At High End, I found of the niftiest audio gadgets I’ve yet come across — from Italian company GPinto, called ON.
ON stands for Old/New, which is a playful reference to the fact that this device blends old tech with new to create something different. Different, and fully hipster.
And did I mention that it looks amazing?
The removable Corian platter (sitting atop the wood-veneer over the Corian plinth) is unmistakable, and the carbon-fiber Pro-Ject tonearm a dead giveaway — the ON is clearly a turntable, first and foremost. And by first and foremost, I really mean just that it is the most obvious element. Because it’s not a turntable. Well, not just.
But there’s also a USB connector — an input. This is weird — most turntables that sport a USB connector use it as an output — for “archiving” vinyl. But not here, no — the ON has an integrated DAC. It takes in computer-based playback, and can spit it out the back-end.
Back end? Yes! Because ON is also an integrated amplifier — there are, in fact, three flavors of ON, which are entirely dependent on the size/power output of the included amps; these come in 100, 250 and 500 watts per channel.
It gets better — the ON is also is aptX-Bluetooth compatible. Wait, what?
Yes, ON is a full-featured center to your in-home audio experience — all you need are speakers. Talk about compact.
More features: the ON is a 33/45 rpm belt-drive ‘table; the belt is hidden underneath the platter, presenting a very tidy footprint. Two tubes poke up out of the chassis, near to the volume knob — they’re for the integrated preamplifier section, which sports it’s own, isolated power supply. There are two analog inputs, one coaxial, two optical, and USB input, the lattermost which includes support for 24bit/192kHz files.
It’s almost impossible to say what the ON sounds like — GPinto was showing in the Hall, which meant “open space, with everyone else playing”, which meant lots of noise. But the damn thing does make sound — and it’s so freakin’ cool, I can’t help myself. I totally want one.
Beautiful workmanship, clever idea, great combination of features — sounds like a winner to me.
Prices for the ON are targeting €2999 for the ON100, €3999 for the ON250 and €4999 for the ON500.
Scott, while I enjoy all of this never-ending show, after show, after hi-fi show coverage — I sure miss your websites (and yours) individual equipment reviews. Hope those reviews find their way back — soon.
Understood!
Gear reviews, along with commentary and all the “extra curriculars” that we’ve been bringing out, will resume when there’s less danger of them getting swept away in the flood. But these five months, April-August, are wall-to-wall audio shows.
Covering shows the way we do, the way we always have, takes time. We approach shows with respect — that is, respect for those that actually spent their blood and treasure to pull together a live and walk-in audio experience.
We’ll be the first to admit that this is different. Audio shows are not new, and show coverage isn’t either. Our valued peers in the industry may choose to approach audio shows differently, and that is their editorial prerogative. But we’ve decided that being superficial, that treating an audio show like a trawl through a rubbish heap for a handful of shiny objects, seems a waste. Anyway, respect takes time. Time to frame. Time to present. And given that we’re all part-timers over here, we also need to find the time to get around to that work.
But believe me, we hear you. And we’re moving as quickly as we can.