Is the Townshend Rock 7 "the" giant killer?


The reviews I have seen of the Townshend Rock 7 (and many of the comments from owners) not only say that it's a great TT, but suggest it's a giant killer. Stated differently: it's hard to find anything in the $5K to $20K range that beats the Rock 7. Some reviewers say vinyl through the Rock 7 sounds more like master tapes than vinyl. I find this pretty hard to believe. Has anyone had direct experiences with the Rock 7, especially as it compares to other more expensive turntables? Thank you.
ggavetti

For anyone requiring help with a Rock, contact me or the Rock Doc in Britain for help.

 

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@persiflag: The only problem I’ve had with my Rock Elite is with the plastic dust cover hinges. They are far too thin and unsubstantial to support the weight of the cover when the lid is in the fully-up position, so one of the two "arms" (into which the cover slides) tends to snap off. They should have been made of something like aluminum.

By the way, I fit my Rock with a Zeta arm, a great match for the table.

 

I can't say the year but I met an English gentleman at an audio show who recently relocated to the US as the rep for Townshend Audio.  I was impressed by the Rock III he demoed and attempted to order one.  But there were production delays and I never got delivery.

I never saw/heard a Rock 7 or Elite, but assuming they were better than the Rock III they must be impressive.