I have owned Nottingham Analogue for 19 years now. I bought one of the last Mentor tables, now replaced by the Dias. Same bearing. I recently upgraded the motor and power supply to top Dias standard. I also replaced the weak point, the plinth, with an aluminum/baltic birch / aluminum sandwich.
Results were spectacular - when I finally bought a higher end Koetsu, my dealer, upon visiting, said that my cartridge (Koetsu) was at long last the equal of the rest of my system.
Sound is smooth and quiet, with lush vocals, clean highs, and tight bass. Surface noise is very low. I was very satisfied with the NAS until my air bearing design came together last month - but that was an 18 month project and mucho dinero.
As noted, the NAS plinth is the weak point. I live far from heavy traffic, road or rail, and so do not need a sophisticated suspension. If you are not so lucky, then the Dias may not be for you.
But if your situation is similar, for $10-$15K in a finished product, I doubt that you could do better than a Dias with the optional power supply. I have rarely heard a TT that I liked better than my updated Mentor, and certainly not for $15K.
Results were spectacular - when I finally bought a higher end Koetsu, my dealer, upon visiting, said that my cartridge (Koetsu) was at long last the equal of the rest of my system.
Sound is smooth and quiet, with lush vocals, clean highs, and tight bass. Surface noise is very low. I was very satisfied with the NAS until my air bearing design came together last month - but that was an 18 month project and mucho dinero.
As noted, the NAS plinth is the weak point. I live far from heavy traffic, road or rail, and so do not need a sophisticated suspension. If you are not so lucky, then the Dias may not be for you.
But if your situation is similar, for $10-$15K in a finished product, I doubt that you could do better than a Dias with the optional power supply. I have rarely heard a TT that I liked better than my updated Mentor, and certainly not for $15K.