One tt with two arms is perhaps more economical. One platter, one motor, one motor controller, one footprint, etc. And this scenario also allows for a mono and stereo cartridge, both with precise positioning/tuning. (Single arms with multiple headshells and bayonet mounting, or multiple unipivot wands do not offer this.) Not to mention compliance matching limitations between cartridge and tonearm choices. My Brinkmann Balance achieves this nicely. But I also have an AVID Acutus SP that I just can’t seem to part with. I love the ease of set up, that it will hold its set up, virtually forever, and it’s still punches way above its class imho. And just love the way it looks, a beautiful industrial design. So this second turntable and third tonearm offers the opportunity for experimenting with other cartridge ideas while maintaining a rock solid mono and stereo set up with no fuss. All of this runs through a Aesthetix Rhea Signature phonostage that accommodates the three separate inputs. Again, one piece allowing multiple functionality. It’s nice to have choices. But to each their own. It’s all good.
One turntable with two arms, or two turntables with one each - which would you prefer?
Which would you prefer, if budget allowed: one turntable with two tonearms or two turntables with one each? What would your decision criteria be?
And the corollary: one phono preamp with multiple inputs or two phono preamps?
Assume a fixed budget, but for the purposes of this question, the budget is up to the responder. Admittedly for this type of setup, there will be a sizeable investment once all components of the chain are factored in.
I'm curious to hear how people would decide for themselves the answer to this question. Or maybe you've already made this decision - what do you like about your decision or what would you differently next time?
Cheers.