Absolute Monster SAM Turntable

Terrible arms. Very unnecessary filigree, resonating. 

Look forward to your video.

Thanks will check out the tonearm pods. I wouldn’t exactly call it cheap at $7k with tonearm and shipping. I have a VPI Classic 3 for almost 10 year and love it except for the ability to use multiple arms. It sucks that TT manufacturers have to charge over $10k (closer to $20k) if you want more than one tonearm. SAM is a small shop that sells direct and has been making audio equipment for over 30 years.

Unfortunately, you can’t demo these anywhere, so I’ve had to go by the feedback and looking at owners’ systems which is all very positive. Yes, the platter uses MDF along with copper and aluminum, but my VPI also has a lot of MDF in it ;-)

Any case, mine will arrive by the new year and I will post a video of the unboxing, assembly and a few sound samples. I assure you I didn’t buy it for looks, I'd just rather put the money toward a nicer tonearm and MC cartridge than buying an over priced table. 

Fancy looks and cheap price. As for extra tonearms, I can recommend acoustand tonearm pods that can be made to measure either for sitting on a turntable or on your turntable stand. They are very heavy and come with spikes, so solidity is a given. I've compared them with the built-in mount of my SME tables, and it has been easy to say a better cartridge on an Acoustand pod sounds better.

But, back to business. I'd advise against buying something that looks wonderful when it is cheap. There will be a reason. Buying decisions should be based on what sounds best to you, not on what looks good.

Im interested in purchasing one as well but would like to run different Tonearms in the future. Any advice on the difficulty and where to get the arm boards? 

 

Besides the platter, what ELSE is made from MDF?  For the bucks, I could not get my mind around the idea of an MDF platter.  But that certainly is not to say it cannot sound good. 

I have one with an Audiomods arm and a custom 12v PS for the motor. It's a hell of a table that replaced a VPI Classic. Haters gonna hate I guess ....

so ugly

Function over form, every time.

hdcls3 ... I'm very very happy with my SAM Gold Reference Monster table! It's a fantastic table, with a very good price! I don't like, however,  their arm, so I'm using two Kuzma 313 arms on this table, and the match is fantastic! 

With their earlier model of SAM I think guys are inspired by Micro Seiki.

portoalegre...now that you've had some time with your SAM table what are your thoughts/feelings about it??  I also am considering the Reference table, hopefully with two arms, so your feedback would be appreciated...may help other vinyl lovers on here too.                                  Thanks!

Have anyone had any experience with The Sinner? 

It may be a great turntable. The engineering may be excellent. The design, however... um, de gustibus no disputandum.

In my view however, they should remove about 70% of the doo-dahs, rethink proportions, and stop thinking shiny metal is attractive because it's shiny.

A very superficial critique — and without even hearing it to boot — but TTs are also works of art, kinetic sculptures — and I was a professional designer — so I care about the aesthetics, crazy as that may be.

Just to update, I ended up buying the SAM Reference TT, and it's fantastic! Very detailed and opened sound quality!

SAM Reference TT is actually under rated, I have the SAM Reference that replaced my $15K Clearaudio Innovation Wood and I swear I’ll never go back to Clearaudio. Using the same Cart, the SAM TT is so much detail in sound and/or music. Yes, MDF Platter is right but the quality of the MDF they use at least for me, is way better than most aluminum platter out there. I wouldn’t judge this TT until you hear it. I gave the same judgment when I saw it for the first time but when I heard it from a friend who bought it before me, man was I wrong, I was  immediately amazed.

Thanks guys!

I'm not so sure that it is overkill or bad. The designs don't look that bad and I would be happy to take one for a spin. 

stereo5-"Chinese overkill" more like Croation overkill.

There isn't any ridiculous blue LED embellishment to qualify.

I hope the poster was writing this post tongue in cheek?

Very "busy" looking and an mdf platter.  Better not get it wet or it will warp.  Chinese overkill.

How about a link to this obscure, garish piece.

http://sam-audio.biz

Buy now: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Absolute-Monster-All-Brass-130lbs-SAM-Turntable-24-carat-GOLDEN-Gilt-33-3-45...

6K shipped, and you get an MDF plater? What is you nice table lacking? Looks like an expensive boat anchor.

I envision weekends spent using a lot of Brasso polish.