SAT Direct Drive Turntable!

[bonzo75]

I hold an itch to respond to micro's comment better than you K.David.

Tang

Same here, because then I would get a slap on the wrist.

 

[ddk]

I hold an itch to respond to micro's comment better than you K.David.

Tang

I was really itchy ! Anyway, they truly are opposites design philosophies in every way possible.

david

 

[ddk]

Peter,

I think that this dubious definition is the source of many disagreements. Less sonic signature does not mean that it should carry more information. The process of sound reproduction is selective - the information carried in the recording is always manipulated, some information is fortunately lost during playback , as it would affect our enjoyment and illusion and other is enhanced, making it more easily perceived. One of the main problems of some digital is the excess of recording information, making it sound artificial and tiresome.

Consider for example, the stereo image. It would not exist as we like it if did not add the reflections in our room. It is known that this process will mask some information - it is why most professionals listen in the near field, in a very absorbent room.

The whole process of stereo is too imperfect and subjective to allow such dogmatic definitions. Except for those cases of evident coloration or distortion, rankings of sonic signature (our the damn neutrality) are meaningless as they depend mainly on listener preference.

You're confusing the issue Francisco, recording quality and playback quality are two separate matters. The media, LP, CD, tape, files etc., whatever their quality should be played back naturally without any or as little omission or enhancements as possible, I see that as the role and goal of the system. Sure one might have a sweet tooth and like some artificial sweetener there but too much saccharin on everything becomes tiring and a waste of both good and bad recordings.

david

 

[CKKeung]

WOW
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2019/05/sat-xd1-record-player-pricing.html#more

 

[the sound of Tao]

6k for the technics motor and 100k for the plinth.

Hmmm, so it’s closer to $144k euro for the plinth then

 

[jeff1225]

$168,000 without tonearm for this turntable is so stupid I'd be laughing it it was actually funny. What a joke.

 

[XV-1]

Hmmm, so it’s closer to $144k euro for the plinth then

I did say before dealer margin. the 44k is that

 

[CKKeung]

BTW I just read an UK magazine review which said that the Technics SL-1000R even with just its original included tonearm was very good already.
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/technics-sl-1000r

 

[Mike Lavigne]

i think we need to remember that SAT succeeded in peoples minds as an arm somewhat due to the outrageous price. not saying it did not get favorable endorsements too. it surely did. but that price did keep it exclusive.....and desired. an aspirational product.

then he brought out new arms at double that price. not sure if any sold at that $50k+ number......but likely they did. so we should not be surprised at the audacity to charge those prices.

i have to say i admire his confidence.

 

[jeff1225]

i think we need to remember that SAT succeeded in peoples minds as an arm somewhat due to the outrageous price. not saying it did not get favorable endorsements too. it surely did. but that price did keep it exclusive.....and desired. an aspirational product.

then he brought out new arms at double that price. not sure if any sold at that $50k+ number......but likely they did. so we should not be surprised at the audacity to charge those prices.

i have to say i admire his confidence.

Agree would your assessment Mike. The audacity of the SAT arm was backed up by some unique engineering approaches.

I believe this turntable represents something else.

 

[microstrip]

I listened to a direct comparison between a SAT and the top Graham with the same top cartridge. They sounded so different that I easily understood that someone loving the SAT sound could be disposed to pay the high price. If I was mainly an LP listener I would surely dedicate more time to the SAT.

I will wait for more data and information on the turntable. Is it its sound as revolutionary as that of the tonearm? Lets us hope that Mike Fremer will repeat his generous sharing of hirez files, perhaps recorded with his Continuum and the SAT.

Anyway I admire manufacturers that are brave enough to display their high prices openly in forums and dealer pages and do not cache themselves behind the argument that if you have to ask the price you can't afford it. My applause to Mark Gomez on this one.

 

[jeff1225]

I listened to a direct comparison between a SAT and the top Graham with the same top cartridge. They sounded so different that I easily understood that someone loving the SAT sound could be disposed to pay the high price. If I was mainly an LP listener I would surely dedicate more time to the SAT.

I will wait for more data and information on the turntable. Is it its sound as revolutionary as that of the tonearm? Lets us hope that Mike Fremer will repeat his generous sharing of hirez files, perhaps recorded with his Continuum and the SAT.

Anyway I admire manufacturers that are brave enough to display their high prices openly in forums and dealer pages and do not cache themselves behind the argument that if you have to ask the price you can't afford it. My applause to Mark Gomez on this one.

Congratulate him for charging a lot of money for something? I don't get it. Congratulate him on engineering something spectacular? Absolutely.

 

[Al M.]

$168,000 without tonearm for this turntable is so stupid I'd be laughing it it was actually funny. What a joke.

It's much, much cheaper than an AF0 at $ 400,000. In fact, it seems a bargain. Why is it a joke? For all we know, it may be an engineering marvel.

 

[CKKeung]

A bargain? Can't agrree.
I think it's basically a SAT plinth for the Technics mechanism+controller.
Well, sonically it can be very good but pricing it 2 or 3 times higher than almost all top turntables in the market needs not only courage but maybe a bit of insanity.

How much are the AS, Vygers ...etc which are all original designs and productions?

 

[Al M.]

A bargain? Can't agrree.
I think it's basically a SAT plinth for the Technics mechanism+controller.
Well, sonically it can be very good but pricing it 2 or 3 times higher than almost all top turntables in the market needs not only courage but maybe a bit of insanity.

How much are the AS, Vygers ...etc which are all original designs and productions?

I was just teasing.

And don't forget, that little nice curved lamp next to the turntable (photo in first post) is $ 20,000. After all, it is cryo treated, and it has run through five cycles of magnetization / demagnetization. That makes the photon flow so much more focused, and putting on the LP so much easier!

 

[XV-1]

I wonder how much the SAT record weight will be? 6k or 9k?
At 168k, no margin to have it as part of the turntable package

 

[gian60]

Sure at same price AF1P
I think is
Much much much better for construction and everything

 

[the sound of Tao]

Apparently the new SAT record weight is also the same price as an AF1P

 

[Loheswaran]

Ok it's a re-plinthed Technics - but I like the fact that the design goes along the GP Audio, and Rega Naid route of making a compact TT. Logic dictates that as things get better/more high tech they become more compact. I personally love the simple looks as opposed to 'audio jewellery'. That said $160K is an awful lot of live concerts in exclusive seats.

 

[microstrip]

Anyone can get

It's much, much cheaper than an AF0 at $ 400,000. In fact, it seems a bargain. Why is it a joke? For all we know, it may be an engineering marvel.

Although you were teasing, considering all you know (very, very little) we can not exclude that the SAT turntable can be an engineering marvel.

The engineering constraints of the SAT turntable were much more strict tham the AF0 - less weigh, smaller are and a lower cost. If the turntable can subjectively rival the similarly priced units it is surely an engineering success.

Surely no one expects miracles in this hobby. However considering that a significant number of audiophiles with good credentials - I know of a few - tell us that the SAT is the best available tonearm, I will not discard any hypothesis at the this moment.