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suspension vs non-suspension design

Hi, what is your opinion regarding the issue of suspended vs non-suspended turntable designs. Do turntables with suspension have more PRaT in comparison with non suspended tt's? In general the current trend in tt design is non suspended, high mass. Is this because (and I hope I do not insult any tt designer) it is more easy to design a non suspended high mass turntable than a suspended one? I can imagine that for a DIY tt it is more awkward to built a good sounding suspension tt, because of the complexity of the different parts of the suspension itself, the difficult mathematics regarding stiffness, damping qualities, configuration and mass of the suspension, etc.

Chris
dazzdax
jc2000
92 posts
 
At the risk of sounding cynical, I'd guess that one reason why newer turntable designs are usually non-suspended is to lower the cost of making the turntable.

In addition, the setup of a non-suspended model will usually be a lot easier, which might be selling point for some.

I don't know that the suspension has much to do with PRAT. Some suspended turntables, like a Linn, will have good PRAT, but that is, I think, the result of the design as a whole, since I've heard high mass sprung turntables that don't seem to do so well with PRAT. Likewise, there are some non-suspended turntables with good PRAT.
pbb
1,140 posts
 
Until I got a Rega P-9 I was a convinced suspended suspension 'phile. I still think that theoretically a suspended suspension makes more sense. It has a lot to do with implementation I guess. The cost factor looms large I think in most of the newer tables having a solid plinth.
greenman
53 posts
 
I think the issue of PRaT has far more to do with mass/energy storage than suspended or non-suspended. The Xerxes X/20 and Avid Volvere and Volvere Sequel are among the benchmark tables for PRaT and they are suspended. The non-suspended Regas and the Empire 208 also have good PRaT.
Many of the behemoth American tables have very poor PRaT.
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