Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

@dover 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in your message above, you wrote "By eliminating tracking angle error and distortion, properly implemented tangential trackers give you the most accurate soundstage presentation,". .. Based on the context, I think you meant to write:  

"By eliminating tracking angle error and distortion, properly implemented linear trackers give you the most accurate soundstage presentation,".

Regarding amplifiers, yes, both the Lamm M2.2 and Ypsilon Hyperion are excellent.  I enjoy listening to both.  Overall, the Ypsilon render a much smoother presentation, which is excellent regardless of speaker cable or interconnect used, while the Lamm are very detailed and clear, they are also quite sensitive to choice of speaker cable and interconnect and can sound flat/dark with the wrong cabling.  

Here is an email I sent to a friend about them: 

I will have to say that the Lamm is very good, but the Ypsilon does take the edge overall.  The Ypsilon is smoother, although both are equally detailed and transparent.  Both offer an equally substantial sound stage, but the Lamm separates the instruments/voices with slightly more detail and space between the instruments, comparing it to the Ypsilon with the Russian 6H30pi tubes installed. 

When I switched out the standard Russian 6H30pi in the Ypsilon for NOS 5687 tubes, the improvement is quite remarkable.  The smoothness is still there with the Ypsilon, but now the detail, clarity, and balance of presentation are also present, which equals or slightly exceeds that of the Lamm.  

@drbond

Yes I interpose linear/tangential.

I am not a fan of the new pivoted arms that try to simulate tangential tracking such as the Thales and Reed on the basis that they introduce new problems - that is they do not provide a rigid platform for the cartridge because of the additional bearings required to accommodate a rotating headshell and/or rotating arm base.

Thanks for the feedback on the amps. I’ve heard the Lamms but not the Ypsilon.

Too bad about the Florida show. Why not take a weekend in New York to hear some alternatives?

I agree with Dover about linear trackers / tangential trackers. There is no contest in my books - although I haven't heard any of the Durand arms - but they are many times the price. Do try to listen to an air bearing TT before you buy - and not just an air thrust bearing, but an air bearing which positions the spindle too - that is, air in all 3 dimensions, no friction at all.

I applaud you for taking your time. More fun, and better result.

Just thought it would be helpful for any future individuals looking to upgrade their turntable to post a link to this discussion on various types of drives on turntables, and other unrelated posts in the thread, all of which may be helpful:

@drbond , The best table you can buy, money no option is the Dohmann Helix. Put a Schroder LT arm on it and you would be state of the art if the Helix had vcuum clamping. Down from that would be the Basis Inspiration vacuum followed by the Sota Cosmos Vacuum. If you like the Dohmann which has the most effective suspension made I would wait until Mark adds vacuum clamping to it. He has said repeatedly that he is. The Basis and Sota both have effective suspensions and vacuum clamping. The Techdas AF 1 and 3 also have effective isolation and vacuum clamping but they are stupid expensive and IMHO perform no better than the Basis. I personally will not buy a turntable that does not have both features