Turntable in 20 K$ price range - Design & Music

The Brinkman's are beautifull tables that offer world class sound, but the VPI HRX is a stunner at half the price. There is no definitive audio perfection in this field so the question is do you want a work of engineering "art" or the last word in sound quality at a fair price...

Hi Davidri:

I currently own the Spiral Groove SG1 table. I compared it to a number of contenders, it was my favorite. It transformed my analog system.

The sound of the SG1 and SG2 is quite similar, as I auditioned them at a show. From my limited perspective, the SG1 table had a bit more "effortlessness" and "bass Impact". However, both are outstanding product.

I compared with tables from Basis, Continuum Criterion, SME 20 & 30.

Here is a link for a review of the SG2 in the latest issue of tone audio magazine (make sure you download issue to read review). It won analog product of the year.

http://www.tonepublications.com/ToneAudio/Home.html

Hope this was helpful

Just one word of caution regarding the Grand Prix Monaco.

Be aware that one has to accept that there are only a limited choice of tone arms that can be used.

I was very surprised to learn during my conversation (April 2009) with owner/designer Alvin Lloyd that arm boards are "only" available for tone arms he accepts on his TT : Tri-planar, Graham and Morch.

The pupose of my call was to see if my Da Vinci Grandezza could be fitted, we never got to talk about other arms I own because Alvin Lloyd will not consider making for any other arms outside the above listed ones until he "considers" that the combo will work to his standards.

So if you have your Ikeda, FR-66s, Schroder, Kuzma...linear tracking..then your going to have to reconsider if you were temped to try them on the GPM.

One could make an "adaptor" but very frankly that seems wrong in some way for a 20k$ TT!

I was contemplating a listening session of the GPM but given the above restriction will seek an alternative way.

Tim

Davidri, Given your criteria, and since you, like most here, appear to believe in a linear relationship between retail price and sound quality, why not just pick between your two choices based on appearance? They are both excellent, and no one is going to be able to tell you that one "sounds" better than the other, if for no other reason than the fact that the tonearm/cartridge synergy has more to do with ultimate sound quality, at this level. FWIW, a person in the industry whom I trust completely told me that the SG is one of his personal favorites.

Tim

I find your comments about the lack of arm boards

positive feedback review of the Monaco turntable had them fitting a Dynavector 507 arm
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue25/monaco.htm