If you thought the Metronome Technologie Kalista Reference/C2A CD player we told you about last week was a stretch in these penny pinching times, check out the Continuum Caliburn turntable - 'the most technically advanced way of playing back vinyl records yet devised' - retailing at a cool £80,000. And no, that's not a typo.
Leaving no stone unturned, Continuum has developed through 'painstaking scientific research' a player that extracts absolutely everything that exists within an LP's grooves.
The unique chassis is crafted from magnesium alloy and features a magnetically levitated magnesium alloy platter. The entire structure is massive, with the platter alone weighing 40kg, but you can bet your bottom dollar (if you have one left) that it is engineered to the nth degree.
The platter's levitation means that the bearing experiences between one and two kg of weight while the inertia and mass of the platter remains intact.
A computer-controlled 'zero cogging' motor ensures ultra-consistent, 'butter smooth' motion while the vacuum hold-down function from the supplied silent vacuum pump means the record is clamped firmly to the platter to ensure an entirely flat and stable playing surface.
Continuum recommends matching it to the Cobra tonearm and Castellon stand for a turntable that is 'unquestionably the best in the world'.
Have a drool and hit up the website if you're feeling flush.
www.absolutesounds.com
