Well, I am not sure exactly how to respond about this "uninvolving" thing aimed at the Teres turntables.
I was a Linn LP12 owner for many years, and also worked in high-end analog stores where many of the turntables mentioned(Rega, Well-Tempered, Linn, VPI)were sold, and I've heard all the other tables mentioned too.
While my Teres isn't even anywhere near the "top line" models, my 245 w/battery supply provides much better "PRaT" and is much better in all respects than my previous LinnLP12/IttokLVII/Karma. I don't really even see the Teres lineup as being "a big jet black sound". At least not on my system. I find my Teres to be a "real toe-tapper" and find myself getting up and dancing around the room, when I play rock or pop music, and I'm riveted to my chair when I play classical and jazz.
In fact, as a previous "PRaT" fan, British TT fan, and Linn owner(as well as factory-trained Linn set-up technician, analog technician at several high-end stores, and analog user for over 30 years), I think I'm pretty qualified to address that issue. No contest, as far as I'm concerned. The microdynamics and macrodynamics which are where the emotional content of the music lives, is awesomely good, and really draws the listener into the performance. Speed stability is excellent, and conveys the time-domain info beautifully. The table has very strong "weight" and "authority", but isn't "sluggish" at all. It has great extension, and is not "lumpy" in the low end, and gives "crystal" highs. I really have very little criticism for this table, except that my 3" acrylic platter has some upper midrange reflections which cause a small bit of coloration. This can be corrected by moving up to the better platter, but I haven't been able to afford to do that. That small issue doesn't really bother me all that much.
All in all, I find my "lowly" Teres 245 to be an excellent table, especially at the price range, and I have very little urge to upgrade. I feel the same way about my modded OL Silver tonearm, and my Shelter 501 cartridge. Sure, they are not "the best in the world", but they give an excellent level of musical enjoyment which satisfies me. I admit that I sometimes feel "green with envy" that others expound about their super expensive TTs, with attendant super expensive arms and cartridges, but it isn't enough to make me go into hock trying to buy them. I am happy with what I own, and it gives me what I need. I've heard many rigs that cost alot more money that didn't do the job as well as my little analog setup. I've picked a spot on the "diminishing returns scale" that provided what I needed at a price I could live with. (High-end)Bang-for-the-(mid-priced)buck is my motto. I'm aware of TT "shoot-outs" where a little Teres 245 gave some $30k turntables some very close competition, and beat out many $10k turntables. That level of performance is plenty good enough for me, and I don't need to spend the extra $25k to try to achieve the additional small percentage in performance. If the Teres 245 was $25k, I wouldn't have bought it, but at $2500 I thought it was a very good buy.
I'll let others debate what $20k tt, $8k arm, and $6k cartridges are "best". Those are not in my purchase range.
