Grand Prix Monaco review in new Stereophile- OUCH

Wow! Now we can compare two state of the art turntables with an MP3 file sent by e-mail. Thank goodness for the internet. Just think about it, I can have a dealer set up two systems, send me an MP3 of the systems via e-mail and purchase the better one without ever leaving my home to actually go LISTEN to the products. You're on to something Mikey! Look- I know you actually tell people to go listen, and some people such as Triode are smart enough to actually go and listen, but enough of trying to validate the results of your review by e-mailing people an MP3 file. There are just too many variables to make it a “credible” process.

With respect to you last post, there are a couple of obvious questions that struck me. How the heck did you know what you were measuring with respect to the stands and armboards if you are not an engineer of any type? (Kind of like me playing with an EKG machine and telling people their heart is in trouble.) I thought JA did all the measuring for Stereophile? Did an outside party come in and guide you through the process? If so, shouldn't you disclose who they were and if they have any affiliations in the industry? Did you ever use the Monaco on another stand or put the Merrill on the Grand Prix stand to see if it was really the possible cause of some of the faults you heard? Did you ever discuss these results and the measurement procedures to obtain them with Mr.Lloyd? I'm sure he'd like to know that his stands "sung like a Diva". How can you reject his methodology for measuring his own stands and validate your own methodology and want to send out the results via e-mail when the whole procedure appears suspect? If you want to review "honestly and completely", then disclose the entire measurement procedure or don't mention it at all. Anything else is disingenuous since you've reached your own personal conclusions from this process on how the turntable sounds.

I really look forward to reading your columns every month Mr. Fremer, honestly, but you really lost me with this one.

Yes the Cosmos IV is a great table(I own one),and it has gotten amazingly good,and well deserved press(see latest rave in "10 Audio").What I like about MIke's coverage(in general)is the exposure to newer product offerings.
Best

dying in the pages of an audio mag for the sins(or nature) of all direct drive tables had to happen to somebody at some point.

Khrys - I'm the dealer who Mtkhl567 (Hi Henry) is referring to. I use the Grand Prix Monaco table in my personal system and am in total agreement with you regarding the table. I'm using it on a Grand Prix Monaco with carbon fiber shelves. Myself and others that have listened to the system do not hear any of the shortcomings as described in the review, even using the same GPA stand. Did you replace the Avid Acutus with the Monaco? Curious to know how you would describe the sonic differences (with same arm and cartridge I would assume?)

Lets be fair to Mr. Fremer. He did NOT at any time suggest that reviewing of the GPM or any other product can or should be done by listening to a CD-R copy. What he did say (better you should read what he said above) is that he made such recordings at very high bit rates and bandwidth of the same music being reproduced by BOTH the Caliburn and the GPM, that to his (very experienced) ears these recordings preserved the differences between the two turntables as he heard them and that others to whom he sent or demonstrated the CDs also heard the differences, even though those individuals were not told what they were listening to or what to listen for. It is a well accepted fact that high resolution digital recordings (not talking about RedBook here) can preserve the sonic character of LP reproduction. (Read about the Tascam and Masterlink on the Vinyl Asylum.) I know those of you who own or sell the GPM are anxious to repair any possible damage to the reputation of that product, but give Fremer a break. He did his job properly. That does not invalidate your buying decision in the least.