Radikal Linn LP12 or Palmer 2.5?

Hi astewart8944. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Viella V12. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. It sounds like you had the kind of reaction I expected to have, but didn’t. As I said, I thought it sounded very good but, for whatever reason, it just didn’t engage me as much as I thought it would - the way the Palmer and the Woodpecker did. 

To daveyf’s point, I don’t think this was entirely due to the Ortofon cartridge, since it’s the very same cartridge that drew me in on the Woodpecker. I just think the Woodpecker managed to tap into the emotional core of the music whereas the Viella, while impressive, seemed to be more detail oriented and analytical - and I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s just not what I’m looking for, apparently.

What I find particularly interesting and also want to share is that the demos of the two turntables I have fallen in love with (the Palmer and the Woodpecker) had one thing in common:  Both were played through Harbeth 40.2 speakers.  So maybe that’s the secret sauce!

@latenitecity. You bring up a good point about the Harbeths 40.2’s. They are an excellent speaker, but one that is a tad reticent in the very highest frequencies...and they require a large room. If possible, I would think it better if you could listen to any table under consideration in your own system,

Daveyf: Oh, I agree completely that the ideal way to audition a component is to plug it into your system, in your listening room. And then do the same with competing components. Preferably the same day! Unfortunately, I don’t think the high end audio world works that way anymore.  At least not in my neck of the woods.

I really can't image comparing the Linn to the Palmer - they are both good decks but have completely different strengths and weaknesses.  To be fair, I am not an owner or a fan of either but I have spent a considerable amount of time with both and feel I understand the characteristics of both turntable designs.

The Linn has been covered in Agon and other forums ad nauseam so I don't need to regurgitate any of those discussions here.

The Palmer is a beautiful turntable and while the manufacturer claims to be based on Tom Fletcher's designs, this model violates almost all of Tom's intended principles of turntable design.  IMO if you want a Fletcher turntable you should look at Pear Audio, Tom's last venture before his demise or Nottingham, his original designs.

Full disclosure - I was formerly a dealer for Pear Audio and still own three Pear Audio Blue turntables.  As a dealer I received more than one Palmer turntable in trade towards a Pear Audio deck and in every case the customer was very happy with the upgrade.

br3098:  Thanks for your thoughts on the Pear Audio line of turntables. I did consider them for a while and I know they are well reviewed but, for whatever reason, they never gained traction with me. 

 Do you have any experience with the Dr. Feickert “bird line” of products? Since they are the most recent shiny objects to capture my attention and stoke my enthusiasm.