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Well Tempered Labs Classic
Well Tempered Labs Classic
MSRP: $ 2795.00

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Rated: 4.8 of 5
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Rated: 4.75 of 5
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Rated: 4.5 of 5
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Rating
Reviewed by:
John Chleapas
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
December 18, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5.00 votes

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Review 1 of 10

Price Paid:  $650.00 from AudioGon

Summary:
I bought this mint turntable for 650. I drove it to Well Tempered Labs in Saco, ME. I had the tonearm rewired with Cardas wire and the table and arm recalibrated. I was mightily impressed with the build quality of this table. I got it home and I played some records using my Dynavector DV-20x low output moving coil cartridge. Amazing the detail in the music I am now hearing. I upgraded the clamp to the Reference clamp. I also use the Extremphono mat to damp the acrylic platter. These are true bargains in the audio world.

Strengths:
Build quality is quite high. The speed is rock steady as measured by my strobe. I have a Lyra Parnassus cartridge to try after I spend more time with this table. I clean my records on my nitty gritty 3.5 FI before playing them.

Weaknesses:
The stock arm rest needs to be upgraded and the acrylic platter should be damped.

Similar Products Used:
None save my Ariston RD-11s. The Well Tempered Classic is in another league..


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Dennis
(Audiophile)

Review Date
November 18, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.40 of 5, 5.00 votes

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Review 2 of 10

Price Paid:  $3500.00 from internet

Summary:
This is a review of the latest "version V" Classic.

Simply put, this table has a magical way of repoducing vinyl records. The sound is alive and organic. Incredible dynamics, imaging that is "holographic", deep subterranean bass, the list goes on & on.

It never ceases to amaze me and my audiophile (& non audiophile) friends alike that there can be THIS much information still lurking in a vinyl record.

Until the recent purchase of the awesome Audio Aero "Capitole 24/192" CD player, my CD playback was ALWAYS playing "catch up" with this amazing turntable.

It plays the best records with the continueness and lif-like dynamic shadings of the original event. The trumpet "blasts" from the M&K direct-to-disc recording of "A Tribute to Duke", Duke Ellington's band, makes EVERYONE literally JUMP the first time they hear it. "...the guy's in the frickin' room playing!!..."

This is the last turntable I will ever own or need.

System:

W.T.Classic V turntable (w/Audio-Technica ML170 cart.)
(isolated with Aurios M.I.B.'s & "sandwiched" with Navcom feet)
Balanced Audio Technology P5 all tube phono stage
Reference Line Preeminence 2B passive pre-amp
PS Audio P300
Llano Desin "Trinity 400" amp
Martin-Logan Odyssey speakers
Analysis Plus Oval 9/Silver Oval spkr. cable
Silver Audio "Hyacinth" XLR intrc.
Silver Audio "Power Burst" AC cord (tube section, Trinity)
PS Audio Lab Cable (Output section,Trinity)
Sonic Horizons "Hurricane" Ac cord (BAT P5)
" " AC cord (P300)
Audio Aero Capitole 24/192 CD player (Sonic Horizons "Skyline" Ac cord)
Sanus Systems S6 eq. stand
Sennheiser HD600 headphones
Wheatfield HA1 hdph. amp.
Shakti "Stones" and "On lines"
Vibrapod isolation feet
Argent "Room Lens" (3)
Alpha Core ""Triode Quartz" XLR intrc.
Quantum Power "Symphony" (2)
& one wife suspiciously looking at my life insurance policy...

Strengths:
Studio Master tape reproduction. Black background, incredible imaging, etc., etc.

Weaknesses:
Not enough free time in a day to listen to it.

Similar Products Used:
Well Tempered "Record Player", Denon DP62L, Sansui SR838


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Rating
Reviewed by:
john COCKING
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
March 17, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 3 of 10

Price Paid:  $600.00

Summary:
Used Rock turntable as reference for 10 years , then heard WTClassic.Most accurate rendering of Sheffield Labs Drum Test Record I've heard.On initial hearing sounds slow compared to other decks but quickly realise the use of bearing less arm ensures deck has VAST amounts of time to deal with all the musical strands.I knew the Rock was dynamic but nowhere near as good as WTClassic.Mine is pre 1995 with seperate motor housing which slides in to plinth from side and an audio engineer has designed a power supply which elevates the deck even further.THIS DECK IS THE LAST ONE I WILL EVER OWN.The sheer weight and authority is tremendous , and the bass whilst not as powerful as the Rock , is much easier to follow and more detailed ( Rock bass I now believe to be inaccurate , too heavily over damped ).All other decks are far too fast (listen to live music and you will understand ).Has to be heard to be believed. Just need good support for deck - Any recommendations ?

Strengths:
Musicality and exceptional decay of notes and most realistic portrayal of vocals ever heard.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Townshend Rock Turntable


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Walt
(Audiophile)

Review Date
December 16, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

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Review 4 of 10

Price Paid:  $3400.00 from Deja Vu Audio

Summary:
This was a long time coming and after some sorting out of phono stages and cartriges I can thing of no other table I would have. This table just makes sense. This is by far the only table I have heard that does not color the music in any way. It is amazing how different every album sounds. My Cd playback system I thought was good and it is but I am amazed at how the more solid the imaging is with analog. Even sitting outside the sweet spot there is a better sense of depth and much better image width. I will report back after I put some time in.

Strengths:
Very quiet, natural sounding, does not ador subtract anything from the record. Motor is absolutly vibration free, does not need addl speed control. Can be adjusted to fit any cart. available including being able to adjust the damping on the arm.

Weaknesses:
Because of the adjustability of this table it may take time to set up properly.

Similar Products Used:
None really in this class.


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Peter
(Audiophile)

Review Date
November 25, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

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Review 5 of 10

Summary:
This is a very very good table.I use a Glider .9mv with it.Put on a piece of vinyl sit back and music as it was intended.Great inner detail and truthful reproduction.

Strengths:
many

Weaknesses:
None


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