10 Levels of Turntable Mastery


Maybe this will be an intersting thread. Maybe it will be quickly forgotten. Either way, I'd throw it out there for discussion and debate.

Could we, as a collective, define 10 Levels of Turntable Mastery? 1 being a complete novice, 10 being the master turntable guru. Perhaps we even start at 0.

TML 0 - Digital Only
TML 1 - If you own and use a turntable, you qualify for TML 1.
TML 2 - ?
TML 3 - ?
etc.

I figured I'd fall into the 4 to 5 range. I understand the geometry enough to create my own protractors. I can use these protractors to set up tables with variable P-to-S distances. I can arrive at an acceptable starting point for anti-skate. I can set an initial VTA and VTF, but I'm not attune to the minor changes in these values (given my cartridge and associated equipment). I have no idea how to use an oscilloscope to validate and verify an accurate setup.

This isn't about who can buy the most expensive toys. A Walker owner may be a TML 1 while there may be Technics SL-1200 owners that may come in at a TML 8 or 9.

I think this would interesting to define these levels not only to benchmark where one is at as a Turntable Master, but what are the next things to master along the analog journey.

Who want's to take a crack at it? If this thread goes anywhere, I'll periodically summarize the posts into the current TMLs to help foster discussion and debate.
128x128nrenter
I'll go ahead and say a TML 4-5 has the ability to rewire and mod tonearms. I've accomplished this with the Incognito rewire kit for my RB300. Rega's are one of the easier category of tonearms to rewire/mod, but certainly not the easiest. The risk factor could potentially be a ruined tonearm.

TML 6+ should be reserved for those with engineering ability...
Technics SL-1200 owners that may come in at a TML 8 or 9"

That is a perfect example of an oxymoron, if ever I saw one. A person at one of those levels would be long past that choice, and he would know why.

At what price point would you consider the need for proper/expert set-up exist?

Aren't there a few tt guru's that frequent this site that also own variations of the Technics 1200.
TML 10 should be reserved for the fellow (or gal I suppose) who has reached a state of vinyl grace where -while he is able to do all that other stuff - he no longer pursues the last Nth of perfection and is able to simply listen and enjoy his table and the music. A zen master if you will.