Analog Gear News

We haven’t looked in on Vertere for a while since we saw their RG-1 and MG-1 MKII turntables firsthand at the most recent trade shows in Toronto and Munich, respectively, so we’re happy to report on what’s what with the British company’s latest offering, the DG X turntable.

The DG X is quite the nice upgrade to the company’s DG line. (We previously covered Vertere’s DG-1S here on AP back in August 2023.) The belt-drive DG X table comes in three finishes — gloss black, red, and white — and is fitted with the company’s Groove Runner X tonearm and Sabre Lite MM cartridge. The three-layer cast acrylic plinth boasts a clear middle layer that features internal illumination. The table’s precision-machined aluminium alloy platter incorporates an aluminium disc and a PETG bonded mat that’s said to keep resonance “under control,” while a protective cork/neoprene/nitrile mat with equally distinctive patterns is said to add further LP support and damping.

The DG X’s super-precision-machined non-magnetic stainless-steel main bearing assembly features a mirror-polished spindle, brass alloy main-bearing housing, tungsten carbide thrust ball, and selectable grounding (signal, chassis, and floating).

The table’s drive system boasts an AC synchronous low-voltage motor. The microprocessor-controlled motor drive is fully programmable with motor-noise reduction/bridged balanced motor output amps. The DG X offers electronically selectable playback speeds of 33.3 and 45rpm.

The included Groove Runner X tonearm features a special tri-point-articulated bearing system with three captive precision silicon nitride balls with VTA-adjustable non-magnetic bearing point, adjustable stainless weight/thread progression across the LP, azimuth compensating stainless weight, removable arm beam with magnetic arm rest, bespoke lift/lower mechanism, static insulated lift/lower arm, non-resonant TA bearing pillar, pulse wiring, and gold-plated RCA output sockets with selectable shielding (signal, chassis, and floating).

The GR X arm’s effective length is given as 240mm, overhang as 1.5mm, offset angle as 22.9º, and weight as 340g.

The table’s stainless-steel non-magnetic main counterweight has a captive, easy-adjustable, friction-locked fine-azimuth setting screw and end weights. Its special locking aluminium alloy counterweight fixing screw is factory set with a variety of the cartridge-fitted DG X packages — the options of which are listed in the SRP section near the end of this story — and likewise in terms of the factory-set fine-tracking weight adjustment, arm/cartridge resonance setting, and VTA adjustable non-magnetic bearing point screw. Meanwhile, anti-skate with progressive bias force is said to be easily adjustable.

The dedicated, DC-2 30V DC desktop power supply is included, along with a detachable mains cable that can be upgraded to a Redline AC mains cable, if desired. Three adjustable feet are also supplied — one acetal rear foot pillar, and two aluminium alloy front foot pillars.

The fully removable, bespoke dust cover is tinted non-resonant acrylic. Dimensions of the DG X table are 18 x 5 x 15in (w/h/d, including dust cover), and its net weight is 17lb.

Finally, the SRP for the Vertere DG X turntable “RAW pack” (their phraseology) is $4,999. When the factory-set Sabre Lite MM cartridge is included, that brings it up to $5,999, while going with the Sabre MM cart package brings it $7,499, choosing the Dark Sabre MM cart route takes it to $8,999, and choosing the Mystic II MC cart tallies at $12,999.

For more about Vertere, go here.
To find an authorized Vertere dealer, go here.