Some tables have soul and some not

I think it all depends on what the manufacure/designer is trying to extract from the grooves (no punn intended)

I've listened to a lot of tables, some that cost more than my entire system times 3 and I kept going back to Rega for the "soul" I felt from the music, Clearaudio was also a great toe tapper! Keep in mind system synergy, room and location have a HUGE effect on the TT of choice, but as far as a signature sound, most tables have one.

There must be a ton of consumers that really appreciate a very anaylitical sound, and that is great, but I love music and wanted a table that I can through on Cat Stevens, Ray Lamontagne, or Schuburt and enjoy all three with my soul smiling. The Rega P5 nails it everytime (plus TTPSU for the record)

Just my 2 cents.

terms like soul or musicality are so vague that they mean almost nothing to me. all i know is i'd rather listen to music via my SME than other turntables i've owned: LP12 for 21 years, rega p3/24 in a second system for 3 years.

The problem with metaphors is that anyone is free or allowed to have his own reading or interpretation. This way we may surpass the MM thread...

Regards,

A starting point would be outlining the characteristics of the sound hat leads to a feeling of soul.

Yes, the term "Soul" may be vague, but I know it when I hear it. My ARXA has soul in spades. My Well Tempered has soul. I think both my Thorens TD 166 Mk 11 and Space Deck lack a bit of soul in comparison. My Sota had no Soul whatsoever. I remember some audio reviewer asking if a particular big buck major turntable could "boogie" because "many of them cannot". This I think is similar to the Soul issue. I'm sitting here trying, but I just can't actually define "Soul" I think speakers also can have or have not "Soul" Perhaps because they too are "acoustic" instruments rather than electronics. Like a fine violin or cello, this comes from a mechanical/acoustical sound created by the materials of their own composition. Even the varnish on the wood can affect the sound, as well as the Soul.