Product Description
The 217 is Burmester’s first turntable introduced to its renowned Top Line series. The 217 prioritizes optimal playback quality above all — and utilizes highly intuitive operability. During the research and development process of the 217, Burmester was able to draw on more than 35 years of processing experience with the highest-quality phono signal and make excellent use of its know-how to offer additional products in the vinyl portfolio.
With the 217, Burmester adds a turntable to its popular Top Line.
The 217 is equipped with two belt drive motors, which enable near-perfect operation due to their high efficiency. In combination with the significant, massive, low-resonance unibody housing made of solid aluminum, this enables exceptionally precise and highly musical reproduction of vinyl records.
Burmester’s 217 turntable builds on its big brother, the 175, in numerous aspects. The unit has a gimbal-mounted, straight tonearm that is naturally cranked by the geometry of the headshell. At the same time, the exact length between bearing and needle tip is 239.1 mm — just over 9 inches.
The tonearm is made of unidirectional fiber composite material in conjunction with aluminum components. The needle used is a Shibata design and the signal from the cartridge is passed on directly via a high-quality phono connection cable.
Each 217 comes with a slipmat made of composite leather.
Brand
Burmester
Burmester Audiosysteme, founded in 1977 by musician and engineer Dieter Burmester, designs and manufactures high-end audio components. Based in Berlin, the company has built a reputation for precision engineering and detailed sound reproduction. Burmester products are assembled by hand and feature distinctive design elements like polished chrome finishes and aluminum enclosures.
The company’s goal has remained the same since day one: deliver sound that feels as lifelike and dynamic as a live performance. Burmester’s lineup includes amplifiers, preamps, digital sources, and speakers across three product tiers: Classic, Reference, and Signature. These systems are known for their ability to combine technical precision with musicality. Rather than chasing trends, Burmester sticks to proven engineering principles and long product life cycles.
One example is the Burmester 100 phono preamplifier, which offers analog purity and digital flexibility. With two fully configurable inputs, precision-milled aluminum construction, and a built-in A/D converter, users can play vinyl through analog systems or archive it digitally. The 100 includes selectable impedance, gain, and equalization settings, giving listeners full control over their signal path.
In addition to home audio, Burmester develops custom sound systems for luxury automotive brands, including Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. These systems are tuned specifically for each vehicle’s interior. Whether in a living room or a car, Burmester focuses on delivering reliable, transparent sound that reflects the original recording as closely as possible.
