My final table , hopefully !

Many years ago I had a VPI HW16 (IV) with a Graham arm on it.  That was a very good table that is completely trouble free (it is still at work in a friend's system.  Before that, I had the older, non-golf ball version of the WTT (it had a plastic disc that sat in the damping fluid).  I called the WTT the La Brea Tar Pit because some bugs were attracted to the damping fluid and ended up being drowned and preserved in the fluid (too much trouble to fish them out).  I cannot comment on the difference in sound because the setup and cartridges, etc. differed.  For ease of use, the VPI with the Graham arm held an advantage.

I currently own a Basis Debut with a Vector arm and it is much better than the others, albeit, MUCH more expensive.  Basis makes tables that are machined to absolute perfection--there is no run-out slop so there is absolutely no wobble in the platter when spinning (if you look closely at most tables, you will see wobble or the eccentricity of the platter).

As for your candidates, they all seem like good choices.  While I had nothing but good experience with my old VPI, I know a dealer who sells their tables but doesn't like them that much because he has a very high rate of problems with their tables compared to that of other manufacturers; he thinks they make too many models and make too frequent changes to be really on top of the actual manufacturing of the tables and arms.  He likes the Clearaudio tables.  I have heard several models of their tables and I like them too.  They are, like the Basis tables, on the "darker" side (very low noise, good at damping ticks and pops on records, very composed sounding, but, not as lively sounding as some other table/arm combinations).

I have heard a lot of really nice sounding setups using Garrrard 301 and 401 tables and Thorens 124 tables.  These ancient tables, once they are properly reconditioned, will give MANY more years of trouble-free service.  I have heard them coupled mostly with Moerch arms and the current top of the line Ortofon arm.  These arm/table combinations are very lively and punchy sounding.  Most modern systems need this kind of pick-me-up because they tend to be somewhat thin and lifeless ("bloodless") compared to the old school sound I prefer.

Dear Larry,

If you glance at Clearaudio’s home page they display 9 (yes 9) different T/T models.

http://clearaudio.de/en/products/turntables.php

I’m not sure if VPI did 9 models at any point but Clearaudio’s output remains impressive.

The only VPI T/T I’ve heard to date is the Prime but I’ve heard many Clearaudio T/Ts.

I’ve never liked the concept of Clearaudio’s ACB (Air-Ceramic Bearing) which effectively suspended the platter independently of the turntable i.e. if you pressed down on the platter it would “bounce” while the rest of the assembly remained stationary.

The sound of those Clearaudio T/Ts was still fairly neutral and honest.

Despite this, none of them really shouted “buy me!”

The Prime on the other hand I found intriguing. Subjectively it sounded more “fleshed out” than the Clearaudios and contrarily somewhat “darker” than those turntables.

It sounded good enough to me to actually buy (!) which is a fair compliment because I’m seldom satisfied with the sound of turntables in-store.

Unfortunately, I’m already happy with what I’ve got so the Prime isn’t an option but it remains for me the top buy in this category.

At risk of repeating myself not only does it sound like a million dollars but it looks like it too.

Traditionally turntables have always been an individual choice so auditioning is always recommended wherever possible.

IMO young Matt seems to have aced this one. He’s taken the market by the scruff of the neck… ;^)

It’s great to see designs like this emerging which, relatively speaking, don’t cost the Earth. :)