Merrill tables

I owned a Merrill Heirloom before I moved to the dark side and began manufacturing turntables.

Other than the following possible exceptions, it is the only American turntable in current production which conveys the essence of music to this listener ... :

1. The Rockport Sirius which I have never heard.

2. The Saskia - another 'table I've yet to hear. Unfortunately, I was nailed down to my room at the Rocky Mountain Audiofest, but people who's ears I trust tell me that the Saskia falls in to this rarefied air as well.

3. My rigs and the other members of the Galibier Family Tree (http://www.galibierdesign.com/family_tree.html) ... doh! You thought this was an unbiased post? They don't exist, and we collectively vet each other in this dialog.

With these exceptions (most of them at a significantly higher cost), I consider all other American turntables to be crude appliances in comparison with the Merrill. Others will certainly differ with my opinion.

I was very excited for Anthony and George when I learned that the Merrill flame would continue to burn. I'd love to hear how Anthony has built on George's work.

Now, Anthony ... if you'd just rid the design of springs completely ;-)

Cheers,
Thom

Hi Mordante,

Good point when you said:

Does it matter where a product is made? If I would buy a new turnable I woudn't care if it was made in North Korea, Cuba, US, Europe etc. If the product and service is good I truly woudn't care where is was made.

I was pointing toward the tendency of national design schools. Ameicans and Germans in my experience tend to place a high value on full range hi-fi systems for example.

In the case of many American decks, this has in my experience resulted in the turntable equivalent of the American muscle car - great straight line acceleration (bass, quiet background in this metaphor), but will slide of the road at the first sign of moisture on a curve (lack of finesse, nuance, subtlety, and delicacy).

We seem to be (in the past 6-8 years), reinventing ourselves however.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier