SOTA NOVA, HR-X VPI, Technics 1200G recommendations?

That’s right what chakster said.  

May I interject here that if you want to use a low compliance LOMC, and there are many fine sounding examples, then a tonearm with high effective mass is not an evil; it is a necessity both for best SQ and preservation of the LP.  Furthermore, VTF and stylus shape are more determinants of LP wear than is the low compliance/high effective mass class of playback equipment, although I too prefer the opposite in general based on listening.

HR-X with a VPI fixed gimble 3D arm.  Then consider a SoundSmith Xephyr MIMC * cartridge.  When your settled on the table and cart, get a Herron VTPH-2a phono stage.  

That should take care of your vinyl front-end.

I have been looking at Technics 1200G and did some thinking about much more expensive Technics TT such as SP10MKII, SP 10MK3, SP10R. From what I can see the new 1200G has a rock solid speed. If the expensive TTs are not much better than 1200G in speed stability, then they must be better in motor vibration and plinth/feet isolation mainly. Is this the right way of thinking about this?

I think Technics philosophy is very simple:


1) compact plug and play unit is new 1200 series (great price from $900 per unit like mk7, $1700 for GR and $3500 for G).


2) reference “R” series for people who would like to use their own plinth, different tonearms (2 or even 3 at the same time) they have just the drive (SP-10R) with external power supply. The motor is the same as 1200G series. And when the buyer would like “everything reference class” from Technics they got complete system called SL1000R with SP10R drive, plinth, tonearm.


In my opinion, people who always blabling something about “vibration” are living in the earthquake area, probably right on top of the vulcano or very close, becase I really don’t understand what they are talking about!? Using over 6 turntables at home I never ever noticed any audible problem with vibration, I’m using custom made metal racks on parquet floor. 

Vibration is a problem on the dancefloor packed with 500 jumping people near 10 000 watts sound system - this is where turntable definitely must be seriously isolated. But even there you will see Technics DD in use!

But at home, when it’s just you and your system .... What vibrations are you guys talking about? Manufacturer already solved everything for home use when turntable was designed by professional engineers. They got their isolation feet (dramatically upgraded 1200 new series), also on SL1200 they can be replaced with isonoe suspended feet if needed.


In this high-end industry nobody want “good enough”, they always want “better”, but then it’s the road to infinity if you have money to pay more and more