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Turntable/Arm in $1500-2000 Range

Hi,

(This is a duplicate of my post at VA, in case anyone else visits both sites) Am about to purchase another turntable. For any of you that remember my posts, I had a Michell Gyro SE/SME 309 setup for about a year. Sold it about four months ago, intending to buy either an Orbe or Xerxes, but I spent most of my upgrade funds on other things instead (new CD player, new tubes for my amp, interconnects, speaker cable etc.). Bought a Planar 25 used from my local dealer and used a couple months just so I would have a decent table to listen to my vinyl collection; sold it for about what I paid for it. Things I liked about the Michell: neutral tonally to my ear, dynamic and powerful sounding, fair amount of detail and resolution. Things I didn't like as much: frustrating to set up ideally, not quite as subtle on low level detail as I would like, bounced a lot on my wood floors, didn't "swing" quite as well as Linn/Rega tables. The Planar 25 had a little more "swing", not the dynamics or detail of the Gyro.

Unfortunately, my upgrade fund is still more limited than ideal, so tables like an Orbe, Xerxes, or full-blown Aries are still not a consideration. Tables I'm considering are some of those often recommended/discussed here: get another Gyro; Spacedeck; Well Tempered; Bluenote; the entry level Teres; the Eurolab; or at a little lower price point, a Scout, Innerspace, Music Hall 9 or the new Roksan table. I would ideally like a table that "has it all": neutral yet w/ good "swing" and rhythm, good low level detail and dynamic. I don't want a table/arm that is a "tone control," that imparts too much of its own character to the music; on the other hand, I don't want a table that is lifeless and boring, that doesn't capture the soul of the music. Is there such a table in my price range? For now, I will probably have to use a Rega 250/300 or OL arm (OL1, not Silver), or maybe the entry level Bluenote, if that arm is as good as some say. At this point, I'm undecided between going back to a Gyro, esp. if I can find a good deal on a used one, or trying something like the Bluenote, Teres or Eurolab. I know the sound of the Michell; can audition VPI locally, but no dealer for any of the other tables w/in hundreds of miles. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Terry
tlh28
twl
3,251 posts
 
I think that this is all a little too much, and to the extent that I had a part in it, I apologize. My desire is to have everyone enjoy their turntables, and not to cause alot of strife. I can't comment on the Aurora, because I've never heard it. I know the Nottinghams are good tables. I even recommended one at the top of this thread.

Ron, you really don't need my approval on your post.
seldenr
59 posts
 
4yanx:
>
> Just wanted to send a "thank you" for your post. I am also looking in that range, and interested in Michell Gyro, Nottingham Spacedeck, OL Aurora, etc. I read the post by the guy you responded to, and it just reminds me that a tribute to this "hobby" is that we all love it a lot and that makes us passionate, which can have its good and bad side. Comes with the territory, so although sometimes are nerves get raw, it's still great information that has been shared.

With that said, I must thank you since I have heard the Spacedeck, but not the Aurora, so gullible me, just before your e-mail I was ready to find an Aurora and forget about Nottingham. I owe you a big "thank you" for pointing out that opinions certainly can differ, and actual experience is what counts.

It is so difficult to actually compare 'tables. No dealer I know of will let you audition them in your home, and even though I live in Houston TX, there are no dealers in the city that even carry turntables (that I know of, and if I am wrong, some of you Houstonians please let me know)!! I heard the Spacedeck at a wonderful showroom in the Adelphi in Singapore. Fantastic!! But the equipment used was not my own, so who can say what piece contributes/detracts what from the overall sound. So when I hear the next 'table, with a different system, there is no way to know what difference is directly attributable to the 'table only.

Makes me very dependent on experienced posters like yourself. So I wanted you to know how appreciated you are, and keep up the good work!!! It means a lot to many of us in Audiogon land to have people like you with direct experience with a lot of equipment to give us comparative information.

I am certainly not taking sides, only asking a good poster to keep it up!! Makes me really want to go hear a good setup of the Nottingham, not to mention the Teres I keep reading about!

Thanks to all of the above who have helped me a lot in this thread!!
soliver
67 posts
 
Seldenr,

If you are looking to hear some turntables, Sound Mind Audio here in Austin carries them, although most of his in-stock tables are Notts because he says he has always prefered the Nott at a given price range over his other lines.

Galen Carol in SA also has turntables, so if you are up for a road trip you might want to arrange in audition with one of them.
jimbo3
304 posts
 
Seldenr- If you do decide to take a road trip to SA as Soliver suggests, you'd be welcome to come over to my place to check out a Well Tempered Classic. I'm only about 5 miles away from Galen's place.

Regards
Jim
seldenr
59 posts
 
Soliver and Jimbo3:

I haven't logged onto this site in a few weeks (uncharacteristic of me), but am pleased and honored that you guys took the time to respond.

I once met with Brian Kurtz, the owner of SMA-A, here in Houston, and if I decide on the Nottingham, he will be getting a call from me. Great guy!! So I do need to pay his store a visit.

Jim, I had forgotten about Galen Carol Audio. My father lives in SA, so next time I come into town I'll send you an e-mail. Maybe if you have time we can visit GCA, then I'll treat dinner for an invitation to hear your Well Tempered Classic. That would be a great evening in my book!!!

Thanks and very best regards to you both,

Rush Selden
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