New Technics SL-1000R turntable to retail for $20,000

Panasonic has announced a new high-end Technics turntable, the SL-1000R.

The electronics giant broke the news at the CES tech conference in Las Vegas ye. The direct drive SL-1000R takes the SP-10R, which was announced last year, and adds a high damping, S-shaped magnesium tonearm, complete with OFC internal wiring. Like the SP-10R, the SL-1000R aims for reference class playback quality, boasting a wow and flutter level of 0.015%, a 10mm thick brass weight platter and a new “unwanted noise reduction circuit.” Its total weight comes in just over 40kg and Panasonic claims the turntable has the world’s best signal to noise ratio.

According to Trusted Reviews, the deck will retail for $20,000, placing it in the outer reaches of the elite audiophile market. DJs will find a relatively more affordable option in the SL-1200GR.