Where is Your Turntable?

OK, so here's my little prepared speech concerning the ergonomics of TT placement: everything else aside for a minute, I would like my TT as close as possible to my listening position, so that if at all possible, I can be seated when the stylus hits the first recorded groove. I actually had the ideal situation once upon a time when all my source equipment was in/on a very stout 5 foot wide, 20" H x 20" D low slab table right in front of the listening couch. The floor was a concrete slab of course with floor outlets right by the table and a raceway in the floor to get the long IC to the amps. Fabulous!

Now I'm on a second story (not a concrete slab), so the TT is on a target wall shelf lag bolted to a concrete block wall directly to the left of my listening spot. Once I know the stylus is safely settled into the lead-in groove, I can usually get seated in time to capture the magic.

But if you're into analog, absolutely nothing beats being able to do it all while seated in your sweet spot. (Drinks go on a narrow table behind the couch!)

On the side wall, just a few feet from the listening position. On one side is another stand with the record cleaner on the top shelf and new inserts and outer sleeves on the other shelves. I use a DIY high mass sand filled stand (even the 8inch square legs are filled with sand). Phono amp, pre amp, etc, is on a seperate high mass stand next to it. This makes it easy to get up and change records, keeps all equipment out from between speakers, means long expensive interconnects to the amps.

Mine came out of the closet... Honest!

Well, at least it's back into the system. Many years ago a TT was the centerpiece and reasonably well contained in a home-brew contraption. Then came the grunions - you know, rug rats. The whole system (except speakers, of course) migrated into a closet in an adjoining hallway - unusual, yes, but away from prying and PBJ-covered fingers. Over the years family demands changed, CDs arrived, and the turtable & vinyl migrated to a storage closet. And then there was this stupid, stupid thread here earlier this year that kinda booted my butt into gear and the turntable literally came out of the closet and I started listening to vinyl again. Family status and accompanying FAF (Family AF) means that it's sitting on a jury-rigged pseudo-isolation contraption on a shelf, but it has to be along the front wall between the speakers today. At least it's out in the light of day...

mine is immediately to the left side of my listening position along the left wall (room is 21 feet wide); there is a 1 meter interconnect to the phono stage on a rack next to the tt. the wall behind the tt has a large multi-cylinder diffuser. the floor is 6" of concrete and i have a 24" x 24" piece of Travertine on top of the concrete for the tt. the tt itself has it's own integral stand and air suspension.

i have spot lighting directly onto the tt, with one button on my remote the lights dim. i like lots of light for cueing and checking the stylus but like it dim for serious listening.

i can be back in my chair before the music starts after cueing......and the tt is easily seen from my listening position.

the VPI 16.5 is set up on a built-in cabinet in the hallway outside the room with all the tools at hand for quick action.

Due to lack of space I have Lovan 3 point stands with .75" marble shelves with the turntable sitting on top with an extra 1.25" granite slab separated with rubber buttons. All of it sitting between speakers. I haven't had problems with walking around or vibrations from speakers but the granite does have a "ring" when you tap it. I am considering a maple platform and maybe some Ganymede feet beneath it. Would the lateral movement that is possible with bearing type iso have negative effects on turntables. Would the arm bounce back and forth in the groove?