What is the ideal weight/mass for a turntable?

My observation having seen and heard many tables over the years is that heavier tables are better in general. But there is no single ideals weight/mass for a table....its a moot question. Also, I would not advise going after the biggest and heaviest table and assuming that you got a good sound value.

I figured as much re: resonance diodes. Thanks again Teres!

Dear Pbb: IMHO I think that there is no single right answer to your questions because the subject is much more complex ( many individual factors and inter-related factors one. ) THAT WHAT YOU ASK.
TERES ( and other persons )ALREADY POINT-OUT ( posted ) MANY INTERESTING SUBJECTS ABOUT AND PROBABLY i CAN'T ADD NOTHING MORE BUT I THINK THAT THE NAME Of THE GAME IN THE tt DESIGN ( LIKE IN OTHER AUDIO ITEM ) is the quality design level it self, it does not matters : suspended, unsuspended, heavy mass, low mass, etc, etc..
We can have great heavy/low mass TT all depend on the quality design and quality execution of that design.
The TT design is a whole TT design where different factors/subjects have different ºgrade level priorities and where when you achieve one of your targets you loose some other one or at least you can achieve this one.
For me other than speed accuracy and speed stability ISOLATION ( internal/external ) is a primary subject of paramount importance in a well designed TT.
Here you can read what I already posted about in other similar Agon thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1202574416&openflup&19&4#19
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1202574416&openflup&28&4#28
Other thing is that almost all of you are thinking in a belt drive TT and we have to remember that we have direct drive and idler TT designs that are very good ones too.
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Chris,

A truly excellent, objective summary of the subject, thank you.

"I personally believe that a well implemented unsuspended turntables deliver more satisfying and accurate sound. But I certainly can understand why someone else may prefer the "suspended" sound."

As for myself, I belong in the latter camp, having just purchased what I believe is one of the best implementations of the suspended types - the Sota Cosmos. But I can certainly understand why someone would prefer the "nonsuspended" sound!

The comment from Chris of Teres is obviously intriguing.....I wonder if carbon-fibre is used in Teres' new composite material for their latest platters....

Also why not build a plinth from carbon-fibre....is this too difficult or expensive?