Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

@mijostyn 

Thanks for your input on air bearings. I agree that air in all directions is important - how not when I can hear the sleeve bearings of my 2W precision motor? Even through a belt! 

Didn't know that air in all directions was so rare. That's quite a surprise to me. But then I don't shop at the 100k mark - I'd rather build it.

@rauliruegas 

"SME has nothing to envy against those air bearing TT designs."

Not even a completely silent bearing?

MODS - attention please.

When trying to post, I am sometimes asked to prove that I'm not a robot. But the last inch of screen is obscured, and the page will not scroll. Could you pass this bug along to the systems people, please?

I had a Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck turntable for many years. Then I switched to vintage Lenco L78 on a heavy birch plywood plinth. I was amazed how much more accurately the Lenco idler drive conveys all the nuances of the rhythm compared to Nottingham! Especially the difference obvious on classical piano and Jazz built on small rhythm nuances like Modern Jazz Quartet. In addition bass texture was far better on Lenco as well instrument separation. Then I bought a vintage direct drive EMT 948.
In my opinion, belt drive technology is initially flawed. A decent turntable can be made, but it will cost more than a good quality idler or direct drive. And as result of less accurate PRAT reproduction, belt drive will always inferiors in musicality.

@terry9 , air bearings are anything but silent. The air has to escape and can cause high frequency resonance. Plain bearings in oil done right are extremely quiet. The biggest issue is the thrust bearing which opposing magnets or a properly machined ball do just fine.

@rauliruegas , I have no idea why we argue so much. We both dislike unipivots and 12 inch arms all for the right reasons. Did you comment about the STST Motus 2 turntable yet. I am fascinated by it, a low torque DD turntable with a suspension that is user adjustable for various weight arms. The tonearm board is also clever. You drill the right size hole then you can rotate it to achieve a perfect spindle to pivot distance or change overhang.  It uses three leaf springs. I'm not sure this is a good idea as the lateral resonance point is going to be higher. If it gets into the tonearm resonance area you know what might happen.