2. analog
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If this sounds like YOUR Turntable story, please share your final chapter

You had a nice budget ($2k-$4K) table, which you enjoyed for years. It always served up the analog goods, and you always felt as if you were in a good place. However, like many of us, you have audiophilia nervosa. Having succumbed to this mystical force that commanded you to upgrade, you took the leap to the next plateau. You immediately heard the advantages of what your new, well designed table was offering up. It was quieter, music emerged from a blacker background. It had tighter, more articulate bass.....mids were clear, layered, involving, yet organized.... Highs were more extended,  filling your listening area with a more believable, 3D presence. You were in awe, for a while! Fast forward to the middle of the story. Even though the table was more substantial, and did many things better than your baby boomer table, you soon realized it appealed more to the brain than your heart. It could tend toward the drier side with many of your go-to vinyl treasures. You ultimately realized that while the new table received more check marks on the audiophile checklist, it was not as engaging on an emotional level. Let me cut to the chase. So you took one or two wrong exits, but you found your way back. In doing so, you once again found that engaging, special something, analog is capable of delivering. Which table brought you back to the analog promise land?
fjn04
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,271 posts
 

fjn, your scenario has been the heart of the argument for the Linn Sondek table since it's introduction in the early 70's. That it is the ability of a table, in fact all links in the hi-fi chain, to play music, not just make sound, that should be the basis for judging it's performance. That there are other tables that perhaps excel in purely sonic terms---tighter bass, more extended highs, etc---but none that "play" music as well. That makes reproduced music feel and move (temporally) the way live music does. Hardcore subjectivists even speak of a table's ability to express the "intent" of the musicians and singers. That's about as subjective as one can get!

There is no set of measurements that correlates with or predicts a tables ability in this regard; it can be discerned only by listening.

lewm
13,738 posts
 
You're leaving out the main characters in this plot: What tonearm and cartridge?  Did you transfer them to the new turntable from the old one en bloc?  If not, what?  It would also be good to know at least whether your new turntable uses a different type of drive system from your old one, which would be a principle culprit if you perceive a change of "flavor".  You could tell us that much without naming names, if that is a problem.

As for me, no, this has never happened.  I don't claim to have special powers of perception, but it has been my observation that every "upgrade" I have made in turntables per se has proven in the long run to be a real and lasting one.  I have no thoughts of every going back to any of the old units I have owned previously.
fjn04 OP
1,561 posts
 
The intent of starting this thread is to see what Turntable setup stood the test of time for you. My situation is this. I have a Well Tempered GTA, and quite frankly, I can't imagine letting it go. I know it has shortcomings, and certainly tables that cost double, triple, or 4X it's price, WILL do things better. The GTA is just south of 4K US btw.  However, there are products out there that seem to lose the soul and emotion. I generalize with products, because I think it's true of sources, right through the chain to speakers. But let me not digress, and stay with the analog front end. I'm back in the market for a turntable, because as I have upgraded around the GTA, it has become the week link in my system. My price range is $5K-$10K for a table and tonearm. I think you all get where I'm going with this post. Sure, I want more audiophile bells and whistles. Deeper bass, blacker backgrounds, yada, yada, Darth Vader, Yoda. However, in the process, I don't want to lose what's most important.... The life and soul of the music.
lewm
13,738 posts
 
fjn, Do you perceive an internal contradiction in your lament?  On the one hand you think there is something special about the WT, and on the other hand you also think it is the weak link.  Can you say how these two positions are both tenable? 

I can only give you my own private opinion on the WT turntables I have heard.  I generally keep this opinion private, because I know that WT has a lot of fans out there, and I do not wish to offend anyone, because after all, it's only my opinion.  Anyway, I don't care for the tonearms one little bit.  They are a classic example of a novel idea that is in the end not a good idea.  They are unstable as to azimuth, and I hate the golf ball bearing. And the combination of the tt and the tonearm (I don't know for sure which is more to blame) makes all LPs sound pretty much the same.  Always "nice"; always smooth.  Usually lacking in detail and seeming to flatten transients.  No offense meant to aficionados.
nkonor
635 posts
 
bdp24, bought my LP12 in 88'. Five months later, armed w/ setup jig, strobe & disc, setup manual; I moved to Alaska. The LP12 really started  my "High End" addiction!" Played the Music! Even though I had an audio addiction since 70'. Did well at "Tuning" and upgrading the LP12.

 Has only been "Tuned" by a Linn "Master" twice (2). Most recently by Tom at "Ovature Audio " in Ann Arbor, MI. At (28) yrs; It plays the Music! I bought a Kuzma rig at Axpona this past April. It plays the the Music too! Two very different TTs, arms,cartridges. Both play the Music, but I like the ergonomics of the Kuzma better and the azimuth adjust of the Kuzma arm brings better soundstage and imaging! The 12" Kuzma arm unravels the most complex passages. Have to admit that the LP12 with "Tom's" tuneup, "Plays the Tune!" My maintenance was always been audiophile good and so is the 
Kuzma.
Thinking about the future; I wonder if upgrading to a Kore and Radical on the Linn starts making the Linn more audiophile? Or does it retain the "toe tapping " Music? All Linn owners that have made these changes; Please comment. Thanks in advance!
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