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I am asking your opinion as to the best turntable

I have owned a Rockport Serius II, VYGER INDIAN and am considering whether to go to a small platform table (SME 30). Before wandering down that path, I am soliciting your personal opinions, taste recommendations and observations about tables, usabililty, reliability and ultimate sonics. If untimate sonics are my first priority and reliability is my second priority, then what have I overlooked and should consider, investigate, listen to before I move on.

The VYGER will be up and running by next week and my reservations are the air pump which will be new and has to be installed outside my room in a remote location. The VYGER also takes up a separate space in the room I'd like to use for storage and a small footprint table could sit on a proper equipment stand.

If you're not familiar with my system, it's under all out assault, the room behind the racing library.

Bill E
lakefrontroad
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
At CES this year, I was most impressed with the Continuum turntable with Cobra arm from Australia. At $50k USD, it's no bargain, but it grabbed my attention in a way most rooms couldn't. Worth checking out. A photo was in the recent Stereophile or AbSol.
FWIW, I agree with Slipknot1's comments about the Walker table. It is mighty impressive. Cheers,
Spencer
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Bill, I suppose I will have to add my voice to these responses. The challenge is that we are all captives to some extent to what we've had the opportunity to hear. I'm a Walker Audio Proscenium Gold Signature turntable owner and a fan, as are several other Audiogon contributors who've not yet offered a comment.

You say, "If ultimate sonics are my first priority..." To which I will suggest that, if this is the case (as I believe it is for you), then you truly should give serious consideration to the Walker. It will deliver that superb level of sonics you require, it will make you re-think what is possible in analog replay; and it will also deliver absolute reliability and usability.

I hear your comment that you're thinking about a small footprint option, and the Walker is not that. But, if you're looking primarily for something that will give you back usable space beneath the turntable, the Walker will do that. I use Lloyd's custom built rack (after all, its what he designed the table with), and use the three shelves beneath it for other equipment. So, while the footprint in square inches is large, the space beneath the turntable is available for other purposes.

Any of us who use the Walker turntable could go on and on about its sonic virtues, ease of use, absolute reliability, fanatical build quality, etc., etc. The only real test is for you to experience it for yourself, as my wife and I did. If you're still located in NY, you're not that far from Lloyd Walker, who is just west of Philadelphia. Spend a day with Lloyd and then decide. At worst case, you will have had one of the most engaging encounters you can imagine with one of the true gentleman geniuses of the high audio art who, as Srajan Ebaen said in his recent review of the Walker Velocitor on 6moons.com, comes at audio design "from a nearly maniacal commitment to better sound."

There is no other turntable I'd rather have in my home for the remainder of my music listening days.

http://www.walkeraudio.com
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ozfly
887 posts
 
There are lots of great opinions and shared experiences here. I would really suggest that you try before you buy -- but I'm sure your already know that. Having said that, you might really want to consider the Origin Live line. While there don't seem to be too many out there, they are compact and, I believe, very musical and accurate (plus a heck of a black background). They get good reviews, even by folks who don't accept ads. But again, this is a very subjective purchase so try before you buy.

Good luck in your continuing journey ;-)
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