First the whole TT debate of DD versus Belt versus Rim drive or whatever is a red herring. The only thing that matters is what your ears tell you. What is the holy grail for one is the dogs whotsits to another. I would like to say, however, that many years ago when the Linn/Naim axis strangled development of hi fi here in the UK there was one piece of excellent rhetoric that came out of it all and that was "Garbage in, garbage out. Using that as a starting point absolute speed accuracy, tracking ability, good steady and stiff power supply become paramount. Agree or disagree, a good turntable will sound better than a poor turntable. The difference should be obvious. Remember garbage in garbage out, what is lost at the beginning of the chain cannot be rescued later on. Irrespective of what electronics, speakers and connecting wire you use, a good (and compatable)turnatble, arm and cartridge will sound better through budget electronics than a lesses turntable arm and cartridge through the most exotic of gear. What you are talking about here is fine tuning to suit individual tastes.
Rega turntables are a rip off (I've owned a P3 some yers ago), Linn are good but very, very overpriced. The best I ever owned (to my ears) was an STD (the original nextel finish) with an SME3 with the ortofon intgrated arm wand. They went the way of all hi fi systems when marriage,children & mortgages intervened. They were sold. Now, some 30 years later I am able to indulge myself again so what have I bought to satisfy my my craving to hear my vinyl again. Yes, a Technics SL1200 with KAB fluid damper, Kevins groovemaster cartridge, KAB power supply, KAB threaded record clamp and sonic dome feet. I am a happy man. I read (and sometimes drool) over the mega buck turntable setups and wish for that lucky line on the lottery but you know what, I honestly believe that even if I could afford one of those mega buck monoliths I would still come back to the technics. It is well engineered and technics have the confidence to actually provide you with specifications that you can use to beat them with if the turntable fails to measure up to them. Not many (any?) of the mega buck manufacturers are confident enough in their product to go that far.
So I m a happy man. Kevin has told me that he has an idea up his sleeve but he is not sure if it is worthwhile pursuing. He feels that unfair criticism has been levelled at the tone arm on the technics (how many other manufacturers actually specify the friction of their bearings). He is toying with the idea of replacing the wiring in the arm. He wants it to be a DIY project and is going to provide a complete arm wand and wiring that will exit via the TOP of the turntable via a replacment machined hinge. Sounds facinating. I'm sure Kevin will not release it until he is satisfied that the improvement is worthwhile (audible). More power to him. While we have someone of his calibre in our corner the vinyl lp will reign supreme. Played on any good turnatble you will get the precision of a CD with the warmth and emotion of analogue.
Long live the difference!
Rega turntables are a rip off (I've owned a P3 some yers ago), Linn are good but very, very overpriced. The best I ever owned (to my ears) was an STD (the original nextel finish) with an SME3 with the ortofon intgrated arm wand. They went the way of all hi fi systems when marriage,children & mortgages intervened. They were sold. Now, some 30 years later I am able to indulge myself again so what have I bought to satisfy my my craving to hear my vinyl again. Yes, a Technics SL1200 with KAB fluid damper, Kevins groovemaster cartridge, KAB power supply, KAB threaded record clamp and sonic dome feet. I am a happy man. I read (and sometimes drool) over the mega buck turntable setups and wish for that lucky line on the lottery but you know what, I honestly believe that even if I could afford one of those mega buck monoliths I would still come back to the technics. It is well engineered and technics have the confidence to actually provide you with specifications that you can use to beat them with if the turntable fails to measure up to them. Not many (any?) of the mega buck manufacturers are confident enough in their product to go that far.
So I m a happy man. Kevin has told me that he has an idea up his sleeve but he is not sure if it is worthwhile pursuing. He feels that unfair criticism has been levelled at the tone arm on the technics (how many other manufacturers actually specify the friction of their bearings). He is toying with the idea of replacing the wiring in the arm. He wants it to be a DIY project and is going to provide a complete arm wand and wiring that will exit via the TOP of the turntable via a replacment machined hinge. Sounds facinating. I'm sure Kevin will not release it until he is satisfied that the improvement is worthwhile (audible). More power to him. While we have someone of his calibre in our corner the vinyl lp will reign supreme. Played on any good turnatble you will get the precision of a CD with the warmth and emotion of analogue.
Long live the difference!