A turntable that plays all types of music well

Reference Technics SP10R drive cost about $10k, plays everything :)

If you believe in that myth about genres of music vs. equipment then you will find that DirectDrive is for Rock if you like. But I don’t believe in that sh…..


Also I must admit that music is not only divided in Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical.


There are electronic music and live music, old music and new music, good and bad music.


How many turntables do you need to play everything?


Broadcast turntables designed to play everything (just like any good turntable), try SP10R if you looking for Direct Drive.

I never thought of turntables in this light. But after thinking about it, there is a difference in presentation between good heavy weight unsprung tables like VPI Aries which I owned for a couple decades and sprung tables, like my current Linn LP12. The VPI and other massive tables tend to be a bit more like muscle cars with real slam but a bit less finesse. So, I am going to have to say a Linn is a better “all a rounder” than a unsprung like an Aries. I am sure if you look at a really expensive unsprung this generality doesn’t work. But it may work for lots of $10 - 20K  tables. 
I am enjoying my sprung table. More air and subtle detail.

I'd consider a Brinkmann Bardo as another portable direct drive table. Brinkmann can also provide armboard of choice at a decent price. Lots of favorable reviews.

I am considering the merrill real 101.3

Heard this in a number of rooms at AXPONA. It is no slouch. I was surprised how good it sounded given all the rubber but it was fast, clean and clear.

Last night I started off with the Hendrix tribute LP "Stone Free".  Given the great artists who participated on this project, it's disappointing how dull the disc sounds.  Kind of like someone put a sock over the mikes.  Then moved on to a Blue Note LP by tenor sax player Ike Quebec.  The sound was rich and lush.  Great stageing of the quartet.  Now it can't be the equipment that made all the difference.  The two LPs just didn't have the same thing on offer for the cartridge to pick up?  Don't care what system you're playing.  It can't polish a turd.