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

Along with a small amount of rubbish, there is so much diversity and quality in current turntable design that even a shortlist would be a long list.

It's sort of shocking how many different brands and models we have now for such a tiny market. I suppose it's a small number of us buying / selling / trading amongst each other! 

The materials quality is super-high in modern high end turntables. But the engineering is a bit all over the place!

Rega & Basis. Both very well made & engineered but not over engineered. Both pretty much set up correctly & just enjoy for many years of trouble free listening at two different tiers of quality & of course cost. 

@mulveling Thanks for answering about Clearaudio parts. I haven't ever needed to buy such parts (and I have my original boxes). When I ordered my Innovation I got an extra 30mm standard armboard for a 2nd Universal arm. That was $500. It seems steep, but with the Clearaudio higher end I guess ya just gotta pay to play.

It seems no worse than what people pay for stuff on a Linn LP12 (like $10k+ for their new plinth).

It seems no worse than what people pay for stuff on a Linn LP12 (like $10k+ for their new plinth).

@dwette No doubt, the high parts prices seem endemic to this hobby. Sorry for the belly-aching! I do still love my Master Innovation, 8 years into ownership. The "stock" armboards are indeed around $500; $900 was for a blank with a custom hole. Later, I figured out I could just use the hole in a Graham Phantom board lol. 

I thought owning VPI tables would be better on this front, being domestic - but nope, not really much better (though shipping is super fast!). And they didn’t have what it takes to knock off my Innovation. At least Clearaudio has the import excuse for prices!

Plus, I've gotten great support over the years from Musical Surroundings. I am getting both my Universal 12" arms rewired. They have to go back to Germany for that, for est. 6-8 weeks. Musical Surroundings sent me one of their demo arms, first to try out with the rewire I'm getting, but also to loan me while mine are gone. I suppose it helps they know I am considering a Master upgrade, but I'm sure that doesn't happen often around the different brands.