Kumza Stabi S or Rega P10 ??

@rsf507 

it still has full adjustment available without any added complexity of the P-Mount detachable headshell. 

The Tonearm on the P10 is alot of the reason it's still on my list. 

Life is too short for constant fiddling as you try to find the subtle differences and you forget why you listen to music in the first place. 

That said I'm still on my RP8 with apheta 2 so lower down the pecking order and a generation behind. 

@richdirector

Well said! I do tend to agree with this..I’ve spent the last 25 years fiddling with digital analyzing the results which in the end is losers game. I leaning to the P10 at this point.

I just put in the newest Van Alstine phono stage into my system replacing the onboard thats in my Sugden IA4. Kind of gobsmacked by how much better it is. Everything is better, low level listening, detail, dynamics, and it's just as smooth as the Sugden phono. Pulled the entire soundstage forward. I don’t know anything but that onboard phono I’ve used in my Integrated, so I can’t compare this to others but sure taught me what a difference the phono makes in the chain.

@pindac 

Yeah I considered them, still open to them, but they solve one problem while creating some of their own unique issues. I am not in the camp of one being better than the other, I think both (belt & DD) have their own merits and drawbacks. The Luxman looks nice though

@jc51373 I entered the Thread when a idea to 'set and forget' was made known.

I have a history of using the following Drive Types in the following chronological order of one being superseded, Belt Drive (80's-90's), Idler Drive (90's - 00's), Direct Drive ( 2016 - Present).

I still own all Drive Types and am quite wed to the DD.

I get the opportunity to hear BD and DD in other owned systems as well, not too much of Idler Drives today, even though my last encounter was very satisfying and very much enjoyed.

I seem to be free from prejudice, when it comes to Drive Types, but do know through experiences had, each drive can be quite attractive if mounted on a suitable support structure, and has a Tonearm in use, that allows the TT>Tonearm pairing to offer up their best.

One other lesson learnt from extensive investigation and experiences of Platter Mats, is that a listening/set up environment are all quite unique, certainly not ubiquitous in the materials used and methods chosen.

No TT > Tonearm > Cart' has a ubiquitous performance when used in a a variety of environments.

Platter Mats Types used to offer a improved interface between Platter and Cart' can offer a real benefit or detriment to the SQ, it is worthwhile trying out various versions once everything else, that usually is a concern is addressed. 

The Platter Mat material when discovered to be a correct choice for a particular environment, can/will bring the SQ to another level of attraction.

My experiences have shown to myself.  A Puck or Clamp is best selected following the Platter Mat Selection.

Again for the Pick/Clamp, there is not a set formula (Trial by Turnover of Types), following the Platter Mat selection, the addition of the Puck/Clamp can tidy the overall presentation up further.

I have seen Bossing Mallets produced from a Densified Wood at a very reasonable cost, converting a part of this mallet type into a Puck can be achieved reasonably cheap.

I have heard recently a Densified Wood Puck in use, during a comparison of Platter Mats and Pucks, the Densified Wood Puck was a New Produced Item and compared against Pucks from very respected Companies.

The Densified Wood brought something of real interest to the comparisons taking place, especially when having costed pennies as it was produced from a Off Cut Material.