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Every day I see another turntable recommendation...

After digging into this topic, I am convinced now I need to go a bit higher on this first vinyl set up. I think all in, I am prepared at this point to go up to $5k, for the table alone, not including arm or cartridge.

But frankly, being on this forum is like drinking from an information firehose. I have learned a bunch and yet somehow, I am less convicted than before.

With that in mind, to narrow down the decision, I am want to restrict myself to things I can buy, hear and, if necessary, service locally. My local dealers stock, AMG, AVM, Basis, Clearaudio, Michell, Musichall, Pro-ject, Rega, VPI, so I am likely restricted to those brands. I am certain my view will change by the end of this thread.

saulh

Showing 4 responses by cleeds

cleeds
6,156 posts
 

 

mijostyn

@cleeds, of course I have a rumble filter, a very steep digital rumble filter with a cut off frequency of 18 Hz. The rumble is coming from the record.

That’s interesting. The last time we reviewed your rumble filter, you suggested it was needed because you have constant earthquakes where you live. Now you blame the record. It’s obvious you have LF issues in your setup that you resolve with the rumble filter, which is fine, of course.

... judging by your comments you do not have a lot of experience with vinyl and high performance systems or you would know these things ...What you do not seem to know is that using a properly isolated table designed the way the Sota is a joy. You can handle it without having to be do so gingerly ...

You and I are getting similar performance, although I’m using a VPI TNT III (on a dedicated stand) with an SME V. My IRS Beta system is essentially flat in-room to below 20 hZ - without any rumble filter. I do have the active LP servo-crossover set to roll-off at 15 hZ, where it is -3dB.

I’ve achieved similar LF performance without rumble filters with other turntables, including a Denon DP-80 in the VPI base. But the VPI has bested them all overall.

Where we agree is the joy of using a properly isolated turntable that avoids the fiddly, bouncy, jiggly, unstable, low mass turntables that some use. I just prefer to avoid aggressive rumble filters and have a setup that allows that.

 

cleeds
6,156 posts
 

slaw

In my experience of trying different materials to tame resonance, I have become a big fan of springs.

Same here. I can't imagine trying to get good LF performance with an unsuspended turntable. The SOTA that @mijostyn uses has one of the best, imo.

There are active isolation platforms that you can use under an unsuspended turntable, but that seems a bit too Rube Goldberg-ish to me.

cleeds
6,156 posts
 
mijostyn

Having owned two Linns I can certify that the AR XA is more stable than the Linn. The Linn is not tricky to set up at all.

That you think the Linn turntable isn't tricky to set up - especially given that you're talking about its older models - certainly explains why you also claim "they have to be the poorest suspended turntables made." Because, if improperly set up, that's exactly what they can sound like.

Obviously seismology is not your subject. Earthquakes are not happening on a continuous basis but they are happening all the time. Most of them so mild you do not feel them.

As usual, you double-down on your science fantasies. That's why I included the link to NASA in response to you because earthquakes are not "happening all the time." If you disagree, take the issue up with NASA. Here's the link again for you - you might want to read it since you claim expertise in seismology. Here's how it starts:

What Is an Earthquake?

An earthquake is an intense shaking of Earth’s surface.

Many audiophiles tap around their turntables to determine the level of isolation.

Of course. It's a good test.

Is a hammer excessive? Not if you want a turntable that is totally immune to everything.

You don't need to hammer your turntable to make it immune. There's no cause and effect there at all. But it's a cool parlor trick. VPI's Harry Weisfeld has done it and he wasn't the first.

What's especially odd about your claims about constant earthquakes and delight in hammering your turntable is that you've previously insisted that any system with true LF performance (around 20 hZ or so) will require a rumble filter, including yours. So you obviously have some LF issues there that I hope you can resolve, because they aren't caused by constant earthquakes.

cleeds
6,156 posts
 

mijostyn

I owned two Linns over the years and they have to be the poorest suspended turntables made. Very unstable.

Setup is everything with turntables and the Linn is one of the trickiest to get right. In that sense, it’s a bit like the Oracle Delphi. The Linn isn’t my cup of tea, but to dismiss them as "the poorest suspended turntables made" is just silly.

There is loads of low frequency noise in the environment that is transmitted to the turntable ... A severe earthquake is just visible evidence of a wave traveling through the ground. The earth is quaking all the time

An earthquake isn’t visible, although the result of an earthquake may be. Neither is an earthquake a "wave traveling through the ground" and it is certainly completely false that earthquakes are happening all the time.

An earthquake is "is the sudden movement of Earth’s crust at a fault line" which itself is the result of shifting tectonic plates. That is the word from NASA. An earthquake is an event and they are monitored around the world. @mijostyn, your scientific theories are fanciful and imaginative, but they also reveal that much of science isn’t intuitive, at least for you.

I can hammer the side of the plinth and you can not hear a thing and I mean hard enough to dent the wood if I did not have a wooden block in the way. Try that with your table ...

I don’t need to hammer my turntable to know that it’s well isolated.

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