Turntables from 1-10: Personality 8.5 Beauty 12


This thread could be interesting for any components, but I write as I am thinking of adding a turntable to my system.

In the end, I might not use it very often, but I love the beauty of turntables, if only as a conversation piece for my missionary work with non audiophiles.

Obviously, I want it to sound very good too but I might get more pleasure per dollar per hour of usage with an unusually gorgeous turntable. I need to keep the budget to < $10,000 retail.

Could anyone recommend a particular VPI model? The HRX is obviously gorgeous, but I imagine the less expensive ones look great too and much of the same performance as their top of the line?

How about the Michell Gyrodec SE? Is it as gorgeous as it looks in pictures? Oracle?

Obviously the dowdy LP12 is out, as are the mdf Regas and others.....

Thanks for any ideas.
cwlondon
I'm using the new Grand Prix Audio Monaco table. I've owned many tables over the years, and this is the best I ever owned. Don't know if you will like the looks and the price is over your budget ($19,500 for the table only). My previous table was the SME20/2. Beautifully engineered, fantastic fit and finish and geat sounding. Surpassed my Basis Debut Gold table.
Save $9600 and buy a beautifully restored mint AR XA. You cannot beat their Zen-like simplicty, and I still can't believe how good that can sound given that clunky-looking arm.

No, they will never compete with these other tables for sonics, but I think you will be surprised how good they truly sound when restored and running properly. The venerable XA has started many down the audiophile path....

Dave
I'm pretty blown away by Peter Clark's blue Redpoint that he showed at CES this year.
I have to agree with Dan And Raul on this one. Thom's Galibier tables are great to look at but more important they also have amazing sound.
Many excellent suggestions. In any case I will throw out the SOTA Nova or Cosmos TTs as new production options not yet mentioned. However, some vintage tables that I have seen of late sure look great. The Merrill Heirloom is really nice from a simplistic perspective, and some of the higher end Micro Seiki tables (wood plinth and RX series) are real lookers.