Got a bunch of old-school vinyl that you're just dying to spin? Then you might want to check out the new Gabriel Turntable. One thing, though: it costs up to $64,000.
Crafted in limited editions by the Italian company Angelis Labor, the Gabriel is made from aluminum, bronze and stainless steel and can be customized with up to four arms.
Each arm is made in a Modena, Italy, factory that also builds Ferrari parts (built for speed, of course). A one-armed model costs about $27,000, while a four-armed version runs for $64,000, including installation.
Who would buy such a thing?
The whole device seems to float on air, but in fact it rests on a custom-built, vibration-dampening table.
Somebody who wants their name engraved on a turntable - that's one of the perks for spending serious bucks on a Gabriel. But also someone who wants to match their record players' arms to different genres of music without going through the hassle of swapping cartridges.
The Gabriel is a magnetic suspension turntable, meaning that calibrated magnets are used to lift the platter a few millimeters above its bearings. This helps reduce vibration, which can affect sound quality.
Basically, the whole device seems to float on air, but in fact it rests on a custom-built, vibration-dampening table. It takes half a day for an Angelis Labor technician to set the whole thing up and calibrate the turntable. (Hey, for $64,000, we'd expect nothing less.)
So if you have a bunch of cool old albums, or if you hapen to be very rich, or both, the Gabriel Turntable is calling your name.
