Why do turntables sound different?

"lubrication is made more effective as well on a smaller tighter tolerance contact also"


^^^ actually, I think I said that , in response to lewm on the first page...

and the tighter tolerances in engines and lighter oils is actually one of the many reasons I feel strongly on this point and why better bearings are both lower in friction and self noise..... These new engines run so smooth now its almost mandatory to have an exhaust specifically built to add a "note" so it sounds masculine...........

I think, most manufacturers have no idea what they are doing and why?
They buy some parts, think they are good because they get praise from people who also have no idea from anything (revievers/customers) ....and the story will go on and on ...

Problem is always those who buy things. If it's not good enough - don't buy it. It's not water or food, you know.
But, some manufacturers are very good, so it's not all bad.

"I think most manufacturers have no idea what they are doing and why? They buy some parts, think they are good enough because they get praise from people who also have no idea from anything"...

@syntax 

Sorry, no offence, but.... IMHO.....
That's the most "over" generalized statement I have read in some time....
It also implies, no one else knows what you do, to be able to criticize "most".
Below is a good part of most, and none, IMO, fall into your shade...
Sure some have other current makes to add as well..........let alone the brands of the past .....
Some not mentioned may well fall into your generalization but the word "most" is a gross over reach.............and price has nothing to do with a statement that uses "most" when it comes to turntables .

Acoustic Signature
AMG
Basis
Brinkman
Continuum
Davinci
Dr. Freickert
Forsell
Grand Prix
JA Michell
JC Verdier
Kuzmo
Kronos
Linn
Oracle
Rocksan
Simon Yorke
SME
Sota
Schick
Tech Das
Transrotor
Technics
TW Acoustics
Walker
Well Tempered
Vyger

Dear @has2be : Everything has an explanation. Please let me know what you see ( at once. ) or understand when you make click in the syntax audio system?

My very first reaction is not the normal roockie expression: wow! but that syntax is a whealthy gentleman before any other conclusion but looking at his system items shows that that roockie wow! has no foundation from the point of view of room/system quality top level performance:

As him I owned MS RX5000 and before the 1500. Are very good looking TT's but not so good performers between other things: the platter rings like a bell, all metal design that is based in weigth and mass to stay away from vibrations with out success, all metal arm boards that are located at the TT footers where everything pass through afeccting the cartridge/tonearm quality performance levels, very bad ( for today standards. ) motor board controler and other issues that can't be fixed with that second platter avobe the metal one  and add-ons that are only band-aids to a not very good TT design.

He likes all metal undamped tonearms as the FR where we need 2 things: damping and isolation, terrible tonearm. All metal undamped headshells and headshell integrated cartridges that was the fashion in the vintage times where between other things are connected internally with not today best transmition wires.

That system uses today tubes electronics that per sé can't honor MUSIC in any way but additional he use a tube phono stage ( a copy of an old french design. ) with a passive/transformer gain stage that only this phono stage item preclude in that system to have top quality performance levels and it does not matters what the owner can says .

Btw, in his system there is no today top ( very expensive because is his rule about. ) digital alternative that's a today must to have/own ! ! and I can go on and on in all what conforms that system but I think that is enough.

I can say for sure that the one that has no idea of nothing/anything is he. Money means almost nothing and his room/system confirm it. Money is always welcomed but MUSIC/SOUND knowledge levels and skills is the name of the game in any room/audio system.

 Of course that roockies or stupid person can be a followers. Such is life.

I don't think that reviewers, manufacturers or customer/audiophiles that analyzed his system for quality level performance can think his post is an insult because it's not. 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.