Vinyl

Soundsmith cartridges are handmade in the USA and are little jewels to adorn your most beloved Turntables. 

They are a Moving Iron design - the third, less talked about category of cartridge design. This design uses less mass than a Moving Magnet design so it's more reactive and dynamic.

The Paua MkII uses a new Aluminium Cantilever which is stiff where it's needed but is also acoustically dampening in critical areas.

An important factor when we choose we high-end cartridges to stock is their retipping service. We like to recommend cartridges that when something happens to the stylus there's a skilled in-house retipping service. Soundsmith offer just that.

And isn't the new sea shell casing just beautiful!

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The Mezzo and the Nautilus can perform this sonic magic of sounding lifelike and with the exact intentions of the musician, whether it’s played in the concert hall, in the studio, or on electronic hardware and software. Both these cartridges made each record sound like the best sounding record I've ever heard. That is, until I played the next record.” - Tom Lyle, Enjoy The Music

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The Maximus Neo fitted with the TA1000 tonearm has been awarded the incredibly sought after “Absolute Sound Product of the Year” by that most prestigious and discerning of publications.

The Absolute Sound on the Acoustic Signature Maximus with TA1000 arm

At Carlton Audio Visual, we have always admired the engineering prowess and refined and complete musicality of Acoustic Signature turntables.

Acoustic Signature are a small company who proudly don't produce turntables for the mass market. Their factory close to Stuttgart, Germany makes everything in house. This is not an assembly line. From start to finish. The aluminium and brass comes into the factory as a raw material and at the end of an 8 week process, a turntable is born.

We live in a world that has been transformed by globilisation where sourcing cheap components from 'off shore' manufacturers is common place. This, of course, has its advantages but asserting control over the whole supply chain is impossible as so many large companies have discovered. Just think of Nike and their struggle to control where and how their textiles are being made. This will be a problem for our generation as we try to be more ethical or more environmentally sustainable or simply strive for quality assurances. For items we care about, for items that will last a generation or two, the only way you can overcome this is by buying from manufacturers who are dedicated in-house builders.

And even at the entry level, Acoustic Signature's Maximus Neo, is made in house and to all the same quality assurances, environmental and ethical standards as their top of the range product.

An Acoustic Signature, will last you a lifetime... and more

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Nestling in the Choral range, the Symphonic is our flagship MC phono stage, offering a range of advanced features over the entry-level Dual.  The high-performance Symphonic uses our latest high-frequency power supply technology to exploit vinyl’s full potential, along with many new key features, to bring the performance levels in line with the Choral range, home of the DAVE DAC/preamp.

The Symphonic offers an almost infinite number of input impedance and gain options as well as balanced and unbalanced input options to the cartridge, making it a highly flexible device for integrating high-quality turntables into Chord systems. The comprehensive settings options are all externally selectable, with selections signified internally with illuminating LEDs.

A rumble filter removes unwanted low-frequency rumble signals appearing on both channels. The Symphonic Phono stage conforms to the RIAA curve without the IEC roll-off when the Rumble filter is set to ‘off’ Preamps: CPA 2500, CPA 3000, CPA 5000, and CPA 8000. Preamps: CPA 2500, CPA 3000, CPA 5000, and CPA 8000.; this is commensurate with the high calibre of Chord amplification. The IEC curve response can be added by setting the Rumble filter to ‘on’. According to the wiring of the tone arm on the turntable used, the Symphonic can be operated in either an unbalanced or balanced mode.

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The HR-200S Reference Tonearm is the next installment of the highly successful Alphason HR range. Built on the foundation of the prestigious HR-100S tonearm, the HR-200S takes the original concept and the knowledge gained, furthering those ideas and improving upon them to create a truly outstanding tonearm. Each HR-200S is meticulously hand assembled, with a titanium one-piece headshell and arm tube along with bespoke bearings, providing the perfect, neutral platform for any high-performance cartridge.

These are available in 9 inch, 10.5 inch and 12 inch versions.

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Based entirely on the GyroDec, but without the costly acrylic plinth and dustcover, the Gyro SE brings the same qualities in a more affordable and compact package. 

This has been an extremely popular turntable a true high fidelity sound. Tightness in the bass, wide soundstage and the ultra low noise required to let the details of the music shine.

 

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Van Den Hul's Crimson Stradivarius is a favourite in the CAV Reference System. It has also become a Superstar with our customers.

The Stradivarius variation of the Crimson cartridge uses a Pau Ferro wooden body but douses that in multiple layers of specialist laquer emulating the laquer used on Stradivarius string instruments. The sound is even more involving, natural and open than the straight Crimson XGW which only difference is the absence of this special laquer.

It is the easiest cartridge to pair with a range of gear. The Colibri range has astounding levels of channel separation but requires more precise matching with the rest of the gear.

 

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Now available in a Matt White finish. With the white ceramic platter, this finish looks particularly sharp!

Less is more for Rega, less noise, less vibration, less play in the bearings, less mass to store harmful resonance energy, and less ownership dissatisfaction ...

We would recommend the Rega Apheta 3 cartridge with this Turntable. For $1900 the Apheta 3 will come factory fitted on to the deck.

Or go for something that much more special, a Rega Aphelion ($6000). After all, a turntable is only as good as the information it can get from the needle itself.

Another great option is the Van den Hul "The Frog" Cartridge, a remarkable and rare device made by hand in Holland ($3499).

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The reference Aura MC stage is the culmination of decades of electronic design development. We have created the ultimate, fully adjustable, three stage, all symmetrical pre-amplifier designed purely to extract the very best performance from your moving coil cartridge and vinyl playback system.

Built into a completely re-designed custom case, the Aura is dedicated to moving coil cartridges and stays clear of any compromises. We have avoided including any superfluous functions as they obstruct the signal path and degrade the sound quality. The Aura phono pre-amp incorporates remarkable and innovative design ideas. If you are a vinyl connoisseur, then the Aura MC is an absolute must for demonstration.

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The Sussurro is one of those cartridges that will stay with you for life. A delicate instrument designed specifically to extract as much information from your Vinyl as possible. 

The MkII version is even lighter than the original. They have reduced the moving mass that creates the electrical signal for even more resolution and dynamics.

The sound of these is warm with little to no sibilance in the high end and oodles of width and depth to the sound. 

This is a Moving Iron cartridge but it does require a Moving Coil capable phono stage.

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This is where the Crimson range changes from the Pau Ferro wood to the Hawaiin Koa wood body. This wood has exceptional acoustic properties which make it popular in the making of musical instruments but also perfect for making cartridges.

It also has the additional laquer layering of the Stradavarius.

 

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The GyroDec has been an iconic Turntable since the 1980s and not just because of its looks but it sure does help! English Engineer John Michell used to work for Transcriptor Turntables making parts for their decks. Michell and Transcriptors had a very close working relationship and Transcriptors actually moved into the factory where Michell was working. When Transcriptors then moved most of their manufacturing to Ireland, Michell took on the sole license and manufacturing of their high end Hydraulic Reference turntable.

Around the same time Michell knew and worked with Stanley Kubrik. John Michell built the spaceship 'Discovery' for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. His relationship with Kubrik also led to the Hydraulic Reference Turntable's appearance in 'Clockwork Orange' 

Things like the inverted oil-pumping bearing ensure near frictionless bearing performance. I really beleive this is why the Turntable does so well in the lower frequencies. The low indeterminate rumbles you get from other turntables result in a product that has a fuzzy bass. The GyroDec's bass is tight and controlled and the edges of the notes are devastatingly well defined.

There have been other improvements over the years as well. Upgrades to the motor design being the main one coming with a standalone high quality DC motor. Although this deck looks like the classic of the 70s make no mistake, it doesn't perform like it.

The full GyroDec version unlike the GyroDec SE comes with the single Acrylic chassis. A high quality Acrylic material that is incredibly inert to stop environmental vibrations getting to your cartridge. 

Michell, don't spend money of advertising let alone paying people to write reviews. Regardless there are plenty of awesome reviews out there of this deck. Here are some of them.

Black or Gold version of the GyroDec is $7495 ($6995 is for the standard Silver)

A review from Techradar on the SE version from 2011

And here's a page of owners real world experiences of the GyroDec on VinylEngine

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The Double X Neo turntable by Acoustic Signature is an execution of engineering, design, beauty and craftsmanship that is rarely seen in turntables. Acoustic Signature have taken Turntables design to new heights. Bearings are made with exacting precision and with diamond coated spindles. Eight Brass (or optional upgrade to 24 cara gold) silencers are strategically placed around the platter for extra inertia reducing vibrations when the LP is playing.

In a world where globilisation has trasformed our consumer habits (for better or worse), it's heartening to know that Acoustic SIgnature make all of their turntables from start to finish, from lumps of brass and aluminium to extraordinary units capable of reproducing the finest musical experience. The german factory near Stuttgart isn't an assembly line of components made in other countries. All of the Acoustic Signature turntables are made in house by a team of dedicated manufacturers.

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Pro-Ject is the world's largest manufacturer of Turntables and the Signature 10 is their High-end offering that puts their decades of experience and manufacturing capability to good use.

It features a 10" S-bend Aluminium tonearm. The S-bend is a classic design that offers advantages in trackability of the record groove. Aluminium is one of the best materials acoustically to make tonearms out of as well having minimal acoustic resonances.

Also keeping acoustic resonances to a minimum are its magnetic feet and TPE pillows decouple the Signature 10 platter from its environment keeping a very low noise floor.

This turntable is clear and delicate sounding and on display for you to hear right now in Carlton!

Pro-Ject Signature 10 Turntable with Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge, $12,749. That's a $4349 cartridge for an extra $750!!

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The Crimson 'Elite' has the Koa body and all of the other features of the Van den Hul Crimson. It also features the multi layered laquer of the Stradavarius cartridges. But on top of that it has reduced thickness in the gold wire of the coils making for a more agile sound.

Still not the level of resolution and refinement of the Colibri range but nonetheless a beautiful cartridge.

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Stepping up to a triple layer of carbon for extra damping with even lower resonances. 

But extra to the TA-5000 NEO that isn't seen on the TA-2000, Acoustic SIgnature have built a complete inner tube separated from the outer tube by another layer of dampening.

The bearing design has been stepped up another notch as well. Pre-tensioned and a hybrid design using ceramic and stainless steel balls.

Lastly the internal cabling sees an upgrade over the lower models from copper to pure silver.

More detail better imaging - a quality in manufacturing and design that bears fruit in the musical experience of the listener.

Available in 12" version $13,400 (silver)

Black add $1700 (extra)

Gold add $4300 (extra)

Black and Gold Colours are special order.

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The body of the van den Hul Colibri XGW Stradivarius is made from cross-grained Brazilian Pau Ferro wood, a high density wood that is often used in the bows of stringed instruments. It’s coated with what van den Hul calls a ‘Stradivarius’ lacquer, named after the famous violin maker, Antonio Stradivari. Van den Hul applies three separate layers of this secret formula lacquer and each layer takes several weeks to fully cure and harden, meaning that every cartridge body undergoes months of work before any further construction can even begin.

The Coils are hand wound and made from matched crystal gold wiring. 

This combination gives you an incredible combination of rich naturalness and resolution.

Not to be confused with the Crimson XGW Stradivarius, this unit is the Crimson's older, more refined sibling. It has incredible channel separation. Detail, imaging and soundstage are second to none. All of this and it keeps a realism and musicality unique to the high end Van den Hul cartridges.

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This is Michell Engineerings Reference Turntable simply without the Acrylic cover and plinth. Michell utilise an inverted oil circulating bearing technology that completely revolutionised turntables when they introduced it. It results in near non existent friction in the bearing that leads to a tight and defined bass sound that other turntable companies can't reproduce. 

An extra heavy design that absorbs vibrations creating the perfect inert platform for music playback as well as a spiffed up motor and power supply set this deck apart from other Michell Turntables.

It can be paired a Rega RB220 or RB330 tonearm. But it really deserves a tonearm like the Rega RB3000 (RRP $2749).

For a number of our staff members, the Orbe has been the Turntable of choice. The vinyl obsessives amongst us revel in the dexterity and clarity of sound this deck produces. True HiFi fanatics rejoice...Amen.

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The Yamaha GT5000 ... a turntable uniquely made by its own rules ... I think the tonearm design is excellent. I have sat through days literally of playing the GT5000 to the most critical possible audience at Hi Fi shows and not one indivisual has noted any tracking or balance errors, because there are none. Supremely low noise and precise is the emphasis here and the unique balanced out is a perfect match for a high quality phono stage or, even better, a C5000 preamplifier ...

By the way although this shares a designation of a certain American sports car ... that is far too crude an analogy for the precision and quality of this Record Player. More like a Nissan GT-R Nismo edition ...

Please note the outstanding reviews this turntable has been getting in the description below ...

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