5 tables one choice, opinions please

As I noted in my post, I only heard the Nottingham very briefly w/ an unfamiliar cart in a very different system. I couldn't meaningfully compare it to any of the other 'tables I heard.

As to the more controlled comparisons with VPI, Rega, Project, Music Hall, A-Signature, Clearaudio/Marantz, Transrotor and a couple of others:

IMHO The A-Solid Wood had the most extended bass of the 'tables I heard, although there is definitely a slight but audible "wooliness" from the midbass down. (In a direct comparison to the Oracle/ Graham 2.2/Graham Nightingale through the multiple inputs on the Aesthetix Rhea in my main system, the A-Sig with a Clearaudio Aurum Beta S in place of the supplied Ortofon re produced slightly but audibly more extended and pitch stable organ pedal tones than the Oracle/Graham set-up). Although extended bass tones were notably pitch stable, there were also artifacts that imparted a bit of wooliness around the fundamental that was absent from the Oracle set-up. Eventually, I will probably try one of the many RB300 mods just to see if this helps.

Overall pitch definition was also audibly superior on the A-Sig to any of the other tables I really listened to(other than the Oracle Graham from mid-bass up). I'd note however, that the Transrotor was very, very good in this regard and I've seen complaints about the brand in this regard- so go figure.

I'd only add that the "more controlled" comparisons I did while shopping were hardly perfect. There were many variables involved which I attempted to control for by subbing CD versions of the same musical source material into each system as a "reference point" - hardly perfect, but useful in comparing two analog sources throug a single system in one store to 2different analog sources through a single system in anoher store.

OTOH, the Oracle/Graham vs A-Solid vs Transrotor comparison I did in my system was rigidly controlled.

Hope this is helpful.

Marty

The Nottingham Space Deck, not the Horizon, is a more appropriate comparison to the Scout. In that scenario the Nottingham is clearly a better table/arm combo.

I had the VPI Scout which I liked but I got the upgrade bug and sold it.

I purchased the Nott able and am very, very pleased with it.

I had some trepidation originally regarding the idiosyncratic nature of the table:

--No arm lift lever on the headshell (supposedly sets up resonance in the tonearm)with the supplied arm.

--You have to start the table by rotating the platter.

--You have to stop it buy manually stopping the platter.

BUT, the results are truly astounding. Build quality is excellent.

I can very highly recommend Larry at Hollywood Sound. He walked me thru the set-up on the phone and was very patient. Nott is highly under-rated in the US because they do not advertise in Stereophile or TAS.

Good luck.

Bill (Audiofeil), The Spacedeck ($3000) is almost twice the price of the Scout ($1600). The Horizon is much closer in price to the Scout. Of course, the Spacedeck is a far better table than any of the VPIs, I heard to date (including the VPI Junior TNT etc.). As for the Horizon-Scout comparison, I am not sure which one would take the lead.

If considering table above $2K, I would also take into account the new Galibier Serac that is due out this Fall. For $2.5K including RB250, it sounds like one of the best prospects for good sound.

Rene

Rene,
You're absolutely correct. My bad. Apologies to everybody whom I misled. I have lost track of VPI pricing and was not aware of current Scout/JMW9 pricing.
5 minutes in the penalty box for stupidity.