@kennyc When I was building my audio chain, I demoed the best I could find at brick n mortar and major audio shows.
At audio shows, you listen to whole system performance. Isolating a specific piece is rarely possible, particularly, hearing multiple TTs in same system at an audio show is a pipe dream based on my experience.
Re brick and mortar, that has been a let down. I asked Upscale Audio in Los Angeles (a pretty well-known larger outfit) to set up a demo to show that TT plinth (as opposed to cartridge) can make a difference. Their choice of plinths, their choice of same cart, their choice of other electronics, their choice of demonstration track. So all stacked in their favor. They flat out said they could not do that. With about two months lead time, and being a prior multiple time customer. Maybe one could do that in the past, but now, that is impossible.
I ended up buying blind/deaf a Rega Naia package. Well regarded in reviews, and no option to get better in the low mass arena. I am happy with it, better than my previous VPI SPS rig. But no idea why and whether it can get better. It still is a black box.