Transrotor Sirius

I own a Sirius. It's a good sounding and good looking platform for the modified RB250 that it's packaged with. It was closed out by the distributor and sold with arm for $1500 (new) which made it a good fit (price, performance and looks wise) for the modest system in my family room. I listened to both the P5 and Scout during the shopping process, but not in the same store/system. Honestly, how do you a/b turntables at different stores - too many variables.

I did get to a/b the P5 vs the Scout in the same system. I marginally preferred the Scout, but I definitely like the Rega arm better. I've owned an older VPI arm that was (inappropriately) mounted on my Oracle, with predictably mixed results. I also had some reservation about the VPI arm's mechanics and ergonomics and I've been less enthusiastic about VPI arms since that time.

In use for about 4 months now- paired first with a Clearaudio Arum Beta and then with an Ortofon Vigor HOMC cartridge, it has worked very well. Pitch stability ( a problem that has been reported on some other Transrotor tables) has been solid. I did cary the unit up to my main system for a brief a/b/c with my Oracle/Graham/Graham table and my Acoustic Solid/unmodded RB300/Ortofon Vigor ($2100 including cartridge). FWIW, the tables sounded out precisely according to price:

The Oracle/Graham/Graham was superior in every way to the budget guys, except that the Acoustic Solid provided bass that seemed roughly as extended, although a bit less tight. (The Transrotor set-up seemed to roll off a bit higher). This led me to swap the Ortofon and Clearaudio cartridges -to the benefit of both budget tables. The Transrotor still sounds tighter in the bass and the A-Solid more extended, but the gap has closed. The difference is now audible, but subtle. (I'm going to try an aftermarket weight on the A-Solid's RB-300 to see if that tightens up the bottom end any.)

In conclusion, the Sirius seems like a good deal at $1500 new plus the cost of cartridge. At $2100, the A-Solid represents a big jump up (although not in every respect- but I certainly prefer it overall). I believe that the Sirius is a good, competitive product at its price point but that the A-Solid represents great potential and a way, way out of market value.

Hope this is helpful.

Marty

I have one in my other system. I think the metal platter does contribute the solid sound that Marty is decribing. I have Lyra De capo mounted on the stock rega arm. I A/B ed this set up with much more expesnive Transrotor Orfeo/triplanar/sheltor 501 and Sirius had better bass of the two. Much tigheter. Of course it did not didg deep in other areas, but was fairly good and bargain at the price. ($1500 v/s $14000). It is no headache TT. Set it up and forget about it. 45 rpm records however sounds a little off speed though. Although I have tried only once and may be it requires taughter belt tension or something. Overall a very good, compact, good looking and no-fuss design.