Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

@drbond  This has been a fascinating thread following your journey, so thanks for putting it out there and enduring. Your quest is similar in some ways to my own, also in Florida with the many of the same local challenges you mention.

I currently have the STST Motus II DQ direct drive table with Schroder 9" CB, both set up by Soundsmith, and coming highly recommended. Unfortunately or not, I am literally on an island here, so on my own from a support standpoint too. I had struggled getting back into analog after several years off, and received great support from JR at WallyTools, but I still didn’t get very far until engaging Jose @drvinyl01 in Md. I can’t say enough about his willingness to help, regardless of the brands on his shelf, so you might be pleasantly surprised if you give him a call.

I am looking at moving to higher mass approach rather than suspended for my situation (elevated home), such as the J. Sikora Initial or Initial Max, Acoustic Signature Neo series (Typhoon, Hurricane, Tornado), Reed, among others. I have the DS Audio DS 003 optical cartridge and matching phono equalizer with a Schroder CB 9", which is genius in its simplicity and works very well.

You have a terrific system to build on and best of luck in your search.

Hey @drbond  - the P8 is extremely light and the only thing that worked for me without counterweights was the Townshend Seismic platform that has pods screwed into the base. The very smallest pods are effective against the 10 pound turntable. If the pods are too inflexible, they won't do anything, and if they are too flexible they also won't do anything. The ones I use are just right - about 50% compression in the pods, and you don't have to adjust anything for position. They worked great for me.

Unfortunately, Max Townshend just passed away last week, so I am sure there will be some delays, but supposedly they have the capability to carry on. One frequent Audiogon poster I believe just started working there @millercarbon. You may want to reach out to him.

As you speak about the Townshend platform : I will try to put it under my TW Acustic Raven AC. I mean : unscrewing the TT’s feet and put it bare on the platform. With the Townshend’s feet you can level the TT who’s weight is uneven as 2 tonearms with their integrated pods are installed in each back corners.

Will see what happen (excepted the broken back). If the Podiums are so effective, the platform could do the same with a TT ? Who knows ?

@tms0425 

Thanks for sharing.  My plan is to first upgrade my phono stage from the Manley Steelhead to something else.  I expect a more detailed phono stage will allow me to better distinguish the differences between various TT.  With the clamp and the pucks, the Rega P8 sounds very good, and much better than without those.  Once I decide on a phono stage, hopefully in the next 6 months, I will then begin the TT search with more vigor.  

By the way, I heard that there is an audio show in Tampa, FL, which is coming up next month:  Florida Audio Expo, Feb 18-22. I didn't see many analog companies attending, such as SME, Kuzma, AMG, or TW Acustics, though, so possibly not worth it 

@drbond - most important to match the phono stage to the cartridge and your system in general. Turntables should have no sound - improvements are the elimination of distortion caused by vibrations. Of course you need to make sure the arm works well with the table, that's why I like the integrated ones like Rega and SME and it's good to know you're leaning towards the SME. From what I've heard their V5 arm is about the best out there.