For the second year running, Elipson has teamed up with Bleu de Chauffe to produce a limited and numbered edition of the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT turntable. This collaboration between the high fidelity specialist and the leather goods brand showcases the very best of French expertise. But does this €999 turntable sound as good as it looks?
In 2022, Elipson and Bleu de Chauffe teamed up to showcase their talents through a project that was 100% French. With the success of this first collaboration, the duo decided to renew the experience this year. As a result, the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT turntable now sports a peacock-toned leather finish. Only 100 units of this limited and numbered edition deck are available.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: packaging & accessories
The Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe turntable comes in a large box with a lot of packing foam. The turntable, platter and Ortofon 2M Red cartridge (mounted) are all carefully protected. Also included are a dust cover, belt, platter mat, adapter, counterweight and a pair of gloves. As for cables, the turntable comes with a removable power supply and an RCA cable. Because it is a limited edition release, the Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe turntable is delivered with an authenticity certificate that is dated and signed.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: presentation
Design
Naturally, the design is one of the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT x Bleu de Chauffe turntable’s main strengths. This limited and numbered edition has a superb peacock-toned leather covering. Unlike the first edition, this 2023 vintage uses aged and textured leather. As one of France’s leading leather goods brands, Bleu de Chauffe uses traditional techniques to work with this premium material. The full-grain cowhide is tanned using natural essences (acacia, mimosa and chestnut). Before being sent to Elipson’s workshops in Burgundy, it is crushed to ensure optimal softness and reveal its natural grain.
Integrated preamplifier
This leather version of the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT turntable has its own pre-amplification system. This way, the turntable can be directly connected to any RCA line input on an amplifier (auxiliary, CD, tuner…). Note that this integrated preamp is compatible with both moving magnet (MM) cartridges, like the included Ortofon 2M Red model, and moving coil (MC) cartridges. To this end, there is a dedicated switch on the back of the deck. However, unlike some similar models, the integrated RIAA preamplifier cannot be disabled. It is therefore not possible to use an external phono preamp with this turntable, nor connect it to a dedicated phono input.
aptX HD Bluetooth
The Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe turntable subtly combines the vintage charm of analog sound with contemporary connectivity. While this limited edition model can be used with regular bookshelf and floorstanding speakers, it can also stream music wirelessly to a connected speaker or to wireless hi-fi speakers. To do this, it is equipped with a Bluetooth emitter that is aptX HD compatible. This codec is optimized for the transmission of HD audio files up to 24-bit/48kHz.
Carbon tonearm
The Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe turntable is a limited edition version of the French hi-fi specialist’s top-of-the-range model, the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT Carbone. In addition to its unique design, it features a carbon tonearm designed to reduce vibrations. This extremely light yet resistant material enables the signal delivered by the cartridge to remain intact. As a result, the information contained in the grooves is transmitted without being altered or distorted by unwanted vibrations.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: key specifications
- Belt drive
- 33 and 45 RPM playback
- Peacock-colored leather finish
- Glued laminate birch chassis
- Steel platter
- Ortofon 2M Red cartridge
- RIAA preamplifier
- aptX HD Bluetooth
- USB port
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 450 x 120 x 380mm
- Weight: 5.8kg
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: listening conditions
For our review, we decided to opt for a French setup. We connected the Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe turntable to the Atoll IN200 Signature stereo hi-fi amp using the included RCA cable. The amplifier was connected to the Elipson Prestige Facet 8B compact speakers using QED XT40i cables, and the speakers were placed on NorStone Epur Stands.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: listening impressions
When the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT was first plugged in, we didn’t notice any hiss or humming noise when switching the system on. This model, which tops the Elipson Chroma range, promises a clear and detailed reproduction. From the outset, we could tell that the turntable was able to fully harness the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge’s sense of ease in the low-end of the spectrum. Renowned for its full, warm sound signature, the latter made the music wonderfully dynamic.
Confronted with the eclectic catalog of music we listened to, from Amy Winehouse’s soul to Led Zeppelin’s rock and Cypress Hill’s rap, the Elipson Chroma 400 maintained a wide, well-balanced soundstage. Vocals were natural, and the musical reproduction was dynamic, regardless of whether the volume was low or high. The instruments supported and elevated the vocals while filling out the soundstage. As a whole, the sound was perfectly coherent and highly enjoyable as we relaxed on the sofa.
The Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT x Bleu de Chauffe turntable remained true to the original recording. This neutrality means you need to have a perfectly maintained record collection to get the most out of your listening sessions. The French turntable showed great composure and managed to reproduce the different frequency ranges with ease. To be exhaustive in our listening test, we also connected the turntable to a portable Bluetooth speaker. Pairing is done simply by pressing a button on the back of the turntable. This system lets you enjoy your music even when you aren’t sitting beside the deck, without having to turn the volume up so high that it disturbs the neighbors.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: compared to…
Argon Audio TT-4 Special Edition: the Danish company also has a limited edition version of its top-of-the-range turntable, available for €999. Equipped with a carbon tonearm and an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, the TT-4 features a heavier platter and offers more pronounced lows. However, the Argon Audio turntable is surpassed by the versatility of the Elipson model, which has a built-in Bluetooth emitter.
Pro-Ject T2 W: available for €900, the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable stands out from the competition with its extensive wireless connectivity. WiFi, Bluetooth and multi-room (notably the Sonos ecosystem) compatible, the T2 W is a connected model. However, the aluminum tonearm cannot compete with the carbon model of the Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT. By eliminating as much vibration as possible, it ensures more accurate playback and lowers noise levels, making even the smallest sonic details audible.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: who is it for?
The Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT x Bleu de Chauffe turntable is aimed at music lovers looking for a versatile solution. Capable of integrating a traditional vinyl system with a hi-fi amp and a pair of speakers, it can also stream records wirelessly via Bluetooth. Its peacock-toned leather finish also makes it perfect for those who appreciate unique decorative objects.
Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe: conclusion
Easy to set up, incredibly elegant and made using high-quality materials, the Elipson Chroma 400 x Bleu de Chauffe turntable has many advantaged. Its Bluetooth emitter also allows it to evolve with your system. For example, it can stream music to a Bluetooth speaker that’s out on the patio. Its leather finish makes this limited and numbered edition a truly singular piece of equipment. Furthermore, its musical performance matches its elegance. The sound is clear and dynamic, with plenty of detail and rich tones.
We liked
- The leather finish
- The ease of use
- The lack of noise
- The aptX HD Bluetooth compatibility
We would have liked
- To have been able to deactivate the phono preamp
