Soundwatts, With all due respect, your level of experience with DD turntables (old production SL1200 and 1100 and a listen under unknown conditions to a new SL1200GR) does not warrant your gross generalization regarding "huge soundstage". In my long experience, that quality has most to do with the plinth and all the downstream components, especially the speakers and room. Also, by saying the VPI has more "rhythm and pace", are you intimating that you felt it had better speed constancy? But if so, why is the Technics more "dynamic"? Thanks.