Continuum Audio Labs say they are pleased to announce the introduction of their new analogue playback system, the Obsidian turntable and Viper tonearm at High End Munich 2016.” Designed by a team of engineers and designers whose expertise spans the disciplines of physics, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, vibration control, and industrial design, the system represents a major accomplishment in terms of sonic performance, mechanical sophistication, and aesthetic design” says the company’s latest press release.

Continuum CEO, Dr. Murali Murugasu, observes the significance of the Obsidian and Viper when he commented, “Having already established landmark designs such as the Caliburn and Cobra, creating a new design that would advance analog playback was a formidable challenge. Not only do the Obsidian and Viper do so on their merits, but doing so at its price is truly an accomplishment.”

The Obsidian utilizes tungsten in key points including the arm post, contact points for the arm suspension, and bearing ball and shaft. The bearing itself utilizes a magnetically opposed (but non-floating) design. The net effect of these constructs is that all platter resonances are below 10 Hz.

Beneath the platter and suspension lies the motor. Dubbed “The Quiet One”. For obvious reasons, this motor was specifically designed for Continuum Audio Labs. Speed stability comes from a 35mm, 60-volt zero-cogging DC motor that was designed and manufactured specifically for optimum performance with Obsidian’s platter mass and physical harmonic characteristics. The motor is controlled by a servo amplifier running at 53.6 kHz and has the highest power currently available in a motor of its size. Noise is addressed through the use of graphite brushes which provide the current conducting capacity required to drive a heavy platter and a specially designed damping system that attenuates brush noise.

Drawing on the familiar contoured shape popularized by the Cobra tonearm, the company utilized the latest finite-element analysis (FEA) software to create a tonearm with the “optimum stiffness to mass ratio in order to minimize unwanted resonances. In the Viper is a sapphire “V”- jewel paired with a hardened stainless steel pivot. The swash plate rides on damped miniature bearings manufactured to ABEC 9 standards, the tightest tolerance (0.0012 mm). A 30mm adjustable tungsten central tower provides a massive, stable support for the tonearm.

Finally, the Obsidian is set-up to allow the owner to add a second tonearm of virtually any length or design.

The Continuum Audio Labs Obsidian and Viper will be on display in the Constellation Audio Room (MOC, Atrium 4, 1st Floor, Room F-118) from May 5 – 8, 2016.

The US retail price of the Obsidian is $35,000 and $10,000 for the Viper. Deliveries to worldwide markets are scheduled to begin in Q3 of 2016.

Read more news about Munich High End 2016 Here and Hifi Pig’s coverage of last years High End Munich here