Every day I see another turntable recommendation...
After digging into this topic, I am convinced now I need to go a bit higher on this first vinyl set up. I think all in, I am prepared at this point to go up to $5k, for the table alone, not including arm or cartridge.
But frankly, being on this forum is like drinking from an information firehose. I have learned a bunch and yet somehow, I am less convicted than before.
With that in mind, to narrow down the decision, I am want to restrict myself to things I can buy, hear and, if necessary, service locally. My local dealers stock, AMG, AVM, Basis, Clearaudio, Michell, Musichall, Pro-ject, Rega, VPI, so I am likely restricted to those brands. I am certain my view will change by the end of this thread.
I agree with most of your post here. But the Naim forum thread with 1700 posts is not some form of agenda filled propaganda! I suggest you spend time flipping through the many pages of folks proudly showing their LP12 tables. These guys really love their tables! Some are purchased new and some have been constantly evolving for decades. It should be noted that there is a real competitive rivalry between fans of Naim and Linn. Some of this is friendly and some far less so… |
Why would I even consider doing ^that^? People that have the Linn tables split into two groups. It is the same with any other piece of gear from McIntosh done through Bose. I can turn on Fox news, or PBS or read the New Yorker, to get wildly different versions and meanings of events. So I would not expect to log into a Naim forum and find anything there except for love of Naim… up to the point of fetishism.
A rose by any other Naim, is just a rose.
Easter is coming up… and whether it is Mormons, 7th day Adventist’s, or Muslims, or others coming to knock on the door… they too are passionate about knowing the truth. They love their God just as much as Linn or Sota owners love their tables, or Naim owners love their gear. In the end… who really cares about their stories? we just choose a table and it becomes great (or at least good enough). I would probably be happy with a Project table if I had one. But I don’t… I have a table almost 40 years old. I am still generally happy with it, and to upgrade would be nonsensical at this point.
A used Linn TT is a variable suggestion for the OP’s budget and needs. As are many other options. If someone mentioned a Brinkmann or a Moreiseiki then, “yeah there are also fine tables,” they they are outside of the OP’s budget. I would like one of those tables too… But I am not going to go to a Brinkmann forum to read about the negatives of Brinkmann tables... or even a balanced review. It would be moronic to even think that I could find such text there. Andit is not propaganda, it is just natural that, “birds of a feather flock together.” |
+1 @photomax
I realize many are repulsed by the SL1200 but I am so thankful for having discovered its potential. Thanks to KAB and a few other suppliers, the hidden performance of these 3+ million turntables is quite staggering. One of the biggest benefits is the Mk2~Mk6 three (3) layer construction - these things are actually isolated. No wonder DJ’s used them! The footers in these capable machines break the audiophile rules of lossy coupling by having the feet screw into to lower chassis rubber boot. Yes. Not rigid! And unlike many lightweight sprung ‘tables, this system handles real SPL energy without soundstage compression. A sturdy shelf and a few pieces of sorbothane to provide lossy vertical & lateral isolation is all the isolation you‘ll ever need. Go figure . . . |
Many TT owners are Wed to one Brand and One Model and are usually only owning one TT. In some cases there are the same as above for the TT in daily use but other TT’s are owned, some of the additional owned TT’s may be in a set up condition allowing them to be used at leisure. Focusing on the pleasure to be had from listening to replays on a variety of TT’s as the motivation to have a selection of TT’s, when this is a method used, the owners of the selection of TT’s that I meet with, are usually appraising of the TT’s in use and not too concerned about the gap in the technologies that separate them. I have a selection of TT’s but use one model as my go to TT. A friend has a Goldring Lenco produced in the 70’s, Thorens Belt Drive ’modified’ from the 70’s, Linn LP12 produced in the 90’s, Technics SP10R. All are in use and each is savoured for the presentation they can deliver and the alternate experiences each can offer. The Spec for three of the TT’s to aspire to is very well known, but neither is judged negatively for this. It was the good impressions made from these TT’s that encouraged another to sell their SME 20/12 with Series V and purchase a Garrard 401, they preferred the Idler Drive presentation at this stage in their life. |
Very true @pindac and well stated! |
