What are your top 3 favorite turntable companies (manufacturer) and why?


I am interested in knowing which 3 turntable companies you like and why? Not interested in the Direct Drive vs Belt drive argument, just what is your experience with the company product and... support too. Something like this as an example-

Garrard- very solid and classic design that sounds great and built like a tank.

Well Tempered- Very good design and even better tonearm performance. Best model is  ________

Technics- Very solid design and easy to adjust. Great idea with removeable headshell

Your thoughts and experience welcome

2psyop

SOTA - really well engineered tables (Sapphire, Nova, Cosmos) that properly address the real problems of vinyl playback (isolation, whole-record clamping) without solving the wrong problems just for gimmick-factor. Great classic looks with any wood - other than yellow oak (ugh)!

That said, while I appreciate their last several years’ worth of technical & materials innovation (Christian Griego), they’re getting quite pricey now. I kind of wish they’d kept a parallel of the core 4-point suspension models stocked with basic older tech (motor / PSU / bearings) for a lower price. The way they’re trending now looks almost like a convergence with other overpriced, over-engineered brands. However I can’t really blame them because this market rewards bling factor and Rube-Goldberg solutions.

3 table companies I like? Impossible lol. I also like my Clearaudio a lot, but they've made a lot of design missteps IMO, and their pricing (especially for parts, upgrades) sucks. 

Agree about WT. Love to have one.

VPI...excellent people. 

I'd never have a Technics.

Why not Technics when just about everyone seems to be getting one of them ?