Radikal Linn LP12 or Palmer 2.5?

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.

latenitecity, I have only seen and heard the Feikert table (Woodpecker?) at a show several years ago.  It was a very beautiful table but my impression was that the wide drive belt was a little noisy.  Maybe the metal top plate was a little resonant; I don't know.

The demo also used a Jelco tonearm.  While the SA-750D is/was a good tonearm I would have expected something a little higher-end on this deck, considering the market position and price-point.