It is almost impossible for anyone to truly audition turntables and tonearm combinations in any sort of controlled manner. Home audition is pretty much out of the question. So, one can go around listening to different systems with different turntables, arms, cartridges and phonostages. If the system sounds really great, then the particular components, which would include the turntable and arm, must be decent or they would have dragged the whole down. At best, a crude measure.
When I was looking for a table, I asked someone I know who was a distributor of a major line of gear what he thought were the tables to look at. He has heard hundreds of dealer and home setups so he has a better sense of what works in a variety of systems. I was looking at the SME 30/V combination, Simon Yorke table, Avid Acutus, etc. With no hesitation, he said the one that stands out was the Basis Debut. His company actually has interests aligned with a competing product, so the recommendation was not tainted by personal interest. Having nothing better to go on, that is the table I ended up buying. Later, I added the Basis power supply.
