Teres Turntable Support - concrete, wood, rack...?

Hi Oakiris:
I'm upgrading my teres from 245 to 255 as we speak. So, I can share my thoughts on the improvements. Chris at Teres was kind enough to offer sending me the new platter before I send the old one back, so I can do before and after comparison. Should be fun. He's also sending me the new record clamp too, to see improvements there. Finally, I'm upgrading the motor and going for battery power too. All told, I expect to see a nice improvement.

I haven't heard the 265, but a few thoughts kept me back from pursing that purchase. For me, all that wood just looks a little old/vintage for me - wheras the 245 or 255 has a bit of a more modern look - just a matter of personal taste. Then, from reading other people's impressions, the upgrade from 245 to 255 appears to be more of an improvement than that of going from 255 to 265, and the price of the 255 upgrade is much more cost effective than going full out for the 265. Finally, I've read in at least one thread that some few people prefer the sound of the 255 to 265 (I think the point that was made was more resolution with the 255 compared to the 265 which had a more natural presentation). So, 255 seems the right way for me. Still, despite what I say, in the future I might sell the 255 and get a 320 - that table just looks great (despite all the wood) and looks less imposing than it's larger siblings.

Hi Oakiris,

I have a Teres (265) on a suspended wood floor and so do many others. It is much less sensitive to footfalls than my previous suspended table. The Teres has NEVER skipped or even audibly mistracked due to outside vibration of any kind.

My stand is not as sturdy or heavy as the one you're looking at, although it is shorter. Keep your turntable on the lowest stand possible, or at least on the lowest level that's convenient. The lower it is the less angular momentum there'll be to disturb it.

Because that stand is more massive I expect your Teres may do even better than ours, not only for resisting footfalls but also for dynamics and clean groove tracing.

Cheers,
Doug

I need to register a dissenting opinion regarding thick maple platforms. In my experience, thick maple platforms, whether butcherblock or the solid maple from Mapleshade, suck the life out of music.

I have tried both 2" solid maple and and 3" maple butcherblock under my Galibier turntable, my tube preamps and my tube power amps, and in EVERY instance the sound has been overdamped and lifeless. It is smooth and fairly detailed, but the loss of liveliness is much too high a price to pay, IMHO. I would also add that I noted an inadequate low frequency response as well.

These observations held true whether the maple platform was supported by cones, by Mapleshade Isoblocks, wood blocks, or sorbothane pucks.

Now I do acknowledge that many folks have tried maple and reported great success. But I would suggest that anyone who is interested in thick maple should try it for himself and reach his own conclusions. Don't simply assume from all of the favorable press that maple is the answer.

Incidentally, my 3" butcherblock is 18 x 24. I purchased it from Timbernation, and I was very pleased with both the appearance of the platform and the service from Timbernation. I would recommend them as a supplier. My caution only extends to the nature of the product itself.

Dave

Thank you for your responses and encouragement. As with everyone else, I am finding my journey fun - but increasingly expensive!!

Twl - I won't be able to get to CES to see your products but I am interested in the Sistrum Platforms. I take it the support rods are supposed to be filled with steel shot or something of that nature?

Doug - What rack or platform do you use? I currently have a Sanus rack with the maple finish - Sanus Natural Furniture Series It looks nice but I need another shelf for a turntable and the rack itself seems flimsy/unstable to me. I would like something sturdier. I know that the turntable probably shouldn't be placed on the top shelf, but shelf spacing constraints may dictate that that is where I have to place it. Guess I'll figure that out once I choose the rack!

Dave/Salectric - I really like maple and like the look of the Timbernation offerings, but I have not definitely made up my mind about buying a maple equipment rack. I also rather like the look of this rack - Sonus 5-tier rack but from what I have read, glass shelves really don't help the equipment sonics. Though many other people swear by butcher block platforms, heavy wood racks, you have obviously had negative experiences with wood platforms and racks. What do you use instead?

Oakiris - just one other suggestion on the platform. I read in a recent thread here of one user having great success with a Prometheus stand/support coupled with a Nuance shelf - for an unsuspended turntable (can't remember which one, but it wasn't a Teres). The Prometheus stand is spring loaded (seeminly at odds with traditional views of supporting unsuspended turntables), but the guy seemed quite adamant that the improvements were substantial. Sorry I can't think of which Audiogon thread it was offhand. Still, might be worth researching further. I'd love to try such an approach. Also, even if the stand doesn't work well for the Teres, it could probably be used with great success for another component. Just another suggestion.