5 tables one choice, opinions please

I'll suggest one more option:

The Acoustic Solid Wood (60mm platter) w/ microprocessor speed control, stock OEM RB300 and Ortofon Vigor HOMC cart @ $2K. IMHO this thing represents really unusual value and is worth checking out.

BTW I spent the best part of the past year looking for app. $2K analog set-ups. I looked at most of the units you listed. Head to head comparison is very difficult when shopping - too many variables. FWIW, I didn't get a meaningful chance to hear the Nottingham, but preferred the VPI to the Rega, Music Hall, and Project in a series of "listen-offs".

I also listened to the A-Signature line Raul recommends. Very nice stuff, but more in the nearly $4K range w/arm and cart. In this range, I liked the A-Sig products better than the similar designs from Acoustic Solid. But in comparing the MDF plinthed, less costly units, the A-Sigs didn't fare as well vs the A-Solid equivalents (IMHO). Specifically, there is no A-Sig version of the more massive A-Solid Wood.

As I was adding analog to my den and living room systems, I bought two units; the A-Solid Wood and the discontinued Transrotor Sirius, w/modded OEM RB250 and Clearaudio Aurum Beta S. Both are fine tables, but the A-Solid sounds just a bit better (with either cartridge -in my system) and looks like a million bucks. I ponied up an extra $200 for the automotive black finish which was certainly worth it in my living room, but maybe not yours.

Good Luck,

Marty

As I noted in my post, I only heard the Nottingham very briefly w/ an unfamiliar cart in a very different system. I couldn't meaningfully compare it to any of the other 'tables I heard.

As to the more controlled comparisons with VPI, Rega, Project, Music Hall, A-Signature, Clearaudio/Marantz, Transrotor and a couple of others:

IMHO The A-Solid Wood had the most extended bass of the 'tables I heard, although there is definitely a slight but audible "wooliness" from the midbass down. (In a direct comparison to the Oracle/ Graham 2.2/Graham Nightingale through the multiple inputs on the Aesthetix Rhea in my main system, the A-Sig with a Clearaudio Aurum Beta S in place of the supplied Ortofon re produced slightly but audibly more extended and pitch stable organ pedal tones than the Oracle/Graham set-up). Although extended bass tones were notably pitch stable, there were also artifacts that imparted a bit of wooliness around the fundamental that was absent from the Oracle set-up. Eventually, I will probably try one of the many RB300 mods just to see if this helps.

Overall pitch definition was also audibly superior on the A-Sig to any of the other tables I really listened to(other than the Oracle Graham from mid-bass up). I'd note however, that the Transrotor was very, very good in this regard and I've seen complaints about the brand in this regard- so go figure.

I'd only add that the "more controlled" comparisons I did while shopping were hardly perfect. There were many variables involved which I attempted to control for by subbing CD versions of the same musical source material into each system as a "reference point" - hardly perfect, but useful in comparing two analog sources throug a single system in one store to 2different analog sources through a single system in anoher store.

OTOH, the Oracle/Graham vs A-Solid vs Transrotor comparison I did in my system was rigidly controlled.

Hope this is helpful.

Marty