Naim introduce a turntable - the Solstice Special Edition

Should anyone question the motivation for my response to Lewm, the answer is here "Your little experiment". So f-ing condescending I could just...... Well, you get the idea.

@fsonicsmith
Well after the red mist subsides, @lewm s point is correct.
Just because you had a poor result with a heavy platter on your 301 does not mean a heavy platter cannot work with other setups.

I have built both Garrard 301’s and 401’s and in fact the heavy platter options are different for each model On my 301 I use a modified original platter, heavier platters upset the bass timing. Conversely on the 401 I built increasing the platter to a 11kg brass platter improved pitch stability.

I have both a 301 and reference high mass TT with 26kg platter.
It is the high mass turntable that has speed and coherence the Garrard 301 ( nor anything else I’ve heard apart from the DD Technics SP10mk3 but that has other issues ) cannot match.

Platter mass has to be viewed in context with the capability of the drive system and how that mass is managed in terms of stored energy.

The plodding sound of high mass turntables (I have owned an AMG and a Kuzma) really seems contrary to the Naim philosophy.

While I relate to this observation, I have had mixed experiences with high mass TTs.

The lazy sounding ones1. Verdier2. AMG Viela3. Kuzma4. Walker
Open and fast sounding ones1. Kondo Ginga
2. Micro Seiki SX-8000
3. Avid Acutus4. Hartvig
Interestingly none of the low mass TTs sound plodding 

For the record (pun) I have kept all three platters. I have a heavily modded/hot-rodded TD124 too (see my profile and system if you wish) and I have kept the OEM platter and a use a high mass one. 
This was no experiment. I bought a Lyra Etna Lambda from Steve Dobbins, a recognized 301 authority, and he recommended his mid-weight platter over my solid brass one. I do prefer his. Perhaps with a different cartridge I might prefer the very light OEM or the solid brass. 
One of the many problems with this Board and it's regulars are those who staunchly defend what they happen to have. 

I die laughing when I hear these terms applied to turntables. Plodding? Does that mean slow as in 33 1/8th or, does that mean increased amounts of wow? Maybe, it is more wow with more rumble. That would make sense on a Garrard as they are rumble machines. Lewm is quite correct. Turntables are designed with a certain mass platter in mind. Increasing the mass on an idler wheel table is going to accelerate wear on the wheel by increasing slippage on start up creating flat spots on the wheel which will invariably increase wow and flutter along with rumble. Idler wheel drives where also designed to slip "Q". A heavier platter would increase the time it takes to get up to speed. The TD124 had that interesting design with the very light platter platter cover which was lifted off the platter by that lever at the side providing very fast "Q ing" and minimizing wear on the drive. Many people do not know this but the TD 124 was a combination belt and idler drive in an attempt to isolate the platter from the motor. It was a rumble machine all the same. It was my first real turntable. With the SME on board it was a beautiful thing. 

fsonicsmith, I think you should convert to streaming only. This turntable thing is driving you nuts.

Interesting topic, platters. My preference is for a lightweight design because I believe Rega are on the right track at least where weight and mass are concerned.

On the other hand both my Rega 3 and and LP12 had heavy platters. In fact one of the most convincing vinyl demos I ever heard featured a turntable with an enormous platter.

It was almost comical in size, could have been 6-8 inches deep. It was rotated by a motor that was housed in a separate box situated several inches to one side via a fairly long thin belt.

My initial visual impression was that this could, in certain domestic situations, be a surefire recipe for disaster.

However the image it cast, via some Avantgarde Trios, was the best I have ever experienced.

Spookily good.

As my memory of the event (London Show late1990s/early 2000s?) inevitably fades, the sheer size and precision of the image being cast remains.