Why is the Laser Turntable (LT) so expensive? Why is it not mass-produced to reduce the unit price? Why is ELP the only company that makes the Laser Turntable? Why don't other companies manufacture the LT? Does the LT digitize the audio signal from the record? What is the sound quality of a laser? Is it better than a needle? I remember hearing that the sound reproduction of the older laser turntables was not good. Has that changed? Is it important to clean my records? How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? What about broken records? Can they be played? Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? How can I purchase the LT?
Q: Why is the Laser Turntable (LT) so expensive? Why is it not mass-produced to reduce the unit price? A: Vinyl Records have always been manufactured for needles, not lasers. Therefore mass production is easy for conventional turntables, but difficult for laser Turntables. This is why: 1) Our capable engineers manufacture turntables carefully, one by one. 2) Key components for the LT are expensive. These parts been developed only for the LT. 3) Equipment for production has also been developed solely for the LT. These are some of the reasons manufacturing costs are so high. Q: Why is ELP the only company that makes the Laser Turntable? Why don't other companies manufacture the LT? A: Finial Technology USA originally developed the basic technology of the Laser Turntable. They came to Japan in 1988 and made a technology demonstration in hopes of finding a business partner to promote the LT. However, Japanese companies didn't buy into the LT technology, because: (1) They were not convinced it would be a sound investment playing vinyl records via laser. After all, by 1988 CD's were already becoming popular. (2) The LT is not suited for mass production, because vinyl records were made for a stylus, not for a laser. We had a different opinion than other Japanese companies. Historically, new technologies have been used for mass production and mass sales. Namely, to replace an existing product with a new one. For example, black and white televisions were initially introduced on the market. New technology led to color TV, which quickly replaced B/W TV. Soon, newer technology allowed for color TV with no CRT... We certainly don't object to the industrial tendency to utilize new technologies. But we do believe that new technology should have an additional purpose: to re-vitalize old products if there is a value in maintaining them. Music and sounds in vinyl records--an invention dating back to Mr. Edison's phonograph--should be maintained without any distortion. Based on these beliefs and policies, ELP acquired the patent from the original developer, Finial Technology, and started promoting the LT in 1989. Since then ELP has resolved many technical and non-technical issues in the research and development of the LT. ELP decided not only to operate its LT business for profit, but to accomplish the aforementioned policy/mission as well. Q: Does the LT digitize the audio signal from the record? A: There is no digitization. The LT maintains a constant analog audio signal. Q: What is the sound quality of a laser? Is it better than a needle? A: Any kind of cartridge contacts the record groove directly, so it can't reproduce sound without some coloration. Additionally, cantilever resonance, moving coils and magnets, inertia and mass, and tone arm resonance all produce their own sound coloration. Therefore, some cartridges may be suited to jazz or classical music. However, the LT has no contact and therefore no coloration added, so the audio reproduction is as close as possible to the master tape. Q: I remember hearing that the sound reproduction of the older laser turntables was not good. Has that changed? A: The sound has been improved tremendously. It now meets the highest standards of recorded music. Q: Is it important to clean my records? A: Yes, it is very important since the laser reads everything it "sees." The sound quality will be much improved if you clean your records. Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
1) Our capable engineers manufacture turntables carefully, one by one. 2) Key components for the LT are expensive. These parts been developed only for the LT. 3) Equipment for production has also been developed solely for the LT.
These are some of the reasons manufacturing costs are so high.
Q: Why is ELP the only company that makes the Laser Turntable? Why don't other companies manufacture the LT? A: Finial Technology USA originally developed the basic technology of the Laser Turntable. They came to Japan in 1988 and made a technology demonstration in hopes of finding a business partner to promote the LT. However, Japanese companies didn't buy into the LT technology, because: (1) They were not convinced it would be a sound investment playing vinyl records via laser. After all, by 1988 CD's were already becoming popular. (2) The LT is not suited for mass production, because vinyl records were made for a stylus, not for a laser. We had a different opinion than other Japanese companies. Historically, new technologies have been used for mass production and mass sales. Namely, to replace an existing product with a new one. For example, black and white televisions were initially introduced on the market. New technology led to color TV, which quickly replaced B/W TV. Soon, newer technology allowed for color TV with no CRT... We certainly don't object to the industrial tendency to utilize new technologies. But we do believe that new technology should have an additional purpose: to re-vitalize old products if there is a value in maintaining them. Music and sounds in vinyl records--an invention dating back to Mr. Edison's phonograph--should be maintained without any distortion. Based on these beliefs and policies, ELP acquired the patent from the original developer, Finial Technology, and started promoting the LT in 1989. Since then ELP has resolved many technical and non-technical issues in the research and development of the LT. ELP decided not only to operate its LT business for profit, but to accomplish the aforementioned policy/mission as well. Q: Does the LT digitize the audio signal from the record? A: There is no digitization. The LT maintains a constant analog audio signal. Q: What is the sound quality of a laser? Is it better than a needle? A: Any kind of cartridge contacts the record groove directly, so it can't reproduce sound without some coloration. Additionally, cantilever resonance, moving coils and magnets, inertia and mass, and tone arm resonance all produce their own sound coloration. Therefore, some cartridges may be suited to jazz or classical music. However, the LT has no contact and therefore no coloration added, so the audio reproduction is as close as possible to the master tape. Q: I remember hearing that the sound reproduction of the older laser turntables was not good. Has that changed? A: The sound has been improved tremendously. It now meets the highest standards of recorded music. Q: Is it important to clean my records? A: Yes, it is very important since the laser reads everything it "sees." The sound quality will be much improved if you clean your records. Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
(1) They were not convinced it would be a sound investment playing vinyl records via laser. After all, by 1988 CD's were already becoming popular. (2) The LT is not suited for mass production, because vinyl records were made for a stylus, not for a laser.
We had a different opinion than other Japanese companies. Historically, new technologies have been used for mass production and mass sales. Namely, to replace an existing product with a new one. For example, black and white televisions were initially introduced on the market. New technology led to color TV, which quickly replaced B/W TV. Soon, newer technology allowed for color TV with no CRT...
We certainly don't object to the industrial tendency to utilize new technologies. But we do believe that new technology should have an additional purpose: to re-vitalize old products if there is a value in maintaining them. Music and sounds in vinyl records--an invention dating back to Mr. Edison's phonograph--should be maintained without any distortion. Based on these beliefs and policies, ELP acquired the patent from the original developer, Finial Technology, and started promoting the LT in 1989. Since then ELP has resolved many technical and non-technical issues in the research and development of the LT.
ELP decided not only to operate its LT business for profit, but to accomplish the aforementioned policy/mission as well.
Q: Does the LT digitize the audio signal from the record? A: There is no digitization. The LT maintains a constant analog audio signal. Q: What is the sound quality of a laser? Is it better than a needle? A: Any kind of cartridge contacts the record groove directly, so it can't reproduce sound without some coloration. Additionally, cantilever resonance, moving coils and magnets, inertia and mass, and tone arm resonance all produce their own sound coloration. Therefore, some cartridges may be suited to jazz or classical music. However, the LT has no contact and therefore no coloration added, so the audio reproduction is as close as possible to the master tape. Q: I remember hearing that the sound reproduction of the older laser turntables was not good. Has that changed? A: The sound has been improved tremendously. It now meets the highest standards of recorded music. Q: Is it important to clean my records? A: Yes, it is very important since the laser reads everything it "sees." The sound quality will be much improved if you clean your records. Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: What is the sound quality of a laser? Is it better than a needle? A: Any kind of cartridge contacts the record groove directly, so it can't reproduce sound without some coloration. Additionally, cantilever resonance, moving coils and magnets, inertia and mass, and tone arm resonance all produce their own sound coloration. Therefore, some cartridges may be suited to jazz or classical music. However, the LT has no contact and therefore no coloration added, so the audio reproduction is as close as possible to the master tape. Q: I remember hearing that the sound reproduction of the older laser turntables was not good. Has that changed? A: The sound has been improved tremendously. It now meets the highest standards of recorded music. Q: Is it important to clean my records? A: Yes, it is very important since the laser reads everything it "sees." The sound quality will be much improved if you clean your records. Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: I remember hearing that the sound reproduction of the older laser turntables was not good. Has that changed? A: The sound has been improved tremendously. It now meets the highest standards of recorded music. Q: Is it important to clean my records? A: Yes, it is very important since the laser reads everything it "sees." The sound quality will be much improved if you clean your records. Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: Is it important to clean my records? A: Yes, it is very important since the laser reads everything it "sees." The sound quality will be much improved if you clean your records. Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: How do scratches on the records affect the sound produced by the laser? A: Light scratches have little impact on the sound compared with records played with a needle. However, the noise from deep scratches is markedly reduced compared to what is reproduced on a conventional turntable. Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: What about records that are so warped a conventional turntable can not track the groove? Can they be played by the LT? A: Yes! The LT has an exclusive laser beam which manages the distance between the laser head and the surface of record, so the LT can track warped records that a tone arm can't negotiate. It does, however, have its limits: 5-6 mm of warp for LP's and 45's. Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: What about broken records? Can they be played? A: Yes. The LT will play if you have a broken piece on the tray. Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information. Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
Q: Is there a warranty on the Laser Turntable? What can I do if my LT is not working? A: If your LT needs repairs, return it to ELP. Please visit our warranty page for more information.
Q: How can I purchase the LT? A: Place an order via email with ELP. ELP will then communicate with you regarding the details of payments, delivery schedule, and other related items. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
If you have other questions, feel free to contact us. ELP wants you to have your own Laser Turntable. Thank you.
