14 DAY TRIAL // Donald North Audio (aka DNA) are well-known for the staggering quality of their audiophile equipment as well as for the pocket-wrecking, mind-blowing prices their gear sells for. It's now time to briefly showcase you one piece of hardware that will consume a big part of your annual wage... should you dare buying it!
The Nordic Concept Reference Turntable from DNA is truly something you haven't seen yet. First of all, it's the DNA Air Bearing Tonearm known as the Airtangent 2002. As a matter of fact, this is the utmost piece of tech in the whole apparatus and the essence of the Concept. Unlike pivoted tonearms, the Airtangent's alignment is constantly tangent to the spiral (yet almost circular) track of the cuts in the vinyl disc.
And if this isn't enough (and according to the DNA's actual Concept, it is clearly not enough), the air-bearing arm manages to counter the "throw" of the centrifugal forces generated in the table-cartridge system, thus eliminating the skate/skid effect in common turntables which leads to distortions in the sound. The tonearm is held in position by a low-pressure air pump which constantly regulates the pressure on the actual disc and maintains it to some mere 30gr while moving almost frictionlessly.
Using a hi-density acrylic platter which weighs more than you'd anyway expect (60 kg for the whole system!!!), it eliminates most of the vibrations and spin inaccuracies often met in low-class turntables.
Now for the rest: a new idea has been used as well in what actually rotating the platter might mean. The motor has been separated from the main body and resides now in a different structure, transferring its power towards the turntable by means of a very thin belt sworn to eliminate the possible vibrations generated by the motor.
Running on batteries (for obvious reasons) the Nordic Concept Turntable will spin at both 33 and 45 speeds for about 48 hours until recharge is needed. The state of the art Vitus Audio preamp will definitely provide one of the best signal-raise in the industry, making any audiophile no matter how pretentious gaze in awe. Fine speed tuning (for both speeds) is available by means of large-range trim pots for truly effective adjustment.
All in all, some very fine and re-fined technologies put together just to deliver one of the best vinyl listening experiences available on Earth. Finally, the price I was threatening you with in the beginning: the Nordic Concept Reference turntable without preamp will drain no less than $9,800 off your budget while the NCR turntable equipped with the Vitus Audio preamp will make you cash reserves go $15,500 smaller.
As a fun fact, the Nordic Concept Reference costs about $117 per pound!
