Laser turntable
Laser record players are record players that do not scan the groove of pressed records mechanically with a pickup , but rather without contact using a reflected laser beam .
This makes it possible to play records without the sound quality deteriorating with every playback process due to wear ; A further advantage is mentioned that a better reproduction quality can be achieved even with already worn disks. Disturbances such as cracking from dust in the groove of the record cannot be avoided with these devices either. The first models came on the market in the early 1990s .
They were developed by the Californian company Finial Technology , which, however , became insolvent due to the immense development costs of around $ 20 million, in which numerous investors were involved. The device cost 35,000 DM at the time and the optionally available “anti-crack” computer (a digital noise filter) 60,000 DM.
Laser turntables have been offered exclusively by the Japanese company ELP Corporation since 2012 .
The laser record player should not be confused with the laser disc player (optical disc), which plays the analog predecessor of the DVD .
Working method
A principle presented in 2020 names 5 laser beams for scanning: two for tracking (lane detection), two for the two flanks of the groove and one for height control. The audio signal, which is present for each of the stereo channels in the form of the deflection of one of the flanks of the groove, is sampled using the reflected beam. Since the focus of the laser is much smaller than the contact area of the needle and, moreover, the upper part of the flank is more likely to be scanned, a higher reproduction quality is possible. This applies in particular to records that have already been played, as the area of wear caused by the needle is more in the lower part of the groove.
The frequency response is not influenced by resonances of the needle carrier / scanning system or its mechanical inertia and non-linearities. Therefore, the reproduction is neutral and does not require any special pickups for jazz or classical music.
The unnecessary damping of the drive is also stated as an advantage - there is no sensitivity to structure-borne noise.
However, the playback is apparently severely affected by dirt. The manufacturer recommends a very clean plate and offers a vacuum cleaner. Colored-transparent plates cannot be played either.
Plates with a rounded shoulder (groove edge) and a round groove base cause distortions. The depth of writing on historical records cannot be reproduced.
Web links
- How a laser turntable works on the manufacturer's website (eng)
- Dieter Dürand: record player with laser scanning. In: Wirtschaftswoche . February 17, 2008, accessed February 17, 2014 .
- ELP LASER TURNTABLE. high-endaudio.com, February 17, 2014, accessed February 17, 2014 (English).