Since you're into DIY and value you might want to try my approach. You've already come pretty close and have a lot of what you need. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
You're right about granite and the tradeoffs with materials between detail and harshness. Its hard to tell by just my system pics but the rack is solid concrete with a sand bed cast into it. The granite is on the sand bed which damps a lot of the ringing and greatly reduces the glare and hardness while leaving all the detail.
The next step is springs between the granite and the turntable. The springs do need to be tuned to the mass of your component/shelf system, but once they are the sound is amazing! Even more detail- a LOT more detail! - but without the glare and hardness. You get all the great mass loading benefits of granite without the glare and with even greater detail.
There's a fairly recent thread started by (if I remember right) noromance about the Nobsound springs. These things are a total bargain and I would think would be right up your alley.
You're right about granite and the tradeoffs with materials between detail and harshness. Its hard to tell by just my system pics but the rack is solid concrete with a sand bed cast into it. The granite is on the sand bed which damps a lot of the ringing and greatly reduces the glare and hardness while leaving all the detail.
The next step is springs between the granite and the turntable. The springs do need to be tuned to the mass of your component/shelf system, but once they are the sound is amazing! Even more detail- a LOT more detail! - but without the glare and hardness. You get all the great mass loading benefits of granite without the glare and with even greater detail.
There's a fairly recent thread started by (if I remember right) noromance about the Nobsound springs. These things are a total bargain and I would think would be right up your alley.

