I spent a ton of time thinking about this last year. I emailed Mike Fremer and Michael Trei and got a lot of opinions. In the end, I was down to the Kuzma Stabi R with a 4pt arm or a Brinkmann Bardo. I ultimately found a demo model Bardo with the 10.5 arm and an ortofon Cadenza black that was set up by Mike Trei. The deal was too good to pass up. This table has changed my listening experience. The I didn't realize turntables could leoduce this kind of frequency response and the dynamics are stellar. If the price range you're looking at you could step up to a Taurus or even a Spyder in The Brinkmann line. I don't have the Kuzma but feel it would have been an equally good but different choice. As others have said, I'd avoid rhe VPI. They're super cool looking but ultimately don't perform to the level of some of the others mentioned on this thread.
which turntable for the future?
Hi Audiogoners,
I've improved my music system with 2 pearls, both from Soulution, Preamp 725 and Pre phono 751. Great improvement but, as you can imagine, my turtable now sounds inadequate compared with the rest of the analog chain.
For the future (not now, sigh!) I'm considering VPI Avenger or TechDas Airforce V. Today my turntable is a Michell Gyrodec with SME V. I'm in love with its design: a lot of competitors got ideas from it and after years and years is still a star to follow.
I confess: beside the quality improvement, I'm passioned about design. What you would choose? And second question: do you think that a second hand machine would be a suitable solution?