Turntables — Luphonic Model H1

The Model H1 is a turntable with belt drive from Luphonic Labs, a company founded at the beginning of 2020 in Linden, Germany. It ships with the in-house Luphonic K2 radial tonearm fitted as standard and sits alongside the Model H2, R2 and R3 turntables in the Luphonic range. The recommended retail price for the H1 is EUR 1,690, while the K2 arm, also sold separately, is listed at EUR 890.

Key specs that matter

Playback runs at 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, with the speed chosen electronically at the push of a control. Luphonic quotes a speed accuracy of 0.07% WRMS to the DIN method. The platter stands 24 mm tall and weighs 1.9 kg. Overall the deck measures 440 mm wide, 140 mm high and 370 mm deep. The finish is matte black, and the platter can be ordered in either white or black.

Engineering and use context

The platter is turned by a synchronous motor whose flat belt wraps around a sub platter. Its controller generates highly accurate sine and cosine waves, and each motor and controller are individually paired for smooth running with optimal torque. The chassis is rigid polyurethane foam laminated with HPL, which keeps its weight very low (460 grams) while retaining high stiffness, and its surface does not show fingerprints. Height-adjustable feet let the plinth be levelled. The platter uses a low-resonance solid surface material, a composite of acrylic-bonded aluminium hydroxide. The K2 arm follows a classic gimbal layout on a carbon tube, with precise backlash-free miniature ball bearings in the pivot. Its headshell is a polyamide compound filled with tiny glass balls, which the maker says gives high rigidity at low weight. An integrated low-capacitance phono cable runs from the arm, so no separate arm lead is needed. The arm is built from carbon, aluminium, stainless steel and POM, uses horizontal and vertical precision ball bearings, and balances cartridges with a stainless steel counterweight. The owner can set arm height, downforce, azimuth and bias compensation. Sold on its own, the K2 comes in two lengths, with effective lengths of 239.3 mm and 304.8 mm.

Pairing

Luphonic states that the K2 suits cartridges weighing between 5 g and 14 g, a range covering light and medium-weight designs. The H1 carries no phono preamplifier of its own, so it needs either an integrated amplifier that has a phono section or an external phono preamplifier suited to the cartridge fitted. Luphonic also offers its own LuMat record mat as an accessory for its turntables.

Alternatives

The Luphonic Model H2 is the other belt-driven turntable in the same H series from the brand.