"The Opera-Consonance LP6.1/T988 combo is not only a joy to use and listen to, but once I got past the "form follows function" appearance, I realized that it is also a thing of beauty. The entry level Opera-Consonance can not only be easily recommended for those who want their first "serious" turntable, but in these trying economic times, those who may feel the need to "step down" will be well served by the LP6.1/TP988 combo as well. I could easily live with it long term, and will miss it when it is gone." - Nels Ferre

Read Full Review here: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1109/opera_consonance_lp61_tp988.htm

Other reviews: 

1) Magazine Audio in Quebec, Canada: (you can use Google translate to read in English - a lot more great pictures included so you can see this table closely ) 

http://www.magazine-audio.com/2010/consonance-lp6-1/

http://www.magazine-audio.com/2010/consonance-lp6-1-part-2/

2) Audio Video Revolution in USA: 

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-audio-sources/vinyl-lp/opera-consonance-lp-6.1-turntable-and-t988-tonearm.html

3) UK HiFi Choice: 

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/turntables/consonance-lp6-1-t988-690097/review

Product Description: 

Opera-Consonance LP6.1 is designed with high performance in mind but at an very affordable price. If you own an old fixed arm turntable and plan to upgrade with a modest budget, the Opera-Consonance LP 6.1 should definitely be on your short list to check out. 

Opera-Consonance is a top turntable manufacturer out of China - their flagship Droplet LP 5.0 has been praised by many magazines worldwide and even won the Enjoy The Music.com Blue Note Award in 2005. The latest LP 6.1 has shares some design concept with the Droplet 5.0 for high performance but the LP 6.1 is constructed at a far more modest budget. 

The Opera-Consonance LP6.1 is an excellent option for consumers who want both performance and budget. You will have best of the both worlds :) 

The Opera-Consonance LP6.1 package includes plinth (motor pre-mounted in), platter and T988 tonearm. 

The platter is made of white acrylic with a foam record mat on top to absord vibration. Bearing is of low noise design. Japanese low noise DC motor is connected to the platter with nylon fishing line belt to minimize vibration transmission and maximize accuracy. The frame of the turntable is made of solid aluminum. It definitely gets the high end yet not-complicated look. The color combination of white acrylic and black base will work well with all types of audio furnitures and your other equipment. If you want your turntable becomes more artistic, you can use a small battery powered color LED light under the platter - at night, turn off your listening room lights and see your turntable float in the dark with LED light color, along with beautiful music. It's a joy to look at and listen to :) 

The LP6.1 comes with Opera-Consonance's self designed Consonance 9" T988 tonearm. With the oil damped pivot the T988 arm can accept almost all types of MM and MC cartridges with no difficulty, heavy or light cartridges without any any problem. This arm is not only affordable, but also request a low set up time so that you can enjoy it quickly after purchasing it. It has a clean look - there are no extra 'gadgets' to get in the way. 

Features of the T988 tonearm: 

• Single rounded point unipivot bearing
• Carbon fibre arm tube
• Oil damping and low mass, excellent for MC cartridges.
• Separate adjustments for VTA and Azimuth
• Easy anti-skating adjustment
   

If you wish to use a 12" tonearm (T1288 - a variation from the T988 arm), the plinth can be easily re-assembled to fit the extended arm length without extra cost.   

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What damping fluid to use with the tonearm? 

The manufacturer Consonance does supply silicon gel in a small plastic bottle for damping the tonearm. However, today's airline security rules often request us to take the liquid (especially those with suscipious looking, not commonly known as household gel) out from the package before we can ship the parcel to you. If you do not find the plastic bottle of silicone gel with your tonearm package, please visit Turntablebasics.com to order your silicone gel for tonearm dampling throughs separately. We are not able to airmail these gel to USA due to postal office rules, but the vendor's price is very reasonable. 

There are 3 density - light, medium and heavy. You can start with medium then experiment to light and heavy. There is no fixed rules of which one is the best. It's all about sound tweaking and personal preference. 

2. How much dampling fluid should I use in the damping through of the tonearm? 

There is exact fixed amount of fluid to use - usually put as much as the pivot cap just immersed in the fluid at the edge.

3. How to refill the dampling fluid well if the dampling fluid dried out over time? 

When the damping fluid is dried up, you can take the arm down and use tissue to wipe the well clean then refill. If you have a medical syringe, you can use it to suck majority of the fluid out, wipe clean with tissue then refill. 

4. Where is my turntable belt? I couldn't find it in the package! 

Don't worry - it's there but just not in the form that you expect. This turntable use a very thin nylon fishing line as belt to minimize the transmission of motor vibration to the platter. The nylon line is wound on a small paper card - look closely in your turntable package then you will find it. 

5. The nylon fishing line belt has a knot on it - when I have no music playing and listen closely to the table, I hear a faint 'tick' sound when the knot pass the motor. Can I remove the knot with a scissor? 

No. The belt (nylon line) is tied to a circle with the knot, so you cannot really cut the knot off - in that case the belt will be broken.