Czech firm sees surge in sales of turntables amid vinyl boom

mauidan

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Czech firm sees surge in sales of turntables amid vinyl boom

By KAREL JANICEK , ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 28, 2017 - 8:50 AM


LITOVEL, Czech Republic — As vinyl records make a global comeback, so do turntables.
The biggest maker of quality turntables, a company in the Czech Republic called SEV Litovel, has increased its production fourfold between 2009 and 2016, when it made 124,825 units.

"I really can't see the end (of the growth)," said Managing Director Jiri Mencl, who estimates production of 150,000 in three years. His firm has opened a new production site worth 180 million koruna ($7.2 million) this year to meet the demand for turntables, which has been rising globally.

Established in 1999 as a successor of the Communist era, state-owned electronics maker, SEV bet on a combination of quality and a reasonable cost. Starting with its own design, the company makes almost all parts that are carefully assembled by hand, piece by piece. The turntables are belt-driven, meaning they are used to listen to records, not for DJ mixing.

Some 400 employees — a workforce that has doubled in size in the last five years — make a number of types of turntables, with prices ranging from as low as $200 to $10,000.

Under a commercial deal, Austria's Pro-Ject Audio Systems distributes the turntables globally under its Pro-Ject brand. They are a regular receiver of awards in the hi-fi category by the European Imaging and Sound Association, or EISA.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems director Heinz Lichtenegger said part of the secret behind the turntables' return is that "people search for things that make their life more enjoyable, more slow."

"Turntable means you have to listen to the music relaxed" he said. "You have to take time for your music. You don't click for the next song. You have to listen to the whole record. You have to clean the record. You have to care about your record. It's like a good wine."

He said the United States, European countries like Britain, and Australia are among the biggest markets, with the best sellers in the $300-$400 bracket.

"It's a piece of art that people are buying, which is not too expensive," Lichtenegger said. "It's affordable luxury."
Ludek Motlicek from the Acoustique Quality, a firm that sells the Pro-Ject turntables in the Czech Republic, said the reason for the comeback is the analog sound that "the digital sound cannot match."
 

ddk

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Czech firm sees surge in sales of turntables amid vinyl boom

you have to listen to the music relaxed" he said. "You have to take time for your music. You don't click for the next song. You have to listen to the whole record. You have to clean the record. You have to care about your record. It's like a good wine."

"It's a piece of art that people are buying, which is not too expensive," Lichtenegger said. "It's affordable luxury."

Funny how a mundane piece of equipment that no one gave a second thought about is now associated with art, luxury and lifestyle :D; under which rock did these journalist grow up under?

david
 

LL21

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Funny how a mundane piece of equipment that no one gave a second thought about is now associated with art, luxury and lifestyle :D; under which rock did these journalist grow up under?

david

In fairness, any time a once everyday item stops being everyday because it gets replaced by new tech...then when it comes back as an alternative choice (ie, 'retro'), to give it that appeal, it tends to be associated with lifestyle, luxury or something similar. I do think vinyl did stop being an every day item for a huge swathe of the general population.

A really old example would be candles. 100+ years ago, they were mundane lightbulbs. But they came back/are used as a lifestyle choice...used to create moods around dinner for two, by bathtubs, in spas, on birthday cakes. Imagine that a Diptyque candle can cost 70 bucks!
 

RogerD

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"Turntable means you have to listen to the music relaxed" he said. "You have to take time for your music. You don't click for the next song. You have to listen to the whole record. You have to clean the record. You have to care about your record. It's like a good wine."

He said the United States, European countries like Britain, and Australia are among the biggest markets, with the best sellers in the $300-$400 bracket.

"It's a piece of art that people are buying, which is not too expensive," Lichtenegger said. "It's affordable luxury."
Ludek Motlicek from the Acoustique Quality, a firm that sells the Pro-Ject turntables in the Czech Republic, said the reason for the comeback is the analog sound that "the digital sound cannot match."

I bet this guy could sell anything....:D

http://www.project-audio.com/inhalt/en/pdf/signature12.pdf

http://www.marlex.ch/media/archive1...-Ject_Plattenspieler_Preisliste_15.2.2017.pdf
 
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NorthStar

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The turntables are belt-driven, meaning they are used to listen to records, not for DJ mixing.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems director Heinz Lichtenegger said part of the secret behind the turntables' return is that
"people search for things that make their life more enjoyable, more slow."

"Turntable means you have to listen to the music relaxed" he said. "You have to take time for your music. You don't click for the next song. You have to listen to the whole record. You have to clean the record. You have to care about your record. It's like a good wine."

"It's a piece of art that people are buying, which is not too expensive," Lichtenegger said. "It's affordable luxury." ...The reason for the comeback is the analog sound that "the digital sound cannot match."


It's like reading a poem today April 1st, 2017 ... I like that this morning; it rings right, it sounds real, it is true.
The love of slowing down and listening to the music with verve in a fast volcanic activity deprived from the essence of life.
It's like a plant that you take time to love and nurture and see growing instead of a voice activated robot that perform automatic wireless duties from starting the coffee maker to turning on the Tidal radio to tuning it to a specific song of your mood to wondering if you're still in that mood to not taking any chance by skipping it and jumping to the next tune.
Everything between and above is like the internet taking over our lives. We are plugged, programmed by digital chips in a wireless dominant interface of antiseptic hospital's walls.

An analog turntable is a great escape from the tyranny and dictatorial brain waves from the washing news and imposed technologies of a world going @ speed of dysfunctional light.

This was a good reading this morning, good for the brain of a man and woman.
 

RogerD

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May 23, 2010
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The turntables are belt-driven, meaning they are used to listen to records, not for DJ mixing.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems director Heinz Lichtenegger said part of the secret behind the turntables' return is that
"people search for things that make their life more enjoyable, more slow."

"Turntable means you have to listen to the music relaxed" he said. "You have to take time for your music. You don't click for the next song. You have to listen to the whole record. You have to clean the record. You have to care about your record. It's like a good wine."

"It's a piece of art that people are buying, which is not too expensive," Lichtenegger said. "It's affordable luxury." ...The reason for the comeback is the analog sound that "the digital sound cannot match."


It's like reading a poem today April 1st, 2017 ... I like that this morning; it rings right, it sounds real, it is true.
The love of slowing down and listening to the music with verve in a fast volcanic activity deprived from the essence of life.
It's like a plant that you take time to love and nurture and see growing instead of a voice activated robot that perform automatic wireless duties from starting the coffee maker to turning on the Tidal radio to tuning it to a specific song of your mood to wondering if you're still in that mood to not taking any chance by skipping it and jumping to the next tune.
Everything between and above is like the internet taking over our lives. We are plugged, programmed by digital chips in a wireless dominant interface of antiseptic hospital's walls.

An analog turntable is a great escape from the tyranny and dictatorial brain waves from the washing news and imposed technologies of a world going @ speed of dysfunctional light.

This was a good reading this morning, good for the brain of a man and woman.

Romantic...to say the least....I won't comment on his view of digital....oh wait,I just did.:D
 

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