Advice on turntables

lstringfellow  I have had a few very nice turntables over the years.  My purchase in 2021 was a Rega P-10 and it really was a great turntable for the 2 years I owned it.  But I made the choice of selling it and moving to the Dr. Feikert Blackbird with a Kuzma 4-Point 11" tonearm.  It is a magnificent piece of kit and I have no regrets on making the trade (up).  If the Blackbird is within your budget, you can't go wrong and will enjoy it greatly.  There are many tonearm choices available on the market today, some that perform very well and that won't break the bank.  I strongly recommend communicating with an authorized dealer who can help steer you in the right direction for your needs and budget.  Enjoy the journey.

If you want to spend a bit more you can look into Acoustic Solid turntables they are made in Germany,  but are not that well known in the U.S.

They go from around 2k up to 45k in price I prefer the metal line which are the most expensive, but they have types for all kinds of tastes.

Dr Feikert is in a different league than anything made by Pro-Ject. But you also need a great arm and cart to take full advantage at the blackbird level. 

Personally I’m on my second Clearaudio TT.

If you are looking for a more classic style looking turntable you might want to look at the Project Xtension 12 I have one for the last 2 years, and it is a very solid and great sounding TT for the money, the only upgrade that I did for it was to get a LPR which made it even better. Pro-Ject Xtension 12 Turntable - Mahogany - No Cartridge

By the way I have a total of 4 Turntables 2 direct drive and 2 belt drive.

Dr. Feikert turntables are world class.  I have experience with a Blackbird and must say that it is impressive.  If I am not mistaken Music Direct sells them and if so you can turn to them for specific advice on both models.  They also offer a 60 day return privilege.  Let us know how you progress.  BTW, I have no affiliation with either company.

If you move on from a WTT/TA, you may regret it.  
I did when mine started showing its age after over 30 happy years, and my first attempt to “improve” on it was not successful. I now have a Technics SL100C I am happy with, but it leaves my “esoteric” itch unscratched. 

in response to secretguy , I have no complaints about the well tempered turntable. It actually sounds very good to my ears, but I wanted to have a more traditional turntable in my set up.

  Oberoniaomnia raises some very important questions, for me to consider. I prefer a more traditional look, but I am not a tinkerer. I don’t consider myself skillful enough and I mainly am just wanting something with that traditional look that I can set up that will not need much adjusting, etc. Don’t think I would need but one tone arm. So maybe I need to give some thought to these provocative questions and rethink what I’m looking for. Thanks

If you are thinking in this kind of price category, I separate phonostage will be a significant factor. I have not heard Dr. Feikert, just know it gets good reviews.

I suggest figure out for yourself of what you want from your new TT:

- 1 vs 2 tonearm option? I for along time thought I had t have at least 2 arms available, then realized that in reality, I will not fuss with that. Be honest with yourself.

- VTA adjustments yes/no? I had a VPI to fiddle with VTA, but could not hear a difference unless comparing same track to digital file, so that went out of the window.

- Are you a tinkerer or a listener? With your current set-up do you modify things all the times, or are you leaving things as they are? I'm about 85% in the second camp.

- Looks: do you like traditional look or do you like something more out there, arty? Do you care? The Feikerts are more traditional almost vintage, while I prefer a bit more industrial looks. Nothing but personal preference.

I sympathize with you re not being able to listen to candidates. I think this is the modern reality. I went to Upscale Audio (Dr. Feikert dealer), and requested a demo to see whether I could hear differences between plinths (so same cart, same electronics). The flat out refused to set that up. So even if you could go to a store, chances are slim that you could actually experience it.

I bought a Rega Naia package in the end. It is a set-it and forget-it TT. Sounds better than my previous VPI. I like the space age look, even if I am not a fan of foam.

my 2c.

What don't you like about the WT?

I've been wanting one for a while now.

Thanks for the info. I’m curious what are the advantages or disadvantage of suspended turntable as well as pros and cons of Different platter materials?

Generally speaking, turntables designs include suspended, mass loaded, minimize mass, vibration controlled.  For minimized mass, Rega P8/P10 and above offer great price/performance - nimble, fast, but some may want more bass weight.  Mass loaded like heavier platters VPI are known for ample bass weight.

Then we have the different drives like belt, rim, idler, direct drive.  Also, different platter materials like acrylic, metal, Delrin.  Speed accuracy is also important.