edit down/out the waveforms of the defects? I was
wondering what (if any) advantage an ELP might offer when attempting a
re-master from one-of-a-kind vinyl/shellac/acetate pressings?

Steven Austin

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Kane
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 3:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] [MLA-L] Requesting feedback on laser turntables

I own the LT-2XRC. I see no advantage whatsoever to the ELP but quite a
few
disadvantages given the situation as outlined. The turntable is
hypersensitive to contamination. Any dirt/dust/etc will cause a torrent
of
audible pops and clicks where such distortion will be subaudible and/or
not
as severe with a standard turntable. Thus, a mandatory investment would
be a
Keith Monks or Loricraft record cleaner. Even they won't always get
things
clean enough for the ELP and you'll still have annoying transients.

The subjective sound quality of the ELP is excellent. Yet, the
conversion to
a streaming digital medium will likely negate any advantage. Note that
the
ELP is fully analog and will still require A/D conversion.

As to the price, the ELP units can be had for far less than retail. I
purchased my unit as a 'refurb' for just under $8500 with shipping. I
believe that in the case of sales to institutions, etc, that ELP prices
at
full 'retail'. When dealing with the private sector and individuals,
they
discount quite heavily. My experience was prior to their change in US
'distributors', so the strategy may have changed.

I have not had reason to contact ELP for support. As I understand it,
any
repairs require shipping the unit back to Japan. Should ELP fail, the
turntable will be a very expensive orphan.

In my case, the ELP gets very little use. I find it invaluable when
working
with cracked LPs and 78s as it still plays through defects that would
snap a
standard stylus straight off. It also has some utility in compensating
for
groove wear as it can 'track' different points on the groove wall. It
will
not work with colored vinyl/shellac (although it DOES work with dark
translucent vinyl such as Quiex II and JVC Supervinyl). In short, it's a
limited purpose tool that does a few things quite well. It's a nice
complement to a turntable, not a replacement for one.