Well Tempered Lab Simplex Turntable

Ken Choi has posted a review of the Well Tempered Lab Simplex turntable ($1995) at The Audio Beat. His conclusions:

The Well Tempered Simplex runs counter to my intuition that over-engineering and high mass are necessary to squeeze the most out of vinyl playback, and it underscores the importance of squelching resonances at the tonearm and noise at the spindle bearing in creating a black background. It also proves that the motor, belt and platter are vital to re-creating music that is pure in tone and definition. The Simplex successfully addresses these facets in unique and innovative ways that have clearly been improved upon over the past 25 years, and it does so with surprising effectiveness given its price. The Simplex isn’t inexpensive; however, when one considers the current replacement cost of my Linn LP-12 or the price of today’s über decks, the Simplex would not be considered out of line — and it might well be thought of as a bargain when its performance is considered.

I’ve not listened to the Simplex’s more expensive stable mates, the Amadeus and Amadeus GTA. They feature 10 1/2" tonearms and more complex plinths, but the essential bits appear to be the same. The entry-level Simplex just might represent the sweet spot in this lineup, but this is pure conjecture — and part tease.

As someone who owns equipment from the likes of Nagra, Brinkmann, and Tidal Audio, I must say that a turntable that uses golf and squash balls, an MDF plinth, and a wall-wart power supply gives me pause for thought. However, if you value and respect countless hours of experimentation and outside-the-box thinking, and if you are mainly outcome-orientated, this could be your 'table. In fact, if you enjoy listening to records at all, a demo of the Simplex is certainly worth your time. It just might change your beliefs regarding analog playback — just as it did for me.

You can read the full review here.