Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

rauliruegas"The SP-10MK3 is a great unit but the new Technics design comes with fundamental/vital characteristics/changes over the MK3 where the MK3 can't compete no matter what...No, I don't have yet the opportunity to listen it but I don't need to listen to know its superiority and you neither."This is the single most extreme example of so-called "conformation bias' that I have ever seen in this distinguished forum it is interesting how some of the contributors to this forum who most claim to be objective and scientific type who embrace data and verifiable results can make such a holy pronouncement about the inherent audible superiority of one device over another without ever having even heard the specific device that they say they prefer! It is this same faith-based belief in measurements in the absence of any hands on experience that results in these same self appointed gurus proclaiming for example that cables make no difference and that every well designed amplifier within certain limits sound the same! Of course they sound the same and is no difference if you never listen and even if they do as is made clear here their mind is made up they care convinced! Confirmation bias!

I agree with Raul that a coreless motor, executed to the level of excellence of the iron core motor in the Mk3, would in theory be superior for the job of driving a platter.  However, Raul's additional contention that the Mk3 platter, all 21 lbs of it, is subject to "ringing", is absurd on its face.  It weighs 21 lbs! It is made of stainless, brass, and iron all bonded together powerfully and therefore benefits from CLD.  Any solid object will resonate at some frequency or other if hit with a mallet, but the notion that the Mk3 platter, among all turntable platters in the world, is particularly subject to ringing is.... (I guess I already said... absurd.) 

Time, and some intrepid pioneer who listens to both turntables side by side, will eventually tell us if the SP10R really has a leg up on the SP10 Mk3.  My guess is that the Mk3 is already operating at such a high level (in the DD pantheon) that discerning whether the 10R is really superior is going to be like arguing the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin.  (Siri knows this, if you've ever asked her.)

This recent discussion reminds me of the "Princess and the Pea"* fairy tale.  But then that applies to many aspects of our high end audio hobby.

No doubt the new Technics SP10R is an upgrade from the older SP-10 Mk 3, and more so from earlier models, at least on paper.  However I believe two considerations should be made.  First, how much of an audible difference will the improvements make?  That answer may vary from one system to another.  Second is the cost.  I've read the SP10R will be priced at $10K in the US, with the complete unit with arm and plinth at $20K.  Many of us own older models with less investment, so the question becomes how much improvement will be realized and is it worthwhile to each of us individually?

Anyway, my hat is off to Technics for developing this updated model.

*No, the Princess didn't have a bed-wetting problem. ;^)

I also know Siri has no hair, but the Statements made without
ever listening to the tables in question by Raul are simply
without merit.

And I won't even get into his TT-101 comments.

the Technics SP 10 R has a switching power supply, it can be an economic advantage for Matsushita but I do not like this kind of power supply; fortunately, the power supply is far from the drive unit, but it could trigger spurious feeds of the nearby connected electronics.

@lewm should not the MK3 platter have thick rubber under it as for MK2?