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advice for best reliable turntable

I recently became a convert to vinyl after comparing the sound of several mid-range vinyl setups against SOTA digital. I'm pretty much a newbie to vinyl, and will be using the equipment in China, i.e. it will be difficult to ship units in-and-out of the country. I have narrowed my choices to the following:

1) High-end commercial models in 10k range: Avid Acutus, Nottingham Dais, La Luce Centoventi, Basis 2800, SME model 20/2a
2) High-end, high-value models derived from the Teres project: Teres 300 series, Redpoint Testa Rossa XS, Galibier Quattro Supreme
3) Local model produced in China: Consonance

The Consonance is made in the same city I live in China, and the Nottingham, Basis, and SME brands all have a China distributor.

I think reliability and ease of repair are my main concerns, unless I have to sacrifice a significant amount of sound quality.

I like tubes, and generally prefer a fuller, lusher sound over a more analytical, dry sound (though musical detail is very important to me). I listen mostly to pop, jazz, world music, vocal and percussive music.

It is difficult to find threads where people have made direct comparisons between two or more turntables in my list. I hope to get a better idea of the 'sonic signature' of the above players without necessarily getting the chance to hear all of them, and also what technical upkeep worries I may need to worry about. I intend to get the best tonearm/cartridge combination possible irrespective of price.

The dealer for the SME, Basis and Nottingham TTs said the Nottingham had a warmer, lusher, less detailed sound, the Basis was more detailed, analytical and dynamic, while the SME is in-between.

Has anyone heard the Consonance turntable?

I'm currently leaning toward either the Nottingham or Consonance, if they are comparable in performance to the other players in my list, since they have China dealers. They are relatively lower-priced and possibly less detailed, then I would consider getting a laser-based TT in a couple years once (if) they prove successful and come down in price.
no_slouch
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear No slouch: +++++ " I think reliability and ease of repair are my main concerns... " +++++

I understand your point of view, but when you are talking at this performance/quality of " names ", you don't have to be worried about reliability or ease of repair. You have to be worried about sound reproduction performance.

Mi advise: SME 20, Avid Acutus/Galibier and Basis, in that order.

But more important ( maybe ) than the TT or other critical subject on the analog rig integration is: phono preamp and cartridge/tonearm combo.
You have to be extremely carefully for do the right choose about these audio items.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
As I understand the situation,the Nottinghams are better if purchasing the lower models.Their upper models are slightly over-damped,possibly not what you are looking for in the "bloom" department.IMHO.
pauly
1,012 posts
 
Whatever you do, do not use an SS phono. They all sound terrible. Dry, lifeless and dead. It is because SS equipment has very high phase distortions that are particularly evident in phono stages.
no_slouch OP
48 posts
 
Thanks for the comments so far, please keep them coming!

Raul, could you be more specific about the sound differences between those three turntables, or why you would recommend in that order? I may not be able to A/B them using the same tonearm/cartridge combination.

I plan to get a top-end tonearm and cartridge, since they are easier to ship back and forth, i.e. buy or sell, and require a 'relatively' smaller investment to get the very best. Then I can upgrade the turntable down the road if vinyl works out. I am considering Schroeder Reference, Graham Phantom, and AirTangent2002. ZYX Universe for cartridge. I'm not sure about phono stage yet, but your advice Pauly is well-taken, I guess if I don't like SS in my pre/power, I should stick with tubes all the way then. Isn't the Boulder 2008 an SS phono stage though? Not that I'm considering that model.

Are there TT vs. tonearm/cartridge synergies I should worry about? At this point, actually, I'd be quite happy if all the pieces fit together at all :-)

Tomorrow I'm gonna have a listen to the Consonance LP1.0 and LP5.0, but without an external comparison or reference point.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
A Teres has nothing that's ever likely to need repair, other than the circuit board or the motor I suppose. Shipping that would be easy enough.

No part of the table itself is going to break, unless you drop it from a second story window. That might just break the sidewalk. These tables are built to last, as are all the Teres project types.

I know from experience that a ZYX UNIverse/Schroeder Ref is a superb combination. Haven't heard the other arms you mentioned, but for simplicity's sake in a foreign land, isn't an AirTangent and its complexities a higher risk? What if they don't have air to compress over there? ;-)
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