The GMTONE System introduces several highly innovative technologies that represent a step change in the analogue replay system within the high-end audio industry.

As we have mentioned already earlier this year, Wilson Benesch was founded upon an R&D project that gave birth to the WB-One Turntable in 1989 with the Full Circle TT following in 1999. These set the path for the Sheffield-based company as far as using novel materials science and technologies was concerned.

Wilson Benesch GMT ONE System Turntable

In 2019, Wilson Benesch’s new GMTONE System celebrates that technological path by presenting “one of the most radical and innovative analogue replay systems ever seen before.”

The GMTONE System is a ground-up optimised turntable design that represents a coherent, unified solution. Developed under the project name ‘Mondrian Project’ - the GMTONE System has benefited from grant funding from both the UK and Europe (on-going), allowing the company to draw upon the expertise of Professors, Doctors, Engineers and Design Engineers working at the forefront of cutting edge of advanced research within their respective fields.

As you may have already worked out, the GMTONE System derives its name from Greenwich Mean Time - the global reference for timekeeping for the last 135-years. The GMT reference is thus inspired by the innovative drive system behind the GMTONE System which lays claim to being the most accurate drive system ever developed for a turntable.

Eschewing the more familiar belt, idler or direct drive options, the GMTONE System deploys a recently patented magnetic gear technology dubbed, the Omega Drive. Wilson Benesch tells us that the Omega Drive attains unprecedented levels of accuracy and virtually zero noise thanks to the axially orientated binary bearing design at its heart.

Wilson Benesch Alpha Isolation System

The company has also developed the Alpha Isolation System to compliment the Omega Drive. The Alpha Isolation System achieves microscopic levels of isolation. Pneumatic rams that are electronically monitored provide precise levelling. Even if the system is disturbed during use, it will re-adjust within milliseconds to zero. The resonant frequency of the system is 1.7 Hertz.

GMT ONE Tonearms

Three new tonearms will be available to use with the GMTONE System at its launch.

The Graviton reference tonearm features a high modulus, geometrically optimised single piece carbon fibre tube. The arm tube is further enhanced by a sandwich construction that achieves an industry standard in terms of specific stiffness.

Joining Graviton is the Moment low mass design, and the CTi-30 low-medium mass design arms.

All three tonearm assemblies are based on uni-directional enhanced carbon fibre that is further enhanced by both carbon nanotubes and graphene.

Each design is complete with headshell and counterweight components that have been additively manufactured using state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies.

Remote VTA Adjustment

Mind-bogglingly, the GMTONE System enables you to remotely adjust the VTA from your listening position to within 2.5 microns - a degree accuracy within VTA adjustment that has before now been unthinkable. The Piezo VTA remote control adjustment system, like all sub-systems in the design, is a result of collaborative contributions.

We will certainly be checking this technological marvel out. Thankfully, a prototype of the GMTONE System will be presented for the first time at the Munich HIGH END in room E223 - A4.2.

Pricing is currently unconfirmed, but the GMTONE System will be available Q4 2019.

For more information, head on over to Wilson Benesch.