Most beautifull turntables today....

Basis Audio's "Work of Art"

http://basisaudio.com/html/wrkart.html

The stunning Oracle Delphi is a work of art

I prefer the clean lines of the Basis Debut myself.

http://www.basisaudio.com/html/debut.html

Or even the VPI HRX, to that of the Teres line.

I am probably in the minority on this, but I think that the Teres line, (Especially the 360, which Jmcgrogan2 has the link to), just seems gaudy to me with all that fancy wood work. (I appreciate that the Teres line has good sonics, and I love fine wood work, but it just seem a bit too much in my opinion.) I also find the Basis Audio's "Work of Art" to be too gaudy as well, for similar reasons.

As far as sonics go, I doubt you would go wrong with any of the these table though. Are you seriously thinking of buying one, or just like to look and drool. (I like to do that too!)

NOrdic

Basis "work of art"? You got to be kidding me!

I think mine is the ugliest!!! Does that count? Maybe knida like a Pug - so ugly it's cute?

I have an SME30. Looks like crap, sounds like a dream.

How about Bob Benn's Sound Engineering SE-1 turntable with the flywheel option. That's what I'm getting next!!!

I'm not even a vinyl guy...but I have to say that the VYGER Indian (I think that's the one) looks pretty impressive...almost like it could walk its way over to you when it is time to flip the record.

another interesting one... is the Nottingham Anna-Log

if I messed the names up...sorry.

Brinkmann Balance - a work of German industrial art, and the build quality is equal to it's looks. Oh, and the sound too.

http://www.brinkmann-usa.com/balanceturntable.php

While beauty is obviously in the eye of the beholder, I'm very partial to my Gablibier Quattro ALU (now Ascent ALU)....http://www.galibierdesign.com

I have to admit that the Teres tables are absolutely beautiful! I have never heard one outside of CES which is no place to listen to gear, but if they sound as good as they look Teres should raise the price.

I also really like (on the opposite end of the spectrum) the Sota Millenia. Industrial beauty!

It could be my Micro Seiki 3000 + DIY Fairchild turntable combo......

Here is the link.....ENJOY !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/cids/fairchildandMicoSeikiMay152003.jpg

[url]http://i23.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/96/1c/b4_1_b.JPG[/url]

i love mickey !!!!!

Leave it David to come with the winner!

I'd like to take Mickey for a spin.

I think My Teres is better looking than any factory one because....I built it!!

That's funny Fmpnd! Your comment reminds me of this memorable scene from a classis film [back in the day when George Lucas did good stuff], specifically the last line by Mackenzie Phillips.

Bob Falfa: Hey man, I'm sorry if I scared ya!

John Milner: You're gonna havta do one hell of a lot more than that to scare me!

Bob Falfa: Hey I've been lookin' all over for ya man. Didn't nobody tell ya I was lookin' for ya?

John Milner: Man, I can't keep track of all you punks runnin' 'round here backwards.

Bob Falfa: Hey you're s'posed to be the fastest thing in the Valley man, but THAT can't be your car. It must be your mama's car! I'm sorta' embarrassed to be this close to ya!

John Milner: Yeah, well I'm not surprised, drivin' a field car!

Bob Falfa: Field car? What's a field car?

John Milner: A field car runs through the fields, droppin' cow shit all over the place to make the lettuce grow.

Bob Falfa: Ha ha! That's pretty good! Say, I like the color of your car there. What's that s'posed to be? Sort of a cross between piss yella' and puke green ain't it?

John Milner: Well, you call that a paint job, but it's pretty ugly. I bet you got to sneak up on the pumps just to get a little air in your tires!

Bob Falfa: Well at least I don't have to pull over to the side just to let a funeral go by man.

John Milner: Oh ho, funny!

Carol: Your car is uglier than I am. Oops, that didn't come out right.

Gunbei, that was a riot! I never could figure out why SME can engineer with such amazing tolerances but can't afford to pay someone to at least make it look "reasonably" good! Oh well, it makes good music so I should shut my big trap and be grateful to own such an "ugly" rig!! Dekay, that was the BEST pic of all! Priceless!!!

This picture doesn't do it justice -- I'll have to brush off the digital camera for that ... but the Origin Live Sovereign is gorgeous for such a compact unit:

http://www.turntable-kits.com/sovereign-turntable.htm

For something more massive, the Teres 360 is beautiful!

At the end though, I'd vote for Minnie if there was one ;-)

Walker Audio Proscenium - I guess I'm just stuck on it's industrial chic where the engineering dictates the elegance of the design...


http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue16/images/walker_audio_proscenium_01.jpg


http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/walker4/headshell.jpg

.

Pictures don't do the Walker justice. In person it's simply awe inspiring.

I lust after the black Basis Debut Vacuum, not their new statement piece which I think is going to be in the next Spiderman movie. I love wood and have 2 Sota Stars, one in Koa and the other in the nicest Rosewood I've ever seen.

Anyone seen or heard the Red Point Audio. The TT's look great but waiting for my local dealer to get in the samples. Check out redpoint-audiodesign.com or maybe do a google search the exact web address escapes me.

The Walker looks better in all black rather than the pimpy black and gold.

The stock Walker isn't all THAT beautiful (I own one). But I replaced the black silk belt with one made from a colorful novelty tie and now I have images of hula dancers whipping around that big, black lead platter. Now THAT's PIMPIN'!

Fmpnd, if you want to PIMP your SME 30, replace those ugly suspension tower O-rings with colorful latex condoms. Now that's SMOKIN'! And while you're at it, slip a Trojan over that SME arm tube. If it does to the arm tube what it does to penile sensation, resonances will NEVER get excited.

John Boeus, phooey! I AM THE REAL AUDIO PIMP!

To The Artist Formerly Known as "Steve," would those be ribbed condoms I need to use?

You da MAN, You Da PIMP daddy!!

Tafka_steve, if I replace the Kapton belt on my Rockport with a glow-in-the-dark Trojan ("ribbed for your listening pleasure"), d'ya think that'd be pimpin' enough? By the way, I doubt the girth of an SME arm tube is adequate for a proper fit :-)

Fmpnd: Yeah, it's kinda Pug, but it's how you use it that counts!

Brian

see...you guy's are all blingin'...isn't that what it's all about...without pimps...there would be no high end audio.

now all we need to do is incorporate words like phat, shizznit and da bomb into our audiophile vocabulary and I think we'll be on to something...at least the manufacturers will hopefully pick up on that...cause I want a phat system someday. ;o)

Hi

Frank the table looks fine with all that fine Lamm gear we have. It sounds great and when people come over they think it cost us much less than it did.
With my Tom Evans stuff in the perpex boxes people think it is a budget system.

Fmpnd
I think mine is the ugliest!!! Does that count? Maybe knida like a Pug - so ugly it's cute?

I have an SME30. Looks like crap, sounds like a dream.

Am I the only guy at Audiogon that likes the looks of the SME? I think it's design is beautifully functional.

Anyway Frank, it's the tunes that count and the SME gets it right.

Thorens Reference.

Brian, I'm sorry, but putting a condom on that gorgeous work of art and engineering you have would be sacrilege. Kinda like seeing the Pope in a speedo! How goes it in Chicagoland? If you guys put together that Chicago audio fest you have been discussing on AA, let me know a few weeks in advance as I'd like to come if it actually happens.

Albert, I wish I shared your admiration for the aesthetics of my table. Try as I might, it still has a face only a mother can love. Do you still have your Dalis? I need to pick yer brain again as I am thinking of going back to a second power supply on my Io and have a few questions.

Paul, welcome to the Lamm club. As I told you ealier this week, I KNEW you'd like your new amps. I bet your Merlins have never sang like they do now with world class tube amplification. Congrats buddy, yer system is top notch!! Now when do I get to hear it? Oh yeah, we should wait until the Schroeder arrives.

Brian, I can pimp your Sound Labs by adding neon running lights around them, and you can also attach LCD displays and cameras to them so you can let the "haters" know what you look like enjoying your music and looking at yourself looking at the speakers looking at yourself... Let Lavigne and other Rockport owners know that their turntables would look tight and hype with big chrome spinners on them.

Seriously, I am surprised that no one mentioned the Simon Yorke turntables in this thread. Beautiful, sleek, and form following function. Almost as pretty as the extinct B&O tangent tracking turntables.

Just spotted a Clearaudio Master Ref in the new movie "Stealth" (along with TAG McLaren F1 speakers). Still don't think all that clear acrylic looks good. And the movie sucked dead bears.

the VPI HR-X

The top 5 for me in any order would be:

1. Thorens Reference
2. Teres 360 Cocobolo finish
3. VPI HRX
4. Simon Yorke
5. Eurolab Premier w/ 80mm Platter

Mine is the VPI Super Scoutmaster. She might only win a runner up spot in this beauty contest--but I would her a very high score in the talent contest---She's the one I married.

Albert, I wish I shared your admiration for the aesthetics of my table. Try as I might, it still has a face only a mother can love. Do you still have your Dalis? I need to pick yer brain again as I am thinking of going back to a second power supply on my Io and have a few questions.

Frank, my view of the SME is, "Pretty is as pretty does", like my mom used to say :-).

I would be pleased to speak with you about the Dalis and the Io. My phone number should be listed in Audiogon ads (Porter Ports), your welcome to call anytime.

To be honest, I think the Michell Gyro SE is pretty damn cool looking.

Goatwuss, I prefer that you lie and tell me my SME is beautiful!!

Your SME is beautiful

That SME is a knockout, now has anyone seen my glasses?

Thanks so much Goatwuss, you made my day!! Nrchy, keep those glasses off please!

The top of the line Transrotor is stunning; unfortunately, the one my dealer was trying out for a while had speed stability problems or I might have been interested. I also like the understated look of my Bais Ovation.

Frank, I tried posting a reply yesterday, alas to no avail...
The so-called Chicago Audio Fest mentioned on AA is a show someone else is trying to organize. Assuming he finds a facility with free or low cost parking and where you can transport your own gear in and out instead of surrendering your firstborn to the extortionist union, I think it could be a great idea! And I imagine something on a grander scale could work, too.

What's wrong with the Pope in a Speedo?

Steve, I don't need no neon runnin' lights on my speakers, they be big enough to attract the ladies on their own, fo' shizzle!

I agree about Simon Yorke and would add a few others such as Kuzma Stabi XL, La Platine Verdier, and SPJ La Luce to the list.

Blue Pearl table,from Great Britan.Unfortuneately 100 grand!Stunning.BTW--At HE-2005,I saw the really old Thorens reference,in the Lamm room.I was SHOCKED at how seemingly SOTA it appeared,as well as drop dead gorgeous.I saw one on Audiogon,used,obviously,for 30 grand/w arm.

Also,CELLO is thinking,but won't commit to print,that any table sporting a ZYX UNIVERSE cartridge should make the most gorgeous list!!Best wishes!