Turntable in 20 K$ price range - Design & Music

Hi Tim,

I just bought a Grand Prix Monaco. Traded in my beloved SME 20/2 and IV.Vi. I think the Grand Prix is more a set and forget type of system. If you're into expiramenting with multiple arms it's just not the TT 4 u. Apparently Alvin thought about 2 arm boards but felt it was a compromise (he's another perfectionist type-what ever that means :)

I wish it 2 arm capability.

Also, this TT is barely 2 years into the marketplace. I think the bigger thing is Alvin just hasn't had time build a board for all arms.

I have heard great things about that DaVinci arm. I don't blame you for seeking a table it works with.

I am thrilled with my Grand Prix...and the Tri Planar arm.

I think all the tables listed above are great. It's just a matter of system tuning and feature preference !

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 Grand Prix Monaco whitepaper on their website says (in part):

Another key element of our listening tests was the tone arm evaluations. We evaluated a number of the more popular high end tone arms; Tri-Planar, DynaVector, Graham Phantom, Morch (both length tubes), SME 4.5i, and Wilson Benesch. In order to do a proper installation and then an evaluation of performance, we had to acquire one of each. After careful inspection and confirmation of the physical dimensions and mounting details for each tone arm, we designed and produced the required arm boards. We then set up and listened to each individual arm with at least two different cartridges (DynaVector XV-1s and Transfiguration Orpheus). What we learned was that the Monaco Turntable is fundamentally free of coloration and has proved to be an ideal platform for comparing and evaluating tone arms. We can design and produce arm boards for other tone arms as required by our clients.

It looks like--in the time since that white paper was written--they've decided that the Wheaton, Graham, and Morch arms are a better match.

This is especially interesting since the (very favorable) Positive Feedback review was of a Monaco with the Dynavector arm.

Johnnyb53,
I did not read the whitepaper, seems instructive.

And they have changed approach from:

"We can design and produce arm boards for other tone arms as required by our clients"

Since :

"What we learned was that the Monaco Turntable is fundamentally free of coloration and has proved to be an ideal platform for comparing and evaluating tone arms"

That is what I was expecting, like any high end TT, and different arms have different merits, just enjoying the arm/cartridge combo on the TT is important for many.

Tim

I'm looking for a nice turntable in 20 K$ price range.

There is a nice one available, from Switzerland, DaVinci Audio designed it. It is called "Unison" (I think).

Davidri,
Have neither seen nor heard the Bergmann but on the review that's come across my eyes, and a post or two on here, it seems to be deadly quiet. Do you have experience to the contrary?