Grand Prix Audio Monaco Turntable

Cohnaudio

I don't disaagree with you, as you are clearly very happy with the GPA. I wish I could hear one over an extended timeframe.
My point is that both reviews were closer than most people think. IMO both said the table was state of the art, only somewhat leaner to some of the competition or their own tastes.

BTW, I like some sugar in my music, but that is more due to a lot of the pop/rock/alternative music I listen to. But never have sugar or milk in my tea - Earl grey is nice as is Chinese tea.

cheers

Downunder,

I'm afraid I diagree with your interpretation of the Hi Fi Plus review. You should re-read it. Mr. Gregory clearly did not think the table sounded lean. In a number of places he praises the table for its weight, harmonic development and decay. His point is that the table lacks the colorations (e.g., bass bloat) of typical belt drive turntables and that some people may prefer the colorations. An interesting analogy he uses is where a drinker of P.G. Tips (a mass produced tea bag in the U.K. (like Lipton, but much better)who typically puts sugar in the tea is given Twinnings Earl Grey without the sugar. The Earl Grey is clearly a better tea, but the drinker prefers the cheaper tea with the sugar. This was the type of experience I had when I moved over to the GPA. for years I had the VPI TNT HRX table. A great table, which was exciting to listen to. Friends of mine insisted that that the table was colored and I told them I could not hear the coloration. When I first moved over to the GPA (which I did while I still had the HRX) at first I thought the table sounded lean. It felt to me that it was not as "exciting" as the HRX. Well, it only took a few hours of going back and forth between the table to realize that in fact I was hearing everything, and particularly the bass, much more clearly and without added bloat. The bass was far more articulate and the leading edges across the spectrum were much clearer. Does that make the HRX or other tables that add warmth or slam bad tables? Not for the people that enjoy the sugar in their tea. The switch to the GPA is consistent with the rest of my audiophile journey. I have decided to continue to move towards components that add less to the sound while still remaining musically engaging. For example, I moved from pure tubes to a hybrid amp and pre-amp (Tenor 300s and Manley Steelhead phonostage) and stayed their for awhile because I could not find solid state amps that didn't add color, but were also musical. Eventually I found amps that had both attributes (the Dartzeels) and I feel that with the GPA I have also found that combination.

Some people may have gotten the impression from Fremmer's review, or some of the posts here, that the table is cold, analytical or lean sounding. I have lived with the table for over a year and I can unequivocally say that is not the case at all. (And, by the way, I don't think that was the message Mr. Fremmer was trying to convey in his review) For anyone living in the Westchester, NY area that would like to hear it or do a side-by-side test, I would be more than happy to host a night.

Hi Lewm. thanks,

I would not decribe the Strad's as warm at all. they are transparent and have a tight bass
- now the speaker I have before was very warm - Vienna Mahlers - mainloy due to the over generous bass and mid bass

I have not read the new issue of HIFi+ yet but do remember the Fremer comments. Just curious if anyone has tried the GPM on something other than the Gran Prix table. Specifically, I am thinking in terms of something like the Halcyonics which is superb.

Downunder, Gosh those Stradivarii are beautiful to behold! Wouldn't the GPM pair quite well with your speakers and amps, since the latter are both on the "warm" side (in a good way of course)?

I just read the RG review in HIFI+ and I see no real difference in the overall review compared to Fremer's review in Stereophile.

Both state the GP is SOTA sound wise, however slightly in the lean category, which to some is heaven and others (me) not so much heaven. Being compared tonally to the clearaudio is not so good thou.

Both indicate to use with tonally even (read slightly warm) cartridge's for the GP to sound its best.

I think the review was a very well written assessment of the table. Roy Gregory seemed to really "get" the virtues of the technology and I am happy he felt so strongly about it. As a dealer for Grand Prix Audio, I really think Alvin Lloyd deserves this kind of "rave" for all the effort he has put in to designing a product that started from a clean slate.

Congratulations to GPA!

03-21-08: Mtkhl567
I'm only recently starting to understand by listening to old technology based high-end tables what kind of colorations many of our dear traditional audiophile friends have gotten used to.

...which may help explain the persistent, fanatical devotion to the Technics SL12x0 turntables.

I'm not going to be silly enough to say my Technics is in a league with the Monaco GP, but I share that sense that music played on it is "... transparent and very involving - you really get pulled into the music."

I find my DD rig most compelling; I can't let it play in another room for long--it beckons me to sit down in the sweet spot and be transported.

Robert, exactly my experience. I thought that Roy Gregory did a fantastic job in reviewing the GP Monaco, very unlike an earlier review published in the US, which was so NOT representative of the GPM's capabilities. This review underlines what an incredible turntable Alvin and his team have put together that basically plays so right.

I'm only recently starting to understand by listening to old technology based high-end tables what kind of colorations many of our dear traditional audiophile friends have gotten used to.