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Ultimate Turntable search...OMA K5 or ?

As the title says, I’m on the hunt for a statement turntable. Don’t really post on the forum so forgive me if this has been discussed already. I’ve been told that whatsbest might be another place to post about this but I’ve been a seller on this site for many years, so I figured it was a good place to start.

I’m a longtime Caliburn owner but it’s time for a change. I would like to ditch the belt drive and vacuum. I know Fremer loves the OMA K3, but the K5 has got my attention. After owning many different speakers, a friend of mine turned me on to OMA. I ended up buying a pair of OMA mini’s about ten years ago and then quickly moved up to the AC-1. I’ve had a wonderful experience dealing with Jonathan and the company and love their aesthetic. With the AC-1s, my main system has reached a level of musicality and presence I never thought possible. I’ve recently come to the conclusion that upgrading my front end is my next big move. So I’ve been doing a ton of research on turntables in this class.

Although I’ve owned OMA speakers for years, I haven’t heard any of their new table designs. Sadly, I have not been to any shows or showrooms since covid. I do plan on visiting OMA sometime in the next few months, but for now, I’m interested if anybody has real life experience with the K3/K5 and if you have listening notes or opinions to share? Also curious to hear thoughts on competive turntables in this class. I have heard many high end tables in person, but definitely not all. Thanks!

mattdrummer

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,224 posts
 

None of the above. As a matter of value The Dohmann Helix One. The Basis Work Of Art IMHO trumps all the other turntables that have been mention as it has vacuum clamping and a great suspension. Pictures do not do it justice. It is a beautiful thing in person. How the record interfaces to the platter is way more important than the ultimate in speed stability or the quietest bearing. Records are by nature imperfect, Any irregularity in the surface affects pitch as does offset spindle holes. 

The Astellar is quite the piece and if it had vacuum clamping it would be perfect. IMHO the Esoteric is boring.  

The two features that matter to me most are an adequate isolation system and vacuum clamping.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,224 posts
 

The OMA is fine as long as you place it on a MinusK Isolation platform. I am a big fan of Schroder tonearms, but I prefer the LT. I personally use a CB.

All of these turntables are luxury items and are in no way necessary for the best sound. Ownership is egocentric. I think it is important to note that the best performance is available at seriously lower prices. Blinded, nobody could reliable identify any of these turntables in a line up of great tables between 10 and 60 thousand  dollars. 

IMHO you might as well go for the one you think is the coolest, the one you can brag about the most. That would be the Work of Art for me. I think the OMA is butte ugly and the Esoteric is not far behind. All are trying too desperately to justify their existence by coming up with silly ways of doing simple things.  To limit yourself to direct drive is self defeating. Suspensions and record clamping are far more significant. 

 

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,224 posts
 

Art is a personal thing. Every machine has an aesthetic factor, but if I interviewed 100 people who visited the Guggenheim Motorcycle exhibit I would get 100 different opinions as to which was the most beautiful bike. Look at the opinions of the OMA table on this thread. It is ugly as hell. IMHO all of these tables are ugly but the OMA takes the cake. I think the Basis Inspiration is the best looking table made. The principle driver  behind which of these luxury turntables someone choses to buy is the aesthetic one, not sound quality. I might add that given the same arm and cartridge it is highly unlikely anyone could reliably identify any of these turntables blinded. I actually doubt anyone could tell them apart from an RP10. What you see determines what you hear when sonic differences are subtle. 

What Michael Fremer owns is not a good indicator of anything. According to reliable sources his hearing is shot. You have to yell at him to have a conversation. He does have what must be the worlds largest private record collection. Kudos.
 

@lewm 

Just what you want directly under your cartridge, rotating magnets with alternating poles no less. I envision the cartridge bouncing along. 33.3 bounces per revolution. Could this be Hip Hop?

 

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