Monaco Audio's Alvin Lloyd Talks About His NextGen Grand Prix Turntable

Grand Prix Audio's Alvin Lloyd talks about the NextGen Monaco turntable, which is a direct drive design that takes speed accuracy to the max.

Todd Lainhart's picture

You raised my initial concern. If the turntable is more accurate than the lathe, what are we left with?

I like the table, the man, and his ideas. What was he saying about his musings on tonearm design re speed - that he has in mind some sort of compensating tonearm? Compensating in what way?

Michael Fremer's picture
An SP-10 drives his
Michael T's picture

The MK 3 is very, very rare. It was a broadcast turntable, and was introduced as CD sales were booming, so not many were made. It's the next closest thing to the SP-02 motor, which is even harder to find. I believe it was only sold as part of Neumann lathes. Kevin Gray at Cohearant has the SP-02 on his lathe, and I believe Sterling Sound does also.

Consoleman's picture

If it's direct drive is has to have "cogging", right? ;-)

Michael T's picture

Boy, there is so much 'cogging' on Bernie's cuts that they score 11 (case in point Lyn Stanley's latest) for sound on Analog Planet lol. I am listening to Bernie's cut of Buena Vista Social Club and it sounds simply amazing. And yes, it's on a direct drive SP10MK2, so there MUST be even more 'cogging'....

mrl1957's picture

In order to conquer the problem of off-centered disc sides, shouldn't we be pointing fingers at the record pressers? I don't see how that problem would originate at the lathe, since the lathe should be damn precise to begin with. Or am I wrong?

Michael Fremer's picture
It's a combination of factors: the hole in the silvered lacquer is punched by eye using cross-hairs optical device. That has to be carefully done (not the same size as spindle hole) and then there can be stamper slippage in the tool.... it's a MIRACLE that good records ever get pressed!!!!!
Rudy's picture

Can this also happen when the stamper is in the press? I only ask since my Elvis 24 Karat Hits set from AP has eccentricity issues, and it is not consistent across both sets. Disc 1 seems good in both sets, yet discs 2 and 3 have different eccentricity per set (one may have more where the other has less--it's inconsistent).