Am I a hopeless audio snob?

@OP I hear where you are coming from and from some of the posts above you are not alone. One of the tings I consider when buying a piece of gear is potential resale value. I think a good portion of the gear from the large Japanese audio manufacturers just doesn’t have the cache a lot of buyers are looking for and if I am honest, I have to include myself in that group .

Thank you for your 1950s attitude toward Japanese made products. Perhaps you were sleeping the last 60 or so years.

Turntables are a real hard choice... I have owned several, including the Technics.

I have come to the conclusion that 90% of your choice should be if the aesthetics appeal to you...Most quality TT above $1k will most likely be pleasing sonically.

More importantly.. the cartridge and setup.

Dear @pilrem : No you are not snob but with low knowledge levels in the overall TT specific subject.

" I am plunking down some serious money on my next table..."

Money always helps but the main issue is to know exactly which audio item(s) we need that could fulfill our MUSIC/sound priorities through our room/system.

Buy a new TT is not easy even for the experienced audiophiles because there are several and different issues to take in count about not only the TT.

First we need a " serious " cartridge, a TT/plattform, good tonearm, good tonearm internal wire, good IC cable, good phono stage and many other " good....." things that inside the more important is our first hand experiences with live MUSIC events seated at near field position and to analog rig overall set up.

Now, if you already own those good " items " to sorrund the TT you are ready to buy it.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.