Rega or VPI

What about SOTA? I just moved laterally from a P3 to a SOTA Sapphire series II. The sound was starkly better, blacker background, better inner detail, the instruments seemed clearer, less distortion. You get the picture. There is a Sapphire fitted with a RB250 right now for under $700! The 250 is a good combination, and you could upgrade the armboard in the future(it looks like MDF). This is the combination I have and I love it. Plus SOTA tables have pitch control to lock in the speed without another purchase. They also use springs but in an inverted application, as opposed to VPI.

"Most everybody agrees that Bose are great speakers..."

Man...you must hang out with veeeerrry different people than I do...

Now, I may be newer here, but *in my opinion*, if you want to recommend that this poster try a modded-to-all-hell Tech 1200, then just say so. Elitest attitudes and downright bad advice like "they're all lateral moves" isn't going to help, and will only confuse and rile everyone...especially since anyone who has heard the 'tables we speak of could (and did) tell you that they are definitely NOT a lateral move from an MMF5...I don't want any trouble, just sayin' my piece so...peace ;)

Psychicanimal,

I've agreed with you in the past but you're not being helpful today. You've let your dogma overwhelm every other consideration, including the real world experiences of people who've heard the very tables Jdodmead is asking about.

You are technically correct that most people think Bose makes great speakers. But none of those people are A'gon members and none of them know a turntable from a toadstool. The opinions of Bose speaker fans are as irrelevant as the opinions of MP3 listeners.

Disclaimer - I'm a reformed Bose 901 owner, so I can be as adamant on that topic as a reformed smoker. In case anyone wants to know, a Shelter 901 is better than a Bose 901 - and for about the same price too! :)

I know I'm not being 'helpful'--but I'm not dogmatic either. The point is that even as motor quality and platter mass go up it's still in the AC synchronous field. This would require either an AC regenerator and/or flywheel to make it a worthwhile step. Using a DC motor like the Origin Live and a lab grade external power supply would take things to a whole different level. I have listened to an Oracle deck with such mods and it does sound pretty good, though not at the performance level of...

In that case ;), let me recommend a JA Michell Tecnodec. Brand at $1295 set up with an RB250 using the very cool Michell Teconweight and VTA adjuster. Easy to set up; upgrades available. DC motor is the same as the Gyrodec's ;)