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Merrill GEM Dandy PolyTable vs. Well Tempered Amadeus

I'm looking to upgrade turntables, going from vintage to modern and am looking at mid-priced options ($2000-$3500).
The two tables that keep coming up are George Merrill's GEM Dandy PolyTable (or SuperTable with 12" tonearm) and models by Well Tempered, most likely the Amadeus Mk ii. Thinking of running the Hana SL or similar on either table...

Has anyone else considered these two options and (hopefully) auditioned each? Thoughts: re: PolyTable vs. Super12? Amadeus vs. other Well Tempered models?

My setup: Odyssey Audio Kismet mono amps, Odyssey Tempest preamp (with MM/MC phono stage), Klipsch Cornwall I speakers, Anti-cables speaker wire & interconnects.

Why these two tables - both designers have embraced outside-the-box thinking rather than traditional designs on steroids, both focus on dark backgrounds, both are dampened tables; less fuss, more listening.

Thanks!

scoran
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,711 posts
 
@scoran You would need this VTA on the Fly unit.

arturos73
38 posts
 
noromance: Do you use purusaudio VTA OTF on a Polytable (or another table)?
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,711 posts
 
@arturos73 No. I don’t as I am uncertain if the gain in changing VTA from record to record is worth it over any possible reduction in arm stability possible introduced by the mechanism. However, I believe the manufacturer has made improvements to the original to ensure rigidity. That being said, the 850L is a fine performer. I do not use it in a GEM table. I did buy my 850 from Merrill.
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