Direct drive turntable under $20k

[tima]

From Grand Prix Audio - introduced at the LA Audio Show 2017.

Using the same form and compact size as GPA's Monaco turntables, the Parabolica is a turnkey direct drive 'table whose MSRP is $16k. Lower cost is partly achieved by including the entire drive system within the plinth (so no external controller box and connecting cable) and the plinth is not made from carbon fiber like the Monacos (but it looks like carbon fiber.) I believe the plinth also contains lighted touch controls for on-off and speed selection. Like the Monacos, there is a single removable armboard for easy swaps. I don't know the Parabolica's final production specs but from what I've told, they are pretty darn amazing.



Above pic from a brief mention on Analog Planet.


That thing to the left is an armboard.

Parabolica brochure (PDF) from LA Show.

Looks like (at least part of) what turnkey means here is not having to load the bearing with oil. Using the same 74000 line platter attached encoder as the Monaco v2 should tell you a lot about the drive system. If you buy the tonearm and cartridge from a GPA dealer, I'll speculate most all a new owner has to do is: take it out of the box and put it on a stand, level it, release the platter secure bolt, plug-in and play a record.

[Mikeylee]

I saw this turntable in the wild about an hour ago. The pictures do it little justice. It is gorgeous!! Unfortunately, it was not hooked up so I could not sneak in a listen.

[tima]

Grand Prix Audio now has published specifications for the Parabolica direct drive:

• Incredible speed stability - average 30 parts per million (.00012% RMS)
• Unrivaled speed control in it’s class - peak deviation less than 0.00025%
• Factory sealed hydro-dynamic bearing- never needs servicing
• Direct drive with no seals, no belts, no gears, and no mechanical contact
• Iconic plinth with exclusive Grand Prix Audio design and signature carbon fiber chassis
• Capacitive switch controls power and speed with a simple touch, no buttons
• Quick-release arm board provides a repeatable method to swap tone arms in moments

• Materials: Carbon Fiber, Aluminum, Sorbothane, Kevlar
• Turntable Dimensions: 13” diameter, 5” height
• Weight w/ Controller: 27 lbs.
• Speed Accuracy: .00012% RMS; <0.00025% peak deviation
• Drive System: Brushless DC Motor, >74,000 x2 line encoder disc
• Upgrade: F1 package includes Apex Feet w/ adjuster mechanism and 1” thick Formula platform

Looks like my comment in the OP is inaccurate as the table does have a carbon fiber plinth.

Alvin Lloyd told me the performance of the Parabolica was so much better that it has replaced the earlier Monaco 1.5. That means a direct drive table costing $16k with better performance replaced one costing $24k - pretty amazing.