Mo-Fi Fender.
Most beautiful turntable under $5k
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but thought this might be a fun topic. Obviously the most important thing about audio gear is how it sounds, but I find some of it truly beautiful to look at too, particularly turntables, which almost by necessity are best placed somewhere on display. Some days I love the simplicity of something like the Clearaudio Concept Wood (particularly the dark wood)….other days the “audio jewelry” appearance of EAT or VPI. My personal vote, however, would go to the Gold Note Pianosa. For me it has a timeless beauty and elegance that’s never over the top. I can’t imagine ever tiring of looking at in and think it would look great with a wide array of decor.
What would be your personal choice for most beautiful turntable under $5k? What about cost-no-object options?
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likely something vintage......in a nice, classy, plinth. Garrard 301 or Thorens TD-124 in good condition with a simple arm can be acquired easily for $5k or less. these will fit into most room styles. and knowledgeable visitors will assume you know what you are doing. and not just checking the tt box. beauty is subjective......but these two are nice looking and very fine sounding too. here is another idea.... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa4aaa-analogueworks-tt-two-top-of-the-line-demo-turntables |
The now vintage Danish Bang and Olufsen 4000 turntable. It was on display in New York’s Museum of Modern Art from 1978-?. In addition to its sleek, slim design it had one of the earliest B&O patented moving iron cartridges, plus tangental straight arm tracking that mimicked the way record cutting machines tracked. Bought one when in the service back then and couldn’t believe it when I saw it at the MOMA when home in NY on leave. Might have cost somewhere around a $1000 back then, but can’t really remember. That was two-three months pay for a private first class, but a great investment. Used it until three years ago when I couldn’t fix it anymore, even with a second parts machine to salvage from. It was a beauty and kept on display at home on a slab of marble on an antique cabinet. I loved that thing.
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The B&O is quite nice looking.My college roommate had that table. I would bet that even if it were in good working condition, the bespoke cartridge would be hard to find. |
I remember wanting to get a 'statement piece' for my final turntable...but I had such a great ownership experience with my original Technics 1200mk2 that I decided to double down and get a 1200G. It's more beautiful and sophisticated in person than photos can express. I know I will never need to worry about it ever. That's beautiful to me.
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Funk Firm Sapphire or Vector. Form follows function. |
On the polar opposite: Mag Lev ML-1:
I had one to try for couple of months. Utter beauty to see that levitating platter in action. ...but plain annoying operation (super-slow star- and slowdown times) and sonically not as pleasing, you could hear nearly 1/5th of note variation (wow/flutter) by ear on loud sections and relatively noisy at low level sections, especially in loud environment. But boy, it’s a work of art in it’s phisics-curiosity looks when it plays :)
(For comparison 1200G is like a blitz fast rock solid table, utter simplicity and ease of use, class-leading stability and silent as a church mouse even in open-air festival-amplification sound levels and those who ask: for me actually more beautiful in that silver!) |
Fender (of all companies) is coming out with their first turntable in many years (and yes, they got their start with turntables before switching to musical instruments decades ago). It’s actually a project in conjunction with MoFi, drawing on their Ultra Deck line. It certainly is a head turner with that striking, sunset wood tone. It won’t be available until sometime in May and only 1000 will be made. $3500 |
OK, that is a seriously beautiful turntable, particularly with the top down. I looked at some close ups and the fit and finish isn’t overwhelming. Kind of like a Hollywood star… drop dead gorgeous at a distance.
In the past what a turntable looks like hadn’t really entered the picture for me. But over the last few years I started enjoying good looking equipment. My Sonus Faber Amati speakers in violin red. I may have chosen my Linn LP 12 a bit for it’s simple elegance… and it sounds great.
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I probably should have expected all the votes for vintage tables, but honestly didn’t. Glad to check out a few that were off my radar and be reminded of the beauty with some of the classics as well. I have definitely had my eye on that MoFi/Fender…it was on my shortlist for sure. Those SAM turntables, @miketuason, look awesome in a steam-punk kind of way that make me wonder if I’d be cool enough to have one. Had never heard of them before and no idea how the SAM sounds, but it’s definitely beautiful artwork and way cheaper than I expected upon first seeing a photo. If I didn’t have a toddler, that’s one I’d love to have on display in the living room or home office to just stare at even if it doesn’t sound great. The aforementioned toddler has me in a holding pattern, but when he’s old enough I look forward to moving my VPI Nomad into the living room for the whole family and upgrading to something great for my office system…until then I just get to look so thanks for all the eye candy you guys have shared. |
I have 2 toddlers and know exactly what you mean. That’s why I ditched my Thorens and Mag Lev that didn’t get much use because of the situation - instead got the 1200G that is living and breathing in my living room and gets lots of use now due to it’s neat design. I simply close the lid while playing when they run around, lot’s of fun on listening and dancing for them as well. The best feature: I use small load strap to keep the lid locked when not listening so they can’t stick their hands between to touch the tonearm and cartridge, I put the clamp on the other side of the table where they can’t reach - takes me 5 seconds to release it and stow aside the table and I am ready to play vinyl again. The solution is elegant, toddler safe yet a pure good looking hi-fi table :) |
The Montegiro Lusso is certainly out standing… for me not in a good way. To me, it is actually the worst looking table I have ever seen. But it is completely personal tastes. I am very fond of wood and gravitate towards traditional elegant. Hence I own a Linn Rosewood (called rosenut). And Sonus Faber Amati Traditional violin Red speakers.
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@ghdprentice , rosenut is stained birch. It is considerably softer and less expensive than any species of rosewood. Wood is actually a great material to make a plinth out of as in thicker sections it does not resonate. If you tap on it you just get a dull thud. Sonus Faber does make beautiful speakers and compared to Magico and Wilson are a great value. If I were a point source kind of guy I would definitely go for them. The Montegiro is not only butte ugly it is also poorly designed. They will not sell many of them. I am debating making a new plinth for the Sota. Frankly, the workmanship and finish are not as good as the older units. They have always been made to a price which is a reasonable thing to do bringing high performance at a more modest cost was David Fletcher's goal. He left the flashy stuff to AJ Conte. The Basis Inspiration is IMHO a classy table with impeccable performance to match. I would get mine in black. https://www.basisaudio.com/inspiration
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Looks are very important. No need for apologies at all. My axe to grind is that it is not, or rather should not, be a beauty vs performance continuum. Rather they are not mutually exclusive and I say: Why not both? Another vote for the Technics 1200 series. It is not surprising to see so many clones of the iconic design. Amongst the older series the SL1210Mk5 is a real looker. The new ones are all jewelry. |
