Grand Prix Monaco review in new Stereophile- OUCH

It's difficult to imagine a direct-drive TT with more impressive engineering credentials than the GPM on its dedicated stand. Fremer acknowledges the positive attributes applauded by fans of DD(clarity, attack, excitement), while largely dismissing these attributes in the broader context of fatal flaws(dryness & deficiencies of texture & dimensionality.) It is interesting to see DD placed in a wider context by a leading reviewer who IMO has good ears. On the forums there are some very vocal boosters of direct and idler drive. However, it can be hard to judge such opinions, which may as often reflect an attachment to vintage designs and budget price-points, as they do considerations related to absolute performance. With GPM we appear to have a clean-sheet cost-no-object design which comes up short. However, Fremer's current megabuck Caliburn as reference would probably shame any TT brought in for comparison. It would be nice to see the GPM compared to TTs at real-world prices.

I would sum up his review as "damning by faint praise". This is of course, relative to the normal hyperbole. Kind of like when everybody gets an a in the class, and the dummy gets a B-. "Well its above average"..compared to what we do not know. Certainly took away any interest I might of had in it.

Cheers,
chris

Though it did seem like a nice unit,the asking price was/is absurdly high!I am sorry it did not seem to live up to it's performance potential,according to MF,but I simply don't see "20 large" anywhere in that product.I am sure research was costly,but it still does not equate into such rediculous pricing!...

I too was pretty disappointed with the outcome of the review.... Even though I can't afford the table now, it's design was very interesting.

I have a Garrard 301 that I restored and love (no I didn't do it for love of vintage audio, or because of price... I was just curious). The table sounds better (to me) than anything else I have heard, but does have some trade-offs. Given my priorities I was really hoping the new DD technology would solve all..... Oh well, anyone compared the GPA to the new Teres?

Chris

My read on the review is that Fremer thought it was a very fine sounding and well engineered/built product that only paled in comparison to his reference turntable which cost 4x as much as the Monaco. Also, carefully read his comments on the sonic failings of the Monaco. Much of it reads like audiophile audiophile bullshit talk.