Turntables currently considered top of the range. Do you know what they are ?

@dover 

When I found that the Clearaudio Statement ( at US150,000 ) could not keep accurate speed I decided their TT's are not fit for purpose.

I suspect that's a one-off issue that should/could have been fixed. I've had two different Clearaudio turntables for the last 14 years and they maintain spot on accurate speed all the time.

Yeah, that's interesting what tube power supply did there. I have a hypothesis - tubes are just superior devices, whatever you do with them, if you know what you do.

@inna knowing what to do with the devices is far more important than what devices they are!

If you really want to figure out what turntable has it right, the best way is to compare it against master tapes using an LP made from the master tapes.

But to do that the platter pad and tonearm are variables, as is the cartridge and the phono section's ability to get it right.

Again, master tapes are really helpful :)

Decent recording equipment is not that expensive WRT some of the prices I've seen on this thread already, so going thru the effort to make a good quality recording and putting it on LP does not seem that crazy in such light.

FWIW, that is why I use a Technics SL1200G. I use a different platter pad since the original does not do its job properly. I also have it perched on a very nice anti-vibration platform and equipment stand designed for it. You need to control variables like this if you really want to get down to the nub of it.

The Technics arm on the 1200G gives a lot of 'high end audio' tonearms a run for the money, but I prefer the Triplanar which can be mounted on the Technics with a proper arm board.

Ralph, of course, master tapes. The flow and drive of the tape..

Recently saw some vintage tube Studer on ebay for, I think, $35k or so. Now that was a thing of beauty.

Any thoughts on the Holbo deck from Slovenia? It combines an air bearing turntable with a linear tracking tonearm, which also runs on air.  Driven by rubber bands, though!

Got an excellent review: Holbo Mk II Airbearing Turntable Review | StereoNET International