turntables
Making records sound as good as they should takes decades of know-how and extreme engineering
1 Pro-Ject Signature 10
Made with a plinth of MDF and metal particulate to act as a sturdy base, with a platter that runs silently on an inverted ceramic ball bearing with magnetic suspension, this packs in all of Pro-Ject’s considerable experience. The Signature tonearm design uses special alloys to create a tube with plenty of damping inside, but including custom oil-damped bearing helps keep the musicality strong. £3,999, henleyaudio.co.uk
2 EAT Forte
This beast weighs 65kg, and is a hefty 70cm wide, all in the service of a vibrationfree experience, of course. The platter is made of two alloys of different densities, for better energy absorption. The motor is a separate unit, and is connected using a special silicon string. The black and brown leather version is classy, but we love that white and mint combo. From £6,900, absolutesounds.com
3 McIntosh MT2
Despite being outfitted with McIntosh’s signature imposing looks, this is its more beginner-friendly turntable. Tracking force, anti-skate force, cartridge overhang and arm height are all preset in the factory, so it’s practically plug ’n’ play – though you’ll still need a phono pre-amp to plug it into. The tonearm is constructed from dural-aluminium with damping materials. £4,995, mcintoshlabs.com
4 Burmester Signature 175
Made of cast aluminium with a brass core, featuring four AC drive motors, a nineinch aluminium and carbon fibre tonearm, integrated phono stage with technology derived from Burmester’s 100 Phono, a separate power supply, and magnetically decoupled feet, this engagingly shiny turntable clocks in at 60kg. A bitumen coating on the reverse of the platter helps damping further. $45,000, burmester.de/en