Teres, redpoint or galibier turntable

Tim, that can happen if the splice is not done correctly. I've heard it myself when a splice began to separate after more than a year of use. When the splice is right there is no thump at all. There is certainly no motor noise transmitted to the platter.

I'm not saying all rim drives are noisy, but that type of drive is susceptible to it even when everything is working as designed.

I've owned Basis 1400, 2100 and 2500 tables and still own a Vector tonearm. You really have to move up to at least a 2500 to get proper bass response. If you can find one used that might one way to improve things. The Basis motors are good, but you'll still be using a belt that stretches. The Basis suspension is a very good design and implementation but you'll pay a lot for it and it may not be necessary. You will also be somewhat limited to which tonearms will mount and work well with the Basis tables. Have you looked at the prices of new Basis tables?

For the money, I found the Teres and Galibier to be a much better value if you're buying new. Redpoint has chosen to go with a dealer network so that takes most of the value away. I have no problem with the wooden Teres tables. The dense, exotic hardwoods they use are much different from any hardwood in N. America. I don't think you could go wrong with either of these. It took me a while to decide, even after visiting both Thom and Chris. I eventually went with the Gavia. I've had it almost a year and I'm still very happy with my purchase. Probably the last table I will every buy. I know Teres owners that have had their 'tables for quite a while and they are also very happy with their's.

I think the characteristic of the Gavia that pleases me most is how it makes those few less than pristine LPs that I own sound worth listening to. The pops, ticks and crispies are still there but they are more in the background and don't get in the way of the music. I don't quite know what is contributing to this, but I like it a lot.

Cytocycle,

I'm familiar with the Raven only by reputation but I feel I can say that all three of the tables you mention are very solid performers.

An important consideration is how much do you need support from a dealer, other than first setup? If you feel you do have need of such support then Basis or TW may better fit your needs. However, if you're comfortable with 'table set up, are considering spending what a new 2500 costs, and want the best bang for the buck I'd recommend the Gavia with the Gavia platter. BTW, there is really nothing difficult about setting up a Gavia, or Basis for that matter.

I'm not sure what arm board on which table you're referring to? IME, the Graham arms and the Vector use completely different mounting schemes. The Graham's have a flange with a bolt pattern with a large hole in the middle for the tonearm connector to extend downward. The Vector uses a single hole about 1" in diameter to extend the stem of the base into and uses a horizontal set screw to hold VTA.

Well, that's hard to argue with. It's a well known fact that most of us who have bought Teres/Galibier are not quite right.

I think it is important to understand that there is a difference between saying that a low compliance cartridge works on arm X and saying that that same low compliance cartridge works better on arm Y. Sometimes that little difference doesn't come through.

In my case, all of the comparisons I did with uni-pivot with low compliance cartridges was done on a suspended Basis table long before I bought my Galibier.

YMMV

No worries, Pauly. My last post should have had a smiley attached since I did mean that as a poke at we who own these subject tables. Myself perhaps being the oddest of the bunch.

As for uni-pivots, I don't really mean to come across as having a completely negative opinion of them. Sorry if I came across that way. I did find the well regarded uni-pivot that I used for a while to have certain limitations under some circumstances. However, under other circumstances I found that uni-pivot very satisfying. Same with suspended tables. It's all about the right combinations.

If you are looking for a sensible quality sound improvement IMHO I think that you can/could do better through a tonearm/cartridge change or through a Phonolinepreamp change.

That is in Raul's totally unbiased opinion, of course. :-)

Wait 'til you guys hear the VPI rim drive...

Have you heard the speed stability of a Galiber or Teres tape drive? And, there's no noise at all from the tape drive transmitted through the platter.

Raul, I understand what you meant. I just can't help but tease you because you thing that Stltrains may need to "upgrade" his new Triplanar and relatively new ZYX Universe. I might agree with you about the phono stage but I'm not familiar with the Tom Evans Groove.

I think that what Stltrains is looking for in a table change is better speed control. I know he can get it from these tables mentioned in the subject. He may be able to get it with the new VPI rim drive accessory or maybe even with the new Teres Verus rim drive. But there are many other factors that could be improved over his current table should he choose to do so, IMO.