very interesting this. Doesn't it depend how you define it? Relative to time considering it in terms of the media that people bought it must have been the 70s' before CD came along. I think the late 70s' had the best technology relative to time as well when the likes of Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer et al really put their corporate boffins to making great turntables. The EMT motor is still used now, I think Koetsu may have started in the 70s'. A lot of people think that they have re-invented the wheel particularly cartridges - think again. Lets be honest a cheap Airpax motored 3 spring deck was considered the best turntable in the UK for over a decade. Of course right now we have access to the knowledge and wealth of info gleaned, and if lucky people with the skills to make turntables, but we can then argue that this is the greatest moment in time as we know more than ever before. LP is competing with CD's, streaming, on line media and gaming - god knows what else. Back then - the TV.