Suspended vs. non suspended turntable

Nrchy I did love my Sota turntable and was surprised when it beat my friend's VPI HW-19 with Triplanar arm when we did a head to head shootout. I was using a Denon DL-304 cart, he was using a Sumiko BPS cart. It sounded fuller and more lifelike, VPI thinner and more analytical. But I think I would like to get something a bit different this time.

DCstep, I have been keeping an eye out for the T/T's on sale here, but the problem is that nearly all of them are in the USA. That means - 110V (240V over here), and expensive shipping. Both problems are not insurmountable, I could get a step-down transformer, but why complicate things when I don't have to.

Also - I know someone who can weld steel and has made his own T/T table. It's a massive thing, 75kg, and inert. I will probably ask him to make one for me. In the past, I DIY'ed my own sandpit and it helped tremendously. I might DIY another sandpit for this new T/T. We will see.

Dan_Ed precisely what I was thinking. If I am going to skimp anywhere in the short term, it would be with the cartridge and phono cable. Such things are easy to replace and I won't mind having a spare Denon cartridge lying around. BTW, RCM = record cleaning machine?

Amfibius, I should have mentioned in my post that I'm keeping in mind the rest of your system. Those Violons deserve to be feed with a really good analog source. I don't want to totally dismiss the importance of stand, etc., but the idea is that you can always improve the sound with additions and tweaks if you start with a great component.

If you get the urge to DIY a table I would suggest contacting Teres for the bearing and a perhaps a platter because I think Chris Brady still sells these ala-carte.

Also, if you consider a good DC motor you can either use a wall-wart or better yet a 12 volt batter supply to drive it. Here again, ask Teres. Maybe they still have some left over prior to the rim drive switch.

Yes, RCM is record cleaning machine. I built one several years ago and still use it today. It's manually powered but I'd put it up against anything as long as we don't count convenience and noise.

The springs I'm using are rated 40-60lb. each & six springs are used to support a 100lb TT plus a 200lb. sandbox.

02-18-08: Dan_ed said:
"From Sumiko's webpage

Massive 12lb. (5.4kg) sandwich construction acrylic platter virtually eliminated unwanted resonances.

I can see why you need some help with dampening. Dgarretson's VPI runs around 60-70 lbs. Maybe that's a little better, but I see a common theme with those who keep demanding that everybody who doesn't use complete isolation is missing out. For comparison, my table and stand together are well over 300 lbs. Hey, if it works for you."

What's Sumiko got to do with it? His budget is Aus$20,000. I'm sure there's a different SME distributor in Aus, if that's what you were looking at.

If isolation and mass isn't important then why do you have a 240 lb stand???

Nobody said one size fits all except you. I'm saying to allow for a stand or isolation base in the budget. He's talking about a sandpit now, so I think he understands the issue.

Dave

Amfibius,

your impressions of the SOTA Vs. VPI sound like the characterstics of those two cartridges.