Burmester 175 Turntable

Complimentary White Glove Delivery • Travel Reimbursement*

The Burmester 175 Turntable is a complete Reference Line analog playback system engineered as a unified combination of turntable, tonearm, moving-coil cartridge and phono preamplifier. Rather than requiring the owner to assemble and match each element independently, Burmester optimizes the entire analog signal path as one system, from the stylus tracing the record groove to the balanced XLR output feeding the amplifier.

At its foundation is an extraordinarily substantial 60.8 kg chassis, a 16.1 kg constrained-layer platter, four digitally controlled AC synchronous motors and four-belt drive system. A custom 9-inch multi-layer carbon tonearm carries Burmester's moving-coil cartridge with a Nude Shibata stylus and sapphire cantilever.

The cartridge feeds an integrated 70 dB MC phono preamplifier derived from Burmester's 100 Phono Preamplifier, keeping the extremely low-level cartridge signal path exceptionally short before amplification. The 175 then connects directly to a preamplifier or integrated amplifier through balanced XLR outputs.

It is a turntable conceived as a complete Burmester source component.

Four-Motor Belt-Drive System

The 175 uses four AC synchronous motors arranged symmetrically around the sub-platter, with four corresponding belts driving the platter assembly.

A conventional belt-drive turntable generally applies force from one side of the platter. Burmester's symmetrical four-motor arrangement distributes drive force around the rotational axis, minimizing uneven lateral forces on the central bearing.

The architecture also provides the torque required to bring the exceptionally heavy platter to operating speed quickly.

The motors are controlled by dedicated digital electronics using a high-precision oscillator to generate the required sine and cosine drive signals. As a result, motor operation does not depend directly on the frequency stability of the incoming AC mains supply.

16.1 kg Aluminum and Brass Platter

The platter alone weighs 16.1 kg, approximately 35.5 lb.

Rather than using a single material, Burmester constructs it as a three-layer constrained structure:

Aluminum
Brass
Aluminum

The different mechanical properties of aluminum and brass help suppress resonances that could otherwise travel through the platter and influence stylus tracking.

Additional damping is applied to the underside of the platter, further controlling unwanted mechanical energy.

The platter bearing is designed to remain maintenance-free throughout its service life, while the conical sub-platter interface automatically centers the main platter during installation.

Massive Aluminum Chassis

The 175's drive system is mounted within an extremely substantial solid-aluminum chassis.

The complete turntable weighs approximately 60.8 kg, or 134 lb, before including its separate 8.6 kg power supply.

That mass provides a mechanically stable foundation for the platter, motors, tonearm and cartridge.

In vinyl playback, mechanical vibration is particularly important because the cartridge is fundamentally a vibration-measuring device. Any movement reaching the stylus that did not originate in the record groove has the potential to become part of the electrical signal.

Burmester therefore approaches the chassis and isolation system as integral components of the analog signal path.

Magnetic Isolation System

The 175 uses a sophisticated magnetic damping system within its baseplate to mechanically isolate the turntable.

The substantial upper turntable assembly is decoupled from the supporting surface through magnetic elements incorporated into the Reference Line base.

This helps prevent structural vibration from the floor, equipment rack and listening environment from reaching the platter and cartridge.

The supports are also height adjustable, allowing the turntable to be precisely leveled after installation.

For a turntable weighing more than 130 pounds, proper support, leveling and isolation are essential parts of setup.

Custom 9-Inch Carbon Tonearm

The 175 includes a dedicated 9-inch tonearm with a multi-layer carbon arm tube.

Burmester specifies an effective length of 238.2 mm and overhang of 16.2 mm.

The tonearm uses precision bearings and provides fine adjustment of the parameters required for accurate cartridge setup.

Azimuth can be adjusted through clamping screws, while tracking weight is set through a fine-thread mechanism.

Anti-skating is continuously adjustable.

Because the 175 is delivered as a complete system, these parameters can be optimized around the supplied Burmester cartridge rather than requiring the owner to begin with an unconfigured tonearm.

Burmester Moving-Coil Cartridge

Burmester equips the 175 with its own moving-coil cartridge, completing the factory-matched analog system.

The cartridge uses a Nude Shibata stylus mounted to a sapphire cantilever.

The Shibata profile creates a long, narrow contact area with the groove wall, allowing the stylus to trace fine groove information while distributing tracking force across a relatively large contact surface.

The sapphire cantilever provides a rigid mechanical connection between the stylus and the cartridge's generating system.

Burmester specifies the cartridge at 12 g, with 14 μm/mN compliance and an internal resistance of 5 ohms.

Integrated MC Phono Preamplifier

One of the most important aspects of the 175 is hidden inside the chassis.

The turntable contains its own moving-coil phono preamplifier derived from Burmester's 100 Phono Preamplifier.

A moving-coil cartridge produces an extremely small electrical signal. In a conventional system, that signal must travel through the tonearm wiring, external phono cable and connectors before reaching an external phono stage.

By integrating the phono preamplifier into the 175, Burmester keeps this vulnerable low-level signal path exceptionally short.

Once amplified and equalized, the signal leaves the turntable at line level through balanced XLR connections.

Adjustable MC Cartridge Loading

Although the supplied Burmester cartridge is already matched to the internal phono stage, the 175 provides adjustable MC loading for cartridge optimization.

Available input impedances are:

100 Ω
220 Ω
330 Ω
470 Ω
1.0 kΩ
4.7 kΩ

Burmester recommends 4.7 kΩ for the factory-installed cartridge.

This flexibility also makes it possible to optimize the integrated phono preamplifier around other compatible moving-coil cartridges should the system configuration change later.

70 dB Phono Gain

The integrated phono stage provides 70 dB of gain at 1 kHz.

That substantial gain is required to raise the extremely small signal generated by a moving-coil cartridge to a level suitable for a conventional preamplifier or integrated amplifier.

Burmester specifies total harmonic distortion of only 0.0018% at 1 kHz with a 0.5 mV input, along with channel deviation below 0.1 dB.

The phono stage has a published frequency response of 16 Hz to 102 kHz at +0.2/-3 dB, with the 16 Hz lower limit incorporating subsonic filtering.

Balanced XLR Output

The 175 outputs its amplified analog signal through balanced XLR connections.

This means the 175 can connect directly to a balanced line-level input on a Burmester preamplifier or integrated amplifier without requiring an external phono stage.

That architecture is particularly significant because the signal is amplified and equalized inside the turntable before traveling through the external interconnect.

The result is a much less vulnerable connection between the turntable and the rest of the audio system than the extremely low-level phono connection normally required by a moving-coil cartridge.

Separate Power Supply

The 175 uses a separate external power supply, physically removing a major source of electromagnetic energy from the sensitive cartridge, tonearm and phono electronics.

The power supply itself is substantial, measuring 450 × 316 × 97 mm and weighing 8.6 kg, or approximately 19 lb.

Separating the power supply also allows the turntable chassis to concentrate on mechanical stability and low-noise analog operation while the power conversion circuitry occupies its own enclosure.

33⅓ and 45 RPM Playback

The 175 supports both primary modern record speeds:

33⅓ RPM
45 RPM

Speed is managed electronically through the four-motor drive system, eliminating the need to physically reposition a belt when changing between record speeds.

Combined with the integrated phono stage and factory-installed cartridge, this contributes to one of the 175's defining characteristics: despite its extraordinary engineering complexity, everyday operation is intentionally straightforward.

A Complete Reference Analog Source

The significance of the 175 is not any single component.

Burmester controls the complete playback chain:

Drive system
Platter
Isolation
Tonearm
Cartridge
Cartridge loading
Phono amplification
Balanced output

That integration eliminates many of the compatibility decisions normally involved in assembling an ultra-high-end analog front end.

The tonearm does not have to be selected independently from the cartridge. The cartridge does not have to be matched to an unrelated phono stage. The phono cable does not have to carry a tiny MC-level signal across the equipment rack.

Burmester engineers the entire analog source as one Reference Line component.

Technical Details

Specification	Burmester 175
Product Line	Reference Line
Product Type	Turntable System
Drive Type	Belt Drive
Motors	4 × AC Synchronous Motors
Drive Belts	4
Motor Control	Digital
Speeds	33⅓ / 45 RPM
Platter Construction	Aluminum / Brass / Aluminum CLD
Platter Weight	16.1 kg / 35.5 lb
Main Bearing	Maintenance-free
Chassis	Solid Aluminum
Isolation	Magnetic damping system
Feet	Height adjustable
Tonearm	9-inch multi-layer carbon
Tonearm Effective Length	238.2 mm
Overhang	16.2 mm
Tonearm Weight	0.7 kg
Effective Tonearm Mass	2.8 g
Azimuth Adjustment	Yes
Tracking Weight Adjustment	Fine thread
Anti-Skating	Adjustable
Cartridge Type	Moving Coil
Cartridge Weight	12 g
Stylus	Nude Shibata
Cantilever	Sapphire
Cartridge Compliance	14 μm/mN
Cartridge Internal Resistance	5 Ω
Cartridge Load Requirement	>40 Ω
Factory Recommended Load	4.7 kΩ
Integrated Phono Stage	MC
Phono Gain	70 dB at 1 kHz
Phono Frequency Response	16 Hz to 102 kHz, +0.2/-3 dB
Phono THD	0.0018% at 1 kHz / 0.5 mV
Phono Output Noise	-71 dBV, unweighted 22.4 kHz
Channel Deviation	<0.1 dB
Adjustable MC Loading	100 / 220 / 330 / 470 Ω / 1.0 / 4.7 kΩ
Analog Output	Balanced XLR
Turntable Width	450 mm / 17.7 in
Turntable Height	250 mm / 9.8 in
Turntable Depth	395 mm / 15.6 in
Turntable Weight	60.8 kg / 134 lb
Power Supply Width	450 mm / 17.7 in
Power Supply Height	97 mm / 3.8 in
Power Supply Depth	316 mm / 12.4 in
Power Supply Weight	8.6 kg / 19 lb
Power Consumption, On	52 W
Standby Consumption	<1 W
Manufacturing	Berlin, Germany

Burmester's current operating manual confirms the 175's four synchronous motors, 60.8 kg turntable weight, 238.2 mm effective tonearm length, adjustable MC loading and integrated phono stage. The factory cartridge uses a Nude Shibata stylus on a sapphire cantilever.

Burmester 175 at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi in Houston specializes in Burmester reference audio and complete world-class analog systems. The 175 is particularly compelling because Burmester has already engineered the relationships among the turntable, tonearm, cartridge and phono preamplifier. The remaining system should be approached with the same level of attention.

We can design the complete analog system around the 175, including Burmester preamplification and power amplification, loudspeaker matching, balanced cabling, power infrastructure, equipment support, turntable positioning and final system setup.

At approximately 134 pounds for the turntable plus another 19 pounds for its separate power supply, support and installation should also be planned before delivery. Proper leveling, equipment furniture and placement are part of getting the complete system right.

Complimentary White Glove Delivery • Travel Reimbursement*
Qualifying purchasers may receive airfare reimbursement for your private audition.
Considering the 175? Let’s build your dream analog system around it. Call (713) 218-8120.
*Restrictions apply. Contact us for details.