Turntable design, it seems to me, should concentrate on rotational speed.  This is controlled by motors and bearings, the platform, the platter, the belt, oh, well, everything if we are being honest.

When searching for vinyl perfection, the likes of Michel Engineering go for mass and momentum, and Rega searches for rigidity with their low-mass skeletal designs. Vertere, however, goes all out for engineering and precision, in equal measure. Build quality goes without saying in these companies, and others.

The DG-1S takes these principles a stage forward on from the DG-1 which itself was a beautiful piece of equipment. We concluded of the DG-1 in February 2021:

…a joy to look at as well as listen to, Vertere’s DG-1 is an outstanding turntable package without a doubt.

Design

Vertere DG-1S improved bearing

The Vertere DG-1S has several upgrades on the DG-1 as we discussed with Touraj Moghaddam at Whittlebury in this interview after 0.58” (June ’23). Touraj noted in the search for perfection there is an improved ‘super fine’ polished turntable bearing. This has a statistically higher tolerance delivering improved performance through lower noise and less pressure on the motor. This improvement has necessitated the need for a motor drive software upgrade.

To keep up with the bearing improvement, there is also a new 5-ply tonearm construction that is now it is called the Groover Runner S tonearm. Further, there is a new bearing construction for the tonearm itself. Other upgrades include an improved coupling between the three plinths that ‘improves resistive damping and reduces noise’. The sum of all these upgrades offers the opportunity to benefit from the Sabre moving magnet cartridge, with its ‘elliptical diamond’ stylus if you don’t already have an equivalent moving magnet solution.

Quality

Out of the Box

This review of the DG-1S is of the Sabre Package. There are several packages available from Vertere.

A standard vanilla DG-1S package includes a DG-1S itself, a calibrated Vertere stylus balance, as well as some D-Fi, interconnects. This package has the ‘entry level’ Magneto cartridge on the Groove Runner S tonearm. There is a ‘Redline’ package without a cartridge which makes sense if you have a super cartridge already.

Vertere DG-1S with Techno Mat

This Sabre Package includes the Sabre MM cartridge upgrade, a Techno Mat, the Challenger Power Supply as well as the beautiful squidgy Iso Paw isolation pads, and some upgraded Redline interconnects. If you have a stunning Phono stage already you’re up and running perfectly with this package. Vertere does of course advocate their Phono-1 stage which can support MM or MC cartridges.

There are further upgrades available with the Mystic MC cartridge an obvious stretch as well as other optional extras around turntable support.

Full package and upgrade details are linked here.

Feel and touch

The soft acrylic sandwich feel is retained and it is a pleasure to behold. It still has a “Darth Vader’s turntable” vibe and it is definitely Dark Side. There is in fact a gloss white DG-1S option that maybe the Stormtroopers relax to on the Death Star, as well.

There is a clear, very thin acrylic lid that I have not fitted; it takes away from the overall aesthetic, in my view.

Dimensions (W x D x H) are 469 x 384 x 130mm (including dust cover). The turntable is a sturdy 8kg, 8.31kg with the tonearm. This Vertere DG-1S Sabre MM cartridge package is £4,950 (July 2023).

Performance

Vertere DG-1S on the Iso Paws with plinth spike detail

Review Equipment

I have the DG-1S on a bespoke, spiked, Kilshaw turntable block of wood that weighs a proverbial tonne, but it does a job of providing a base for the turntable. I have the DG-1S on the three Iso Paws provided connected with the Redline interconnects to the Vertere Phono-1 phono stage. In turn, this is connected with more Redline interconnects to the Moor Amps Angel preamplifier. A Moor Amps Angel 6 power amplifier is driving various loudspeakers including the Kudos Titan 505s, the Serhan Swift Mu2 MkIIs and the Audiovector QR1s.

Physically

Vertere DG-1S Challenger Power Supply Upgrade

This is a wonderfully pure setup. The Challenger power supply upgrade is ice cold to the rear motor area of the turntable. The start/stop and speed button is still too close to the silicone belt, which I think should be black with this black gloss finish, rather than clear.

The turntable itself may well benefit from a proper HiFi rack I think, and it is undoubtedly the case that my suspended floor here may not be the optimum place for this turntable to be.

Setup

The actual build and assembly were tricky and delicate, but in the end pretty

Vertere Groove Runner S with balance slider

easy. Once I was in the right place the tonearm balancing was a doddle and the accurate stylus weight measure provided was a great help. The balance slider on the tonearm was excellent for controlling and getting the right weight on the Sabre MM cartridge.

Kudos Titan 505 & Serhan Swift

…this DG-1S is just a very joyful and tactile experience…

Once again with Vertere, the first thing I notice is the very low noise floor. With the Serhan Swift speakers, I have a very gentle presentation, that is characterised by profound detail. This comparable clean, crisp reproduction comes with the Titans.

It is quite hard to describe, however, this DG-1S is just a very joyful and tactile experience.  Stylus delivery is a different process from other turntables as the Groove Runner S hovers and settles itself above the vinyl.  With the softest touchdown, the needle lands in place and the Sabre cartridge begins the process of dragging everything out of the groove.

There is notable detail in the presentation, for example, the low-end delivery throughout Ben Howard’s Every Kingdom is subtly delivered by the Moor Power amplifier and the Charleston loudspeaker cables that are wide as the Nile.  Also worthy of note are the sparkling Tabourines in Old Pines and the edge of the acoustic guitar in Diamonds (not to mention Everything).  Overall there is a sense of joy here.  I do usually buy a new vinyl record with a turntable review but on this occasion, I have never bought as much in the last few weeks, supplementing my collection with Taylor Swift’s folklore, Ben Howard’s debut and a new copy of Ray LaMontagne’s Trouble.  I have been unable to find a fresh copy of Ryan Adams’ Gold. This is my all-time favourite album; my copy is totally worn out to the extent that I’m often playing the Live at Carnegie Hall six-disc set instead.

Vertere DG-1S output terminals

Indeed, it is in the Live albums I have had the most engagement with this turntable.  Listening to Ryan Adams’ Live Carnegie Hall (PaxAm) box set is my definition of perfect songwriting and emotion (Sylvia Plath, New York, New York, Rescue Blues), notwithstanding that his recent tribulations (all recently dropped by the authorities) have taken some of this enjoyment away from me.  But I recover with Live Drugs (Super High Quality Records), a release by The War on Drugs. Their live version of Accidentally Like a Martyr is pure Rock ‘n’ Roll gold in my view and this turntable unleashes the full version as the Titans discharge their potential. Another notable live recording, The Show (Fiction Records, this was a Record Store Day purchase) by The Cure had me playing all four sides straight through in an indulgent afternoon.

Obviously, the standards, like Brothers In Arms, Dark Side of the Moon and OK Computer gain much from this vinyl experience.  I note at this point how little classical music I have on vinyl, it must be time for a trip to Strummer Room Records before the DG-1S leaves the building.

What does all this mean?  Has Touraj and the DG-1S given me more musicality? How can this be possible when the DG-1 was/is so good?  I have had it suggested that musicality is where the head and heart are fully engaged in a listening experience. I wholeheartedly agree. Of course, this is an artist, a recording, then a source (turntable or DAC), an amplifier and a pair of loudspeakers.

Vertere DG-1S is getting a bit dusty

…I have not talked about timing in this review, it literally goes without saying

I myself had musicality down as engagement and emotion, when it is intuitive, it is just natural. This is basically head and heart I guess? This turntable has me totally engaged, offering periods of emotion that are hard to find in more analytical sources.  It is musicality when you’re hopping up and down every 20 minutes relishing the delivery of the needle to the joy of vinyl. And I have not talked about timing in this review, it literally goes without saying. This turntable feels perfectly smooth and on time.

Thoughts

So, the DG-1S turntable is a delight to use, listen to and engage with.  It’s a lot of money but this package is really all you’ll ever need in your lifetime and it is something the next generation can appreciate too. If you have a high-end cartridge investment already, this feels like it could be your perfect platform if you’re looking for a modest upgrade.  And I have not even mentioned the impeccable Vertere Phono-1 stage which is totally flexible to any cartridge you could prefer.

Overall

…this turntable is tactile, engaging and emotional at every level…

Touraj said at the Whittlebury show he was looking for increased musicality; this turntable is tactile, engaging and emotional at every level, and they’ve done it.  If this is your budget I would unreservedly recommend an audition.  If the DG-1 was outstanding, it is hard to think how the DG-1S could be anything other than the same, maybe we should add a ‘very’ to the award!

Specification

Vertere Phono-1 MkII rear

Full details are on the company’s site.