Bill, I suppose I will have to add my voice to these responses. The challenge is that we are all captives to some extent to what we've had the opportunity to hear. I'm a Walker Audio Proscenium Gold Signature turntable owner and a fan, as are several other Audiogon contributors who've not yet offered a comment.
You say, "If ultimate sonics are my first priority..." To which I will suggest that, if this is the case (as I believe it is for you), then you truly should give serious consideration to the Walker. It will deliver that superb level of sonics you require, it will make you re-think what is possible in analog replay; and it will also deliver absolute reliability and usability.
I hear your comment that you're thinking about a small footprint option, and the Walker is not that. But, if you're looking primarily for something that will give you back usable space beneath the turntable, the Walker will do that. I use Lloyd's custom built rack (after all, its what he designed the table with), and use the three shelves beneath it for other equipment. So, while the footprint in square inches is large, the space beneath the turntable is available for other purposes.
Any of us who use the Walker turntable could go on and on about its sonic virtues, ease of use, absolute reliability, fanatical build quality, etc., etc. The only real test is for you to experience it for yourself, as my wife and I did. If you're still located in NY, you're not that far from Lloyd Walker, who is just west of Philadelphia. Spend a day with Lloyd and then decide. At worst case, you will have had one of the most engaging encounters you can imagine with one of the true gentleman geniuses of the high audio art who, as Srajan Ebaen said in his recent review of the Walker Velocitor on 6moons.com, comes at audio design "from a nearly maniacal commitment to better sound."
There is no other turntable I'd rather have in my home for the remainder of my music listening days.
http://www.walkeraudio.com
.
You say, "If ultimate sonics are my first priority..." To which I will suggest that, if this is the case (as I believe it is for you), then you truly should give serious consideration to the Walker. It will deliver that superb level of sonics you require, it will make you re-think what is possible in analog replay; and it will also deliver absolute reliability and usability.
I hear your comment that you're thinking about a small footprint option, and the Walker is not that. But, if you're looking primarily for something that will give you back usable space beneath the turntable, the Walker will do that. I use Lloyd's custom built rack (after all, its what he designed the table with), and use the three shelves beneath it for other equipment. So, while the footprint in square inches is large, the space beneath the turntable is available for other purposes.
Any of us who use the Walker turntable could go on and on about its sonic virtues, ease of use, absolute reliability, fanatical build quality, etc., etc. The only real test is for you to experience it for yourself, as my wife and I did. If you're still located in NY, you're not that far from Lloyd Walker, who is just west of Philadelphia. Spend a day with Lloyd and then decide. At worst case, you will have had one of the most engaging encounters you can imagine with one of the true gentleman geniuses of the high audio art who, as Srajan Ebaen said in his recent review of the Walker Velocitor on 6moons.com, comes at audio design "from a nearly maniacal commitment to better sound."
There is no other turntable I'd rather have in my home for the remainder of my music listening days.
http://www.walkeraudio.com
.