Spiral Groove’s Revolution Turntable Turns Heads

By Kris Wouk September 25, 2016

spiral groove revolution turntable — Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s a pretty great time to be a vinyl enthusiast. Not only has there been a resurgence in how many new releases are shipping on vinyl, but also in the relative quality of turntables, many of which can be had surprisingly cheap. The Spiral Groove Revolution would never be called cheap by anyone, no matter their income bracket, but with its eye-catching looks and forward-thinking engineering, it’s hard not to stare and dream.

Designed to deliver what Spiral Groove calls “ultra-high-end” performance, the Revolution turntable does not spare any expense when it comes to the materials used or the build process. The turntable features a three-layer body made from aluminum and Delrin, which the company says makes for a solid build, but a less resonant platform.

Unlike some of the relatively plain designs found in many modern turntables, the Revolution takes a different approach. The look is not retro, nor is it modern. Instead, the look is a combination of both, making it look like some vision of future tech from a 1950s-era sci-fi movie.

The platter on which the record sits uses a Delrin top plate and aluminum bottom plate, along with a number of damping technologies used to reduce mechanical vibration. This includes Spiral Groove’s Strange Attractor isolation feet, which help to decouple the turntable from the surface it sits on, protecting against needle jumps from heavy footfalls and other heavy vibrations.

When it comes to actually playing the record, a low-voltage / low-torque AC synchronous motor is attached to a one-piece motor mount that is decoupled from the rest of the turntable, making for quiet playback. The platter spins on an inverted sapphire disc / hardened steel bearing, the same used in Spiral Groove’s flagship SG 1.2 turntable. Playback speed is electronically switchable between 33-1/3 and 45 rpm.

The Spiral Groove Revolution is available now and sells for a suggested retail price of $18,000. You will still need a tonearm, which is sold separately. The company offers the Centroid universal tonearm, which it says is a perfect match for the Revolution. For more information, visit the Spiral Groove website.

Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

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