One more recommendation for a London Decca. Its unique, no-cantilever design has been astonishing listeners for over 50 years. My Super Gold certainly astonished me. From its reputation, I was kind of expecting exaggerated dynamics and overwhelming 'slam', but what I heard was ... natural. Lifelike would be another good description. Imaging is the best I've heard by a considerable margin, able to reproduce duets, choruses and such so that one can follow each singer or instrument separately, or together, and switch between them effortlessly.
It is not the edgy, in-your-face, exaggerated-transient kind of detail, (unless that's on the recording), but rather (IMO) simply a more accurate tracing of the groove that preserves micro-dynamics as they are actually cut. Micro-dynamics like the quiver and breathiness of Elvis Presley's voice, enough to turn "Don't stop thinking of me" into "Don't stop the-hinking of me", because that's how he sang it. That's a blatant example, but I started hearing less obvious ones all over. And, when it's on the recording, it resolves into that elusive quality called "air".
At least that's what I hear on my Quads, when nothing downstream gets in the way, (like my current backup amplifier, alas). No SUT needed. I recommend getting it with a DeccaPod mounting adapter installed, at least that's how I ordered mine. Used it with Clearaudio Satisfy and Jelco SA-750L tonearms, the latter with a Yamamoto 'African Black Wood' headshell. I had none of problems or downright horror stories sometimes recounted with older models - just two of the easiest, most obviously right setups I've performed. Caveat - will hum with some DD tables, but not on my Technics SP25.
It is not the edgy, in-your-face, exaggerated-transient kind of detail, (unless that's on the recording), but rather (IMO) simply a more accurate tracing of the groove that preserves micro-dynamics as they are actually cut. Micro-dynamics like the quiver and breathiness of Elvis Presley's voice, enough to turn "Don't stop thinking of me" into "Don't stop the-hinking of me", because that's how he sang it. That's a blatant example, but I started hearing less obvious ones all over. And, when it's on the recording, it resolves into that elusive quality called "air".
At least that's what I hear on my Quads, when nothing downstream gets in the way, (like my current backup amplifier, alas). No SUT needed. I recommend getting it with a DeccaPod mounting adapter installed, at least that's how I ordered mine. Used it with Clearaudio Satisfy and Jelco SA-750L tonearms, the latter with a Yamamoto 'African Black Wood' headshell. I had none of problems or downright horror stories sometimes recounted with older models - just two of the easiest, most obviously right setups I've performed. Caveat - will hum with some DD tables, but not on my Technics SP25.