Another big +1 for the Bauer DPS/Ayre turntable. The combo that really kills is the one pictured at that link--with DPS's own dedicated tonearm and a Lyra cartridge. The earlier prototype had a hot-rodded RB250 tonearm, but the final productized one with the DPS tonearm is better.
Between Ayre's power supply and DPS's unique bearing and pulling design, this 'table has the best speed consistency of any belt-drive I've heard anywhere near this price. It does not have that characteristic "belt drive" sound; it's more neutral and the speed consistency is better.
The design of the turntable itself is all about vibration damping and control, and DPS managed to package it in a modest, elegant rectangular package.
Stereophile's review is here, but as usual Art Dudley couldn't content himself with reviewing the product as shipped; he swapped in his Naim Aro tonearm, negating half the equation. His review is extremely favorable, but the DPS tonearm is so good it deserved full consideration. The picture at the Ayre site shows the DPS tonearm; Dudley's S'phile review evidently shows it with the Aro. Still, that may give you more what you're looking for, as you could install a SME, Graham, or whatever and Dudley's review gives you what the turntable does apart from the tonearm.
Links to more reviews are available here.
Between Ayre's power supply and DPS's unique bearing and pulling design, this 'table has the best speed consistency of any belt-drive I've heard anywhere near this price. It does not have that characteristic "belt drive" sound; it's more neutral and the speed consistency is better.
The design of the turntable itself is all about vibration damping and control, and DPS managed to package it in a modest, elegant rectangular package.
Stereophile's review is here, but as usual Art Dudley couldn't content himself with reviewing the product as shipped; he swapped in his Naim Aro tonearm, negating half the equation. His review is extremely favorable, but the DPS tonearm is so good it deserved full consideration. The picture at the Ayre site shows the DPS tonearm; Dudley's S'phile review evidently shows it with the Aro. Still, that may give you more what you're looking for, as you could install a SME, Graham, or whatever and Dudley's review gives you what the turntable does apart from the tonearm.
Links to more reviews are available here.