Music lovers argue that the sound generated by a record player, being based on actual vibrations rather than digital information, had a depth that CDs (and subsequent electronic formats) could never match. For this reason the platform has survived – just – mainly based on premium models that when combined with quality speakers could provide that exceptional musical experience. Such premium models have premium price tags and so have had limited mass market appeal.
The delights of this old technology however are starting to strike a chord once more. Part of this is undoubtedly to do with those people of a certain age discovering boxes of LPs and 45s (aka albums and singles) in their attics and wanting to give them a spin once more. But that is only part of the equation as records are starting to be released in vinyl once more to meet a new demand. And where there are records there are record players.
Market research company GFK discovered that in the UK in the year up to August 2015, 121,000 turntables had been sold – a £12m market. Although not a like for like comparrisson, the number for the calendar year 2014 was 94,000. On top of this is the average value per unit in 2013 was £159. In the last 12 months it was £105. A definite indication of market forces taking hold.
Unlike other items of consumer electronics, turnatables also have the distinction of, in some cases, being designed and made in the UK with companies like Avid and Linn offering some budget busting, but incredible quality products.
One such company is Peak HiFi, set up by Shaun Daniels in 2004 who turned his love of music, and high quality audio equipment, into a part-time retail business, running alongside his full-time engineering job. The company specialises in high quality audio equipment, particularly stereo and analogue equipment, with an enthusiasm for classic turntables. The business flourished and Shaun left his day job to focus on Peak HiFi.
Daniels saw a gap in the market for a completely new record player.“I am a big fan of the Garrard 301 and Garrard 401. These were amongst the very best turntables of the 1950’s and 60’s and are exceptional even by todays standards. Unfortunately the technology around the drive system is complex, and expensive to produce, and they died out in the 70’s. They also have areas that can be improved, certain limitations of the technology of the day and mass production methods, resulted in casting defects, large motors with no speed control, isolation issues and so on. We started to produce upgrade components for these old decks and this is where the vision of a completely new record player came from, one that incorporated the best of the older deck drive systems but addressing the weaknesses with the engineering of today” he explained.
Daniels outlined the requirements he used for developing a new turntable: “You want to retrieve as much information out of the groove as possible, but add nothing. You should aim to introduce no vibration or noise from the mechanics, such as the motor or bearings and reduce airborne and mechanical vibrations from the speakers. Another area vital to performance is pitch stability, the record must rotate at a constant speed and not fluctuate. The drive system must not slow down and speed up, it must have a grip for consistency of speed. This is where the idler drive technology from the turntables of yesteryear, together with a controller, is a vital piece of the device.’
For his latest product, the SMD Acoustics V2.0 Turntable, Daniels utilised the latest technology and ultra-precise engineering to produce a record player, with a contemporary design, that built on the qualities of those from the past.
Daniels had heard of maxon products from a colleague within the audio industry and contacted the maxon UK office. “When you are building someone else’s products into your design, you have to have complete confidence in their product and in their support and product availability, for years to come. You don’t want to switch and have the expense of finding a new product, possibly changing the design and the knock-on effect to the production timetable. maxon motor have been around for over 50 years and are well known in the record turntable business.”
maxon developeda customised solution based on the RE-max 29 brushed DC motor and the ESCON 36/2 DC motor controller, with firmware specially modified for SMD Acoustics. Noise, both mechanical and vibration, are key to the design, in a record deck any sound from the motor is transmitted directly through to the record deck. The motor uses an ironless rotor construction, with no cogging, giving smooth speed, in addition to low noise and long life.
Speed control comes from the ESCON 36/2 controller which measures the back electromotive force (EMF) from the motor thousands of times a second to make minute speed adjustments to the motor; allowing changes in temperature and load to keep perfect speed and pitch. “The ESCON software is a fantastic tool that offers brilliant potential. For future modifications it just means a software change, which is an easy process,” Daniels commented.
After three years in development, the SMD Acoustics Turntable is now ready to go to market. A full description of the technology included in the turntable are on the Peak HiFi website if you require further evidence of why £5K (granite plinth not included) is a sound investment. Then it’s time to dust off those Slade albums.....
