Brinkman Balance Comparisons

My earlier post pointed to some of the qualities that, I think, the elite tables provide--freedom from the sense that vinyl is being played, sensational dynamics, increased refinement, greater sense of hall space, and so forth. The SME 30, Walker, and Continuum all provide it. Whether it's worth the money to you is another question entirely. That said, superb sound can be had for a lot less. But you will get more with the better tables. My opinion, valuable or not, is that it's all a question of how demanding (and obsessive)you are or want to be.

Raul said: Any serious TT comparison is valid only if take place in the same audio system/room with the same tonearm/cartridge/phonolinepream/cartridge set-up. Now I agree but HOW do you do that?????? It's almost impossible to go to some audio store and start to compare the Galibrier/Raven/Teres/SME/VPI etc with the Tri-Planer/Schroder/Luster/Graham/Dynavector with a ZYX/Orpheus/Dynavector etc.......so, so many choices.
Gdastone is right .......tables and arms have been improving year by year. This is what is so frustrating to me ....it is just not an easy choice. Then again, it really is!
What I include in my decision to buy is the following: why do I want to upgrade....:.is there somthing wrong with what I have OR is the new unit better?: Is the new unit better in areas I need and want (and like)?: has it been blessed and given an approval nod by you (the group here on audiogon)?: is it reasonably priced?: Is the dealer/manufacturer a person I want to deal with (important)?: What is the availability of the unit (a problem with Schroder for now)?: will I get the necessary service?:
All of these are important in my search but I do feel that a: Teres with a Graham Phantom and ZYX or a VPI HRX with a Tri-Planer and Orpheus would make me happy........

P.S. The units I mentioned above are just some of the candidates. I am also looking at the Raven AC, Galibrier, Schroder, etc.....

Rick (RWD)

Dear Rick: +++++ " What I include in my decision to buy is the following: why do I want to upgrade....:.is there somthing wrong with what I have OR is the new unit better?: " +++++

This statement is critical ( it does not matters if we are wealthy or not ), many of us change " things " only for change " things ". In the case of TT's and before we change it it is " healthy " to look for some tweaks that could improve the TT performance like: mat's, clamp's, plattform's, etc, etc.
Of course that we can change something because it " looks " better or is the new " kid on the street ", this is our decision.

Rick: +++++ " Now I agree but HOW do you do that?????? " +++++

we can't, and that's why some other posts here " speak " about of " minute " differences between those TT's and I posted:
" When you are talking of any of the TT's named here ( including your Acoustic Signature ) you don't have to worried about its performance or the " minute " differences between them what you must to worried is about two critical subjects: tonearm/cartridge matching and Phonolinepreamp, these two subjects make the difference ( not the TT )specially the Phonolinepreamp ( I agree with Darren about ). ".

This means that with top TT's performers the decision is more in what you like more ( look, name/brand, warranty, post-service, feautures, price, etc, etc. ) of each one other than the performance.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul..well said. You are correct. I must assume that my final cartridge decision will be one of these: Dynavector XV1-S, ZYX-3 or Uni. With that said, I believe the Tri-Planer, Phantom will do well to carry these cartridges (agree)? Then, the TT....and I believe a Raven, Glavia, Teres 320 will all do well to complete the unit.
My Aries/10.5 unit is good....quit good. However, I just have to believe the upgrade of a newer table and arm and cartridge (Helikon now) will be a move up for my system.
Thanks again, Raul for your quick and thoughtful comments.

RWD - Have you considered the Titan-i as another cartridge choice? Lyra will subtract $1,000 off the Titan-i with your Helicon trade-in. I've been going through the same cartridge conundrums with my set-up. An Avid Volvere, Tri-Planer VII, and Helicon. If you like the Helicon, the Titan-i may be an excellent progression with a little less guesswork and a substantial savings. Richard