Here's my turntable journey.
Dual 1219, LP12 FR 12 arm,Oracle Delphi Fr 12 and EMT 2 arms,Sota Saphire SME V,VPI Scout,Rega P9,SME 10, V arm.
Ihave used the following cartidges, FR 1 Mk 3f,Dynavector Karat Ruby, and several Grado Platinum,Rega Exact2, and Clearaudio Talisman Gold V2.
I've also used several speaker, amp, phono stage electronics over the years, so how can I evaluate the sound of one turntable over the other?
Only if you have kept your original gear, could you ever know for sure what sonic differences one table has over the others.
And of course there's always that synergy thing.
The best I can add is that the tables that require the least amount of fussing, were the ones that I enjoyed the most.
Peace of mind when the table is properly set up once trumps futzing around after each listening session.
One thing I discovered is that my Grado Platinum never sounded as good on the P9 as it did on the SME.
And that an older Supex made my P9 sound better than it ever did when I used the Grado and Rega cartridges on it.
The delicacies of cartridge mounting, audtioning,is a hinderance to really discovering what works the best in what table/arm combo you have.
As such, unless you're lucky, or you have a friend who has done the experimentation for you and has a sound you like, it's hit and miss.
Reviews and forums are a good source of opinions, but nothing beats hands on experience,hearing it in the flesh.
As it turns out I am quite happy with the way my turntable sounds,perhaps the best sound I've had from vinyl in a while, the Steelhead doesn't hurt either.
The only comparison I can make where all the gear remained the same except the vinyl set up, is between my last two rigs, the Rega and SME.
I would say that the SME system has a clearer sound,more balanced at all frequencies than the Rega combo,perhaps it has less mechanical distortions or it's greater mass has something to do with it.
I have to admit that I never knew how much bottom end that Rega table could produce until I heard my old P9 on the system that the new owner played it on.
I never had the slam and dynamic bass he now has.
But he has a different cartridge and uses solid state and cone speakers, compared to my tubes and electrostatic speakers.
But what I may have lost in some areas, I feel the gains in other areas have more than made up for the losses.
And so it is with everything in this hobby, you win some and you lose some.
Trying to figure out the why and wherefore would take all the fun out of it.
It's mostly the journey and not the destination that keeps us in this hobby.
At least that's what I tell myself.
