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Grand Prix Audio Monaco Turntable

FYI, Hi Fi Plus (an excellent UK audio magazine) just did a very thorough review of the Monaco turntable. I have had the turntable for a year and think it is incredibly transparent and very involving - you really get pulled into the music. I could never explain why I found the turntable so engaging, but I think Roy Gregory has done a very good job of explaining why. I have had the VPI HRX and am very familiar with a number of the high end tables (e.g., the SME 30 and top of the line Brinkman)and thought those tables were very good, but I never had the same connection with the music as I do with the Monaco
cohnaudio
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 

03-21-08: Mtkhl567
I'm only recently starting to understand by listening to old technology based high-end tables what kind of colorations many of our dear traditional audiophile friends have gotten used to.
...which may help explain the persistent, fanatical devotion to the Technics SL12x0 turntables.

I'm not going to be silly enough to say my Technics is in a league with the Monaco GP, but I share that sense that music played on it is "... transparent and very involving - you really get pulled into the music."

I find my DD rig most compelling; I can't let it play in another room for long--it beckons me to sit down in the sweet spot and be transported.
jtinn
1,123 posts
 
I think the review was a very well written assessment of the table. Roy Gregory seemed to really "get" the virtues of the technology and I am happy he felt so strongly about it. As a dealer for Grand Prix Audio, I really think Alvin Lloyd deserves this kind of "rave" for all the effort he has put in to designing a product that started from a clean slate.

Congratulations to GPA!
downunder
1,328 posts
 
I just read the RG review in HIFI+ and I see no real difference in the overall review compared to Fremer's review in Stereophile.

Both state the GP is SOTA sound wise, however slightly in the lean category, which to some is heaven and others (me) not so much heaven. Being compared tonally to the clearaudio is not so good thou.

Both indicate to use with tonally even (read slightly warm) cartridge's for the GP to sound its best.
lewm
6,770 posts
 
Downunder, Gosh those Stradivarii are beautiful to behold! Wouldn't the GPM pair quite well with your speakers and amps, since the latter are both on the "warm" side (in a good way of course)?
fcrowder
191 posts
 
I have not read the new issue of HIFi+ yet but do remember the Fremer comments. Just curious if anyone has tried the GPM on something other than the Gran Prix table. Specifically, I am thinking in terms of something like the Halcyonics which is superb.
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