Recommendations For New Table/Arm Under $4k

I haven't heard the Artisan arm, but I'll still cast another Serac vote. The bearing and motor alone are head and shoulders beyond any other table in this price range, as were the Teres offerings before they dropped out of the sub $5K market. Pro-Ject and VPI offerings don't come close in either of these key components.

The fact that Galibier uses a mylar belt, instead of rubber, thread or some other non-linear material, is of enormous importance - and this factor is not appreciated as widely as it should be. A Galibier maintains rock steady speed through transients that puts most belt drive tables to shame, while its high mass provides a solid base and black backgrounds that DD and idler wheel tables can only dream about.

If the arm turns out to need an upgrade at some point, the Serac will still provide that rock solid base, and Thom can make an armboard for any tonearm.

You won't get all this from any other rig in this price range AFAIK. (Note: no affiliation, ownership interest or any interest beyond calling Thom a friend, just reporting what I've seen/heard).

Dougdeacon said:

"The bearing and motor alone are head and shoulders beyond any other table in this price range"

I don't think this is accurate. The bearing has to be considered in combination with the effective mass of the platter. I don't know about VPI, but Pro-ject has lowered the mass substantially (it's not zero) with magnetic repulsion.

Still, all these discussions are mute when the OP listens for himself and makes a decision based on sound vs. value. Also, consider "street price" vs. "list price."

Dave

Pro-ject has lowered the mass substantially (it's not zero) with magnetic repulsion.

With magnetic repulsion the designer has to account for vibrations within the platter. Otherwise all that energy is going to wind up in the tonearm and you will hear it in the speakers. I'm beginning to understand why you insist on springs under your table.

Tvad, as I've said several times before, I thought that the Serac with the recommended arm pairing was $4600. The company's web site doesn't give any pricing info so I searched around and found a couple of references to $4600, so that's what I thought it cost with a "decent" arm. ("Decent" meaning what the marketer recommends).

Apparently that was either a different arm or you know of a lower price. It's that simple, nothing mysterious. If their web site clearly stated prices I might not have gotten confused.

Dave