the Royale 400, that is, from Well Tempered Lab. Sporting a 16" (400mm) tonearm, huge plinth, this is not your basic WTL turntable. This is Bill Firebaugh's triumph of turntable design, something he has worked on and thought about for years. It finally came to fruition for the US this past CES in Las Vegas. It had a preliminary stay here at the Haven for field testing before Vegas, and now it's back, ready for your listening, and viewing, pleasure. This table takes up a lot of real estate, and does require, at 100 lbs, a worthy support. Don't plan on using a wall shelf from Quadraspire or the likes, it'll all be on the floor before you get a record out of its sleeve. Luckily for the owner-to-be, there is a WTL 3 shelf stand that matches the Royale 400.
It is unequivocably a unique table/arm at first glance. Yet use it a bit, and it makes so much sense. And joy. The arm feels great to use, there's an ease, a flow, from lift to drop. You would think by the length of the arm it was be the opposite. Come try it, you'll be grinning.
The WTL Amadeus, Firebaugh's first entry back into turntable design since the 80's, is the Haven's pick for one of the best tables under $10k, and beats some upwards of $20k. Now with the Royale 400, the music making becomes even more serious. Deep, endless bass, like bass only a big table can give. Snap, swerve, swing, something on the order of the Brinkmann. The Royale 400, like the Brinkmann, is setting reference level performance here. Truly a table I am pleased to demonstrate and display here.
As a hobbyist I had a WTL Classic in the 80's, a Reference in the 90's, then an Amadeus, and now the Royale. Even if I wasn't a shopkeep, I'd want a Royale 400. I have an affinity for Firebaugh's designs. It was a great joy to spend 4 days with him in the WTL room at CES. At 85, still as insightful and brilliant as ever.
It is unequivocably a unique table/arm at first glance. Yet use it a bit, and it makes so much sense. And joy. The arm feels great to use, there's an ease, a flow, from lift to drop. You would think by the length of the arm it was be the opposite. Come try it, you'll be grinning.
The WTL Amadeus, Firebaugh's first entry back into turntable design since the 80's, is the Haven's pick for one of the best tables under $10k, and beats some upwards of $20k. Now with the Royale 400, the music making becomes even more serious. Deep, endless bass, like bass only a big table can give. Snap, swerve, swing, something on the order of the Brinkmann. The Royale 400, like the Brinkmann, is setting reference level performance here. Truly a table I am pleased to demonstrate and display here.
As a hobbyist I had a WTL Classic in the 80's, a Reference in the 90's, then an Amadeus, and now the Royale. Even if I wasn't a shopkeep, I'd want a Royale 400. I have an affinity for Firebaugh's designs. It was a great joy to spend 4 days with him in the WTL room at CES. At 85, still as insightful and brilliant as ever.
the very brilliant William Firebaugh, and me - what else can I say? That's a hard act to follow...
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