Raven AC3

EBM just because something is made in Germany doesn't mean it is better. Swiss made products or Italian, or British or American, or Japanese made there are numerous examples of fantastic workmanship and precision manufacturing in this industry as well as the automotive industry and many others.

I like BMW and Mercedes however, Audi which is made in Austria, or Volvo, or Ferrari, or Lamborgini, or Bugatti, or Aston Martin or Jaguar are hardly inferior products.

I would look at design more than just hype. Personally I find the Raven to be a competent design I just don't see why all the hype. The Raven does use fantastic materials but employs nothing other than high mass to make the table quiet.

A table such as the Merrill is a much more fascinating design and is a complete rethinking of modern turntable design I would also add the Kronos as a rethinking of table design.

I would consider strongly the design integrity and ingenuity in the way a particular product tackles the problems inherent in the issues of playing back vinyl, as one of the most crucial things in determining why a design sounds good or perhaps better than any other product.

I think TW may not be the leader in innovation as much as refining the existing one to an nth degree. Material science behind the platter of TW is probably nothing to sneeze at either. I am not familiar with Kronos turntable and I have no idea how long it has been around. However, the idea of two platter in counter rotation to each other is also used in Lab 47 Koma which has been around for a number of years already. Suspension as you said is similar to SME so it also looks like refinement of something that has been around for awhile already as well rather than new innovation.

In the end, it is the sound that is the matter. Whether it is a good old technology and new innovation, I suppose. German made product certainly will have some price point disadvantage in comparison to US product if you are in the US.

Ok MR dealer i said in house is the key.

I have had many turntables over 40+ yrs i just like the TW RAVEN AC1 best.

Anyone else feel that a dealer should not be trying to sell his own TT's in a thread about a TT he doesn't carry? Seems very rude to me.

I can't comment on the sound of the Merrill but the look is very unappealing to me. The feet in particular are ugly. The feet look like they are some sort of rubber. IME rubber feet tend to soften the sound too much.