Well, you could opt for a Michell Gyro SE with a decent arm -- I preferred that to my more expensive Aries/JMW combo. But if you must spend more money, I'd go for the Basis -- probably the 2500. The Basis tables seem to be built to tighter tolerances than the VPIs.
Not that the spring-suspension of the Michell is anything great, but the aluminum tip-toes on Sorbothane to the vibrating plinth of the Aries is not the best design I have seen...
Sorry to ramble -- it's just that a lot of designers do many things right and then finish the package with some ill-considered compromise -- like they just can't take the time to optimize the complete package. I guess these are the things that save money and why the best turntables are sooo expensive.
I think I'm going to try circumventing the suspension of my Michell with brass cones like Walker Valid Points and see what that does. Has anyone tried it?
Not that the spring-suspension of the Michell is anything great, but the aluminum tip-toes on Sorbothane to the vibrating plinth of the Aries is not the best design I have seen...
Sorry to ramble -- it's just that a lot of designers do many things right and then finish the package with some ill-considered compromise -- like they just can't take the time to optimize the complete package. I guess these are the things that save money and why the best turntables are sooo expensive.
I think I'm going to try circumventing the suspension of my Michell with brass cones like Walker Valid Points and see what that does. Has anyone tried it?