This is not a rant but a very valid point. Few dealers would do it right. That's one of the reasons why it is so difficult to make the right choice. |
Do you think that table/arm match is important too in addition to arm/cartridge match? If it is, putting same arm/cartridge on different tables won't answer the question regarding table differences fully.
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Hello Terry9, nor do I have what could be called an opinion. Tom Fletcher did design his tonearms to be used with his turntables, but I heard that some people get better results, for them that is, by putting different arms on Nottinghams. But they also usually put heavy MCs in those arms, so it's a quite different set-up. Turntables are complicated, another reason why I very much prefer tape. |
At this level many prefer other cartridges in different arms. Most often I see Koetsu, Allnic, Air Tight and Lyra. |
Let's be fair, it is hard to compare tables/arms/cartridges. But I know one thing - German turtables are severely overpriced, go for British. |
Still, we should be able to compare a few table/arm/cartridge set-ups with the same amp/speakers and comparable if not necessarily the same phono stages. |
So John, what do you suggest? |
We'll leave it at that - there are seemengly no solutions. Except that one may try all possible combinations in one's system in the hope of finding subjectively the best one. Funny, isn't it?
A few days ago, I was listening to the advertising video on Pear Audio website. Hard to get into the sound through all this digital. However, I had an impression that the turntable itself and probably the arm were very fine but the cartridge and the speakers were not quite by comparison. Electronics appear at least good. Point is that you can hear the table's performance regardless of whatever else is there. Just because it is difficult doesn't mean that it cannot be accomplished. I might've been somewhat wrong in my example, but one thing I am certain of - that table is excellent. When the foundation of the source is good you know it.
Good luck to everyone on their sound quests.
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Another example. Go to Purist Audio Design cables webside, there are some videos of systems's demo. You can hear clearly that those Tidal speakers and electronics are inerior to Classic Aidio/Atma-Sphere system, even though the Tidal system has a digital source you can differentiate. By the way, the analog front end in Classic Audio/ Atmashere set-up was not up to the task. Not bad but not good. |
Anyway, Pear Audio tables/arms, Atma-Sphere amps, Classic Audio speakers, Purist Audio cables and probably Pear Audio electronics too are most definitely worth auditioning. Simple, isn't it? Just add a cartridge and you'll be fine. |
I'll tell you one thing if you promise not to tell anyone. There seems to be an objective reality. People with equally excellent hearing will hear exactly the same things. They may and likely will have to a various degree different sound preferences. Most people with great hearing will never become audiophiles because they can't tolerate this garbage coming out of any speakers driven by any amps from any source. I know a few people like that, they appear to be able to hear things that I cannot, two of them are professional classical musicians.
As for choosing turntables, this would not really be a big problem for me, even less so if I were prepared to spend $10k or so on the table/arm. I would easily accept a great sound even if it is not the very best possible at this level. In my case it would be even easier because I only consider British turntables. If cost were almost no object I would consider everything starting with those $10k for table/arm and would go from there. |
Yes, Frogman, right on. There is another aspect. Platter mat and record interact, it's like kind of sandwich. Can one hear the differences of this? Experienced good ear can. I myself probably cannot but may still have a feeling that something of that is not quite correct if it is the case. |
