What are your top 3 favorite turntable companies (manufacturer) and why?


I am interested in knowing which 3 turntable companies you like and why? Not interested in the Direct Drive vs Belt drive argument, just what is your experience with the company product and... support too. Something like this as an example-

Garrard- very solid and classic design that sounds great and built like a tank.

Well Tempered- Very good design and even better tonearm performance. Best model is  ________

Technics- Very solid design and easy to adjust. Great idea with removeable headshell

Your thoughts and experience welcome

2psyop

In no particular order: Linn, VPI, SOTA…

Honorable mention: Kenwood, Systemdek

Happy listening.

 

No one mentioned Walker. You guys heard anything about turntables or what ?

I love the REGA P3 turntable with the RB301, back in the day with a Dynavector 10X5 (then $450) this was a very lively and engaging,fun, very fun, did i say fun setups! Which then led me to JA Michell Gyro SE and the REGA RB301 modified Techno Arm and Dynavector 20x2L. SME Turntables and the 3009 arm for the simple reason that is the upgrade for the JA Michell I would love to have :-)

 

Matt M

top 3 4 favorite turntable companies- for longevity and contribution to our high-end audio hobby especially entry level:

  • Pro-ject
  • Rega
  • VPI
  • Technics

top 3 favorite turntable companies- classic

  • Garrard - idler drive highly musical
  • Micro Seiki - the SX8000II is gorgeous 

top 3 favorite turntable companies- price no object

  • SAT
  • Dohmann Audio 
  • Esoteric 

 

I can't speak for VPI the company, but I sure can about founder/owner Harry Weisfeld.

About five years back I bought myself nice used HW-19 and Aries model tables. A little while later I acquired a (used, of course) TNT-5 platter and bearing assembly with which to upgrade the HW-19 (the Aries already had a TNT platter, the version with the 7/8" aluminum bottom section with a layer of lead bonded to it's underside and a 3/8" top layer of black Delrin).

When I received the platter/bearing, I found the ball bearing on the end of the spindle shaft had it's bottom worn flat (the TNT-5 platter is pretty heavy). Try as I might I could not dislodge the ball bearing from the bottom of the spindle (I had tried freezing it and heating it with a small torch). I checked the ball bearing on the Aries spindle while I was it, and it too had been worn flat.

I emailed Harry, and he told me to send him the bearing assemblies (spindles and housings). He consequently emailed me, telling me he too was unable to dislodge the ball bearing from one of the spindles, so had his machinist fabricate a new one and secure it to the thick platform upon which the platter rests. He put new ball bearings on both spindles, and sent them back to me, charging me for none of it!