I just discovered Pro-Ject’s new turntable Configurator, which is like a candy store for audiophiles with a serious budget. This handy tool allows you to custom-build your dream turntable from scratch. You get to choose from a glossy collection of components, including the plinth, tonearm, magnetic coil cartridges, and much more. It’s basically the tech equivalent of customizing a luxury sports car, except you might need to sell an actual sports car to afford it.
The Configurator focuses on their elite Xtension 9 model—already a beast on its own with a heavy aluminum platter and a fancy ceramic ball for nearly magical, frictionless rotation. Once you dive into customizing this masterpiece, the options get pretty wild. You can pick from different tonearms with silver wiring, a variety of phono pre-amps, and even phono cables and power supplies. Each choice adding more zeros to the final price tag, which could easily surpass the annual budget of a small island nation.
Finalizing my customized turntable on Pro-Ject’s Configurator was like confirming my participation in the audiophile Olympics. Opting for the snazziest components like the Walnut Burl high gloss plinth and black premium tonearm, the price skyrocketed to around €9,347 ($10,000). Now, all I need is to win a lottery or discover a treasure map in my backyard to complete the set with an amp and speakers capable of handling this monster.
**Hot Take**
In a world where people are happy streaming music on their smartphones, spending $10k on a turntable seems as practical as buying caviar to feed your cat. But hey, if you’ve got the cash to flash and a passion for top-tier vinyl experiences, who am I to judge? Just remember, the next time you misplace your expensive sunglasses, they might just be hiding under a stack of your ultra-exclusive, gold-plated cables.
Original Article: https://www.techradar.com/audio/turntables/i-built-my-dream-turntable-using-pro-jects-new-configurator-and-now-i-have-to-sell-my-house