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Atmo Sfera – Audio Revolution or Style Over Substance?

in Blog, Turntables by Gareth Peebles

That which is essential is perfect. (Leonardo da Vinci 1452 – 1519)” reads the opening title of the Kick Starter campaign video for the Atmo Sfera turntable project. A quote that eloquently summarises the utilitarian-come-minimalist design principles of Italian start-up, Audio Deva’s “revolutionary”, “engineering masterpiece”.

As you can probably tell, Audio Deva are not short of a superlative or two when it comes to marketing their “new paradigm in turntable design”. But aside from their design philosophy and general bluster, their “Platterless Turntable Theory” (oh, of course darling, you didn’t think this turntable would come without its own pseudo-scientific audio design theory did you?!) actually makes for an interesting read:

“Here we reveal the golden key of achieving higher sound quality from a truly different design.

Imagine the turntable (EVERY turntable) as a gigantic spring; more the weight, the dimension etc. more the spring. Every spring squeezes itself to absorb energy and so does the turntable; then it releases that energy causing buzzes, noises and muddiness in the audio range. The simplest method the vast majority of the turntable designers use to avoid this is to add a huge mass, so: heavier platters, heavier turntable plinths and so on”

Whether the theory holds water is another question, but the design is unquestionably arresting and if it does in fact contribute to greater audio fidelity, then even better!

Their $1,350 “platterless design masterpiece” is estimated to be finished by September  and you can read more about it here.

 

About the Author

Gareth Peebles – I have always been in love with popular culture – but, being a child of the 80’s and part of “the MTV generation”, I suppose it’s fitting that the one constant in my pop culture obsession has been music. Music, music, music. All day, everyday, in every and any way that I can get it.

My first full time job was at a now defunct major label store – which I loved. Then I taught Media Theory & Production for a few years – which I also loved. Now I get to listen to music all day and create stuff using computers, which I love too!

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