Fosi Luna 3 Turntable..

[mhardy6647]

It looks fine for a turntable. Nice and simple. They were smarter than McIntosh and didn't cram tubes into it.

Far be it from me to be a McIntosh apologist but, in fairness to them, the gizmo @Brian Hall alludes to was/is a bizarre early 21st Century take on the old "all in one" phonograph - thus the tubes.

McIntosh MTI100 Integrated Turntable

At first glance, the McIntosh MTI100 Integrated Turntable may look like it’s just a turntable, but a closer look will reveal that it is in fact so much more. Truly a one-of-a-kind product, it is designed for those who want maximum flexibility in their home audio system but don’t want – or don’t...

www.mcintoshlabs.com

... and, of course, not that such things have to have vacuum tubes. Back in the olden days (e.g., 1970, see below) low rent purveyors of audio products such as Lafayette Radio Electronics used those cheap, junky transistors. But the 21st Century McIntosh is innovative!

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Lafayette-Catalogs/Lafayette-1970-700.pdf

Mac has sold (and perhaps still does - I don't know) "actual" turntables as such. 100% tube free.

McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable

The McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable is a complete turntable package that is more than the sum of its parts. Engineered to exacting McIntosh standards, the MT5 takes full advantage of the chassis materials used to suppress noise, resonance and coloration so the only sound produced is that which...

www.mcintoshlabs.com

Their TOTL model (the MT10), laughably, was not, however, meter-free -- even though the meter didn't actually measure anything.

McIntosh MT10 Precision Turntable

McIntosh MT10 Precision Turntable: With tracking force, anti-skate and cartridge position preset at the factory, MT10 turntable delivers high performance LP playback with minimal set up.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

Regrettably, this site's facepalm emoji is woefully inadequate in the present case...

 

[JeffS7444]

It's launching as a crowd-funded project:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fosiaudio/fosi-audio-luna3-turntables?ref=aguvj4
Probably pretty "safe" as these things go.

 

[jmchrislip]

If I were looking for a starter system, I would buy this in a minute. The AT-95E (easily upgraded stylus), decent tonearm and stable speed. Just for perspective, my first turntable was a Garrard 40B changer. I'm more and more impressed with the quality of the gear coming from China. My main system is mostly USA gear from SCHIIT, except for my Chinese made Denon DP3000NE turntable and my KLH Model 3 speakers. My bedroom system consists of a FOSI BT20A amplifier with Sparkos OP-Amps installed by me, a pair of Minimus 7 with PZ 2.1 Mod crossovers and a WIIM Mini..
The quality of sound coming from FOSI and other companies from China keeps getting better despite the additional cost of tariffs. Hard to beat in 2025.

 

[TheBatsEar]

Their TOTL model (the MT10), laughably, was not, however, meter-free -- even though the meter didn't actually measure anything.

Me, listening to a Macintosh sales rep explaining the VU meter on that turntable.

 

[TheBatsEar]

If I were looking for a starter system, I would buy this in a minute. The AT-95E (easily upgraded stylus), decent tonearm and stable speed.

Is the AT-95E the same as the AT-VM95E? I think the first is the older version, is it not?

 

[audio_tony]

Audio Masterclass has done a review of it (well, more of an unboxing video really).

 

[antcollinet]

In 2025 this cannot be considered hifi. Besides, there is nothing pure about analog.

Whilst I can't disagree, the FI is just as HI now as it was in the 70's and 80's.

Plus - it is fun.


EDIT : if the price is right I might just consider getting one to compare with my Rega P3.

 

[mike70]

many people listen to streaming with not so good internal networks ... so, you have the natural high compression mastering for streaming sources and low quality transmission ... do you think is "hi Fi"?

science also says "take care of the implementation, only the theory isn't enough in the real world "

 

[antcollinet]

many people listen to streaming with not so good internal networks

Which makes no difference at all - unless they are so broken the ethernet does not work and no sound comes through at all.

so, you have the natural high compression mastering for streaming sources

Of course - lossy compression *can* make a difference, but I'm not aware of any streaming service using such high compression that it is audible. And most offer lossless.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Turntable is a little pleasure you can offer to yourself. Plenty of people smoke, that's bad for their health, they know, but they continue.
A turntable is not bad for your health and a good way to start a sterile conversation in ASR.

 

[mike70]

Which makes no difference at all - unless they are so broken the ethernet does not work and no sound comes through at all.



Of course - lossy compression *can* make a difference, but I'm not aware of any streaming service using such high compression that it is audible. And most offer lossless.

I disagree ... when network bandwidth gets lower, transmission algorithms also goes to lower quality to avoid skips.
And higher compression in the master is a known trick to sound good on portable devices / earbuds, the standard destination for that digital services.

Not anything digital is high quality per sé, that's a theoretical capability. In the past I had many CDs with mp3

 

[antcollinet]

I disagree ... when network bandwidth gets lower, transmission algorithms also goes to lower quality to avoid skips.

Possibly true for video where bandwidth requirements are much higher. Though even for video I'd only expect wan speed to cause lower quality - rather than LAN. Perhaps if streaming 4k over a wireless network.

The bandwidth for streaming audio - even lossless audio - say 1mb/s for 16/44.1, or 3mb/s for 24/96, is so low even compared to only 100mb/s ethernet, that you'd have to consider the network broken if it was unable to support it.

 

[mike70]

Possibly true for video where bandwidth requirements are much higher. Though even for video I'd only expect wan speed to cause lower quality - rather than LAN. Perhaps if streaming 4k over a wireless network.

The bandwidth for streaming audio - even lossless audio - say 1mb/s for 16/44.1, or 3mb/s for 24/96, is so low even compared to only 100mb/s ethernet, that you'd have to consider the network broken if it was unable to support it.

Well, I was talking about wifi networks ... people usually hate cables

But, the "core" aspect is the difference between the lab and the real world ... sometimes we discuss between 5dB of SINAD like the end of the world.

The real (real) thing is the sound in your ears ... and that stuff is much (much) complicated than theoretical capabilities. We also got the science on that stuff, but normally in ASR people tend to stay in the abstract theoretical field, when your own ears cannot listen to 18khz (as an example).

Well, uncompromised Sunday thinking ... lol

 

[Mike123]

Well, I was talking about wifi networks ... people usually hate cables

Not even all Mikes hate cables . You were talking about old Wi-Fi networks. Modern Wi-Fi is also very redundant for sound. Well, if people care about sound quality, then I think they will bother with reliable data transmission.

 

[mike70]

Not even all Mikes hate cables . You were talking about old Wi-Fi networks. Modern Wi-Fi is also very redundant for sound. Well, if people care about sound quality, then I think they will bother with reliable data transmission.

reliable, yes (you won't listen to "cuts" or "skips") ... 1400 kbps warranted as a cd player, no.
but, even with that ... what's the audible difference? surely you won't listen to any difference unless the thing goes very, very bad
so, vinyl with something like 12 bits ... can sound very good, for me at least, with decent records, sounds with no difference with streaming (sometimes better).

i'm saying analog is "better"? the "natural and warm" sound? the "gift of the gods"? no, no and thousand times no.
i'm saying that in the real world, with your real room acoustics, real mastering process in the music, real data transmission (i'm a software engineer and i had to study this stuff), real ears ... whatever ... vinyl can bring (can bring) a very decent listening experience. That's all.

and i close my opinion in that stuff, i think i said too much already for a sunday

 

[Neddy]

A 'new' take on the original AR turntable? Simple, cheap(ish). But with more 'features' as it should have.
But I'm not impressed with the acrylic turntable platter.
I spent a few years machining it to make drift chamber components for HE Physics, and the static created by it was enough to drive us nuts, and we had the entire P.Dept wood shop at our disposal, including all manner of clothing, masks, and humidity control...and the stuff still went everywhere.
Cleanup of the ensuing 'sawdust' everywhere took about 2 hours every day, even though we had great exhaust/filtration systems.
Seems like putting a diamond stylus on spinning hunk of the stuff is just asking for problems...
(Hah, found a pic, attached.)
But it's very cute, nice features...price still unknown?
I have a very inexpensive USB (and analog) turntable that uses the same cartridge, and am not over impressed with it...but it is convenient.

Good on Fosi for giving it the old 'college try'!

 

[Petrushka]

Basic record spinner at an AR price (inflation adjusted).

But lacks the most important AR feature, the suspension.

I’m surprised no one has marketed a simple hanger for turntables. I grew up in a house that had springy floors. You couldn’t walk without causing record skip. I hung the TT from the ceiling with nylon string.

 

[Ropeburn]

View attachment 465940
Me, listening to a Macintosh sales rep explaining the VU meter on that turntable.

The following gut punch part is when they're telling you the price.

 

[antcollinet]

vinyl can bring (can bring) a very decent listening experience. That's all.

Yes it can - fully agree. Sorry - my inner pedant got the better of me.

 

[TheBatsEar]

The following gut punch part is when they're telling you the price.

Do you have an estimate? More than $10k?