Sound differences between Galibier and Teres

My preference is for the Galibier range, or the Teres acrylic platters as I didn't like how their wood platters sounded.

However, since you are keen on either range of TT, it would be best to pay a visit to both manufacturer's in Colorado and listen to both.

Cmk: What did the Teres wood platter sound like to you in contrast to the acrylic or the Galibier ?

Well the wood platter sounded very diffuse, whereas the acrylic (lead filled) and the Galibier produced much more stable soundstaging.

I think they are more alike than not. I find them both to be very accurate to what is on the LP and both have a very low noise floor. It is very hard for us to know what a relaxed, softer sound means to you. When I first read that I thought that perhaps you are looking at the wrong tables, but that is based on what I consider relaxed and soft. I don't consider either of these tables relaxed and soft but Doug makes excellent points about changing the sound with belts.

Cmk's advice is spot on. If you are considering investing in either of these table you should really try to visit Denver and hear both for yourself. I don't agree that the acrylic platters sound better than the wood, but that is personal preference.

Cmk,

I don't doubt you heard the differences you described, but why attribute them specifically to the platters? Were the other components in the Galibier and Teres setups you auditioned all the same?

If you compared Thom's and Chris's systems in CO, you were comparing apples and oranges. Few valid, table-specific conclusions could be drawn from that. Dan_Ed made the trip you suggested, heard the differences you described and bought a Galibier. Then he visited us and learned that the diffuse-ness and softness he heard in Chris's setup had nothing to do with the turntables. In fact, Dan had to replace his entire system to begin to approach the performance of ours. The only component he didn't have to replace was his TT. The Gavia and the 320 are far more similar than different, as I said above.

Dan and I have traded a number of visits. We use identical tonearms, the same cartridge set up by the same guy, the same amplification, the same wire and we've been able to hear fairly similar speakers. My setup images and soundstages at least as well as his, and I think he'd agree. Until he replaced his amplification and wire, his Gavia was actually miles *behind* our 320 in every sonic parameter you could name - but that had nothing to do with the tables.

I think what you heard was due to differences in components or in the cartridge setups.