Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

Kuzma Stabi R looks good and you can install several arms. That’s good option, but, as time often says the truth, it seems that for many Kuzma lovers and users, that, in their line of TTs, the Reference would be «Belle inconnue », more musical than hifish. Don’t know myself but hard that a couple of times in the last months.

I hardly dare to say it here, but the one that I’m looking for is the Verdier Platine. I know it’s an oldie but the ones who have one generally never sell it. But that’s me. Here un France it is 7400€ euros. 

Speaking strictly from a musical point of view, if I decided to go Kuzma, I would buy the Ref2 with 4points tonearm. It looks to be less hifi than the others, but I never compared it the the XL. I think it’s the beautiful sleeping in the Kuzma range of tts.

It’s been here for a very long time with little pods and that’s a sign that it’s conception was right from the start.

That’s why Urs Frei from Swissonor and some other famous restorers produce a special power supply for getting a lower voltage, closer from what was used in the 124 era.

As you speak about the Townshend platform : I will try to put it under my TW Acustic Raven AC. I mean : unscrewing the TT’s feet and put it bare on the platform. With the Townshend’s feet you can level the TT who’s weight is uneven as 2 tonearms with their integrated pods are installed in each back corners.

Will see what happen (excepted the broken back). If the Podiums are so effective, the platform could do the same with a TT ? Who knows ?

You should consider only tables that accept at least 2 tonearm easily.  When I bought my TW Acustic Raven with a 4 arms possibility, I never thought I would need a second tonearm. But as I realized, a few years later that a good part of my library was old mono recordings, I bought a second arm and a mono cart. It is the best idea I ever had. 

SME is a very good choice. Products are well conceived and reliable. But their arms like model IV and V, as good as they are, have no way to adjust azimuth and this is a pity for such expensive products.
If you want to adjust that you have to use Wally shims, but it is not normal that such a top manufacturer can’t adapt itself to what analog audiophiles are looking for :  best way to finely adjust all the parameters that help you to realize the full potential of your big investment. But that’s my own way of seeing things.

I remember a few years back Mr Swissonor came home for a listen with his rebuilt 124 equipped with his own tonearm. I was about to buy it but with my SME 3012-R. He didn’t want because he said the 12’’ would unbalance the 124 (you need a larger than normal  armboard) and wouldn’t sound as good as it should. 
Finally I kept my Raven AC 3. I have installed a second tonearm for my mono records and very happy.

My 2 cents

PS  : very important to listen to 220V and not 230V for a much better sound for Europe.  If you are in the US I don’t know . This is very important if you want to hear your 124 at the max of its immense potential.