Cardiackid,
If you can audition both designs in the same or similar systems, by all means let your ears decide. Just make sure the differences you hear are actually due to the TT's.
FWIW (not much) I chose a non-suspended Teres 265 because:
1) a former Linn dealer, pretty well known and respected around here, said his new Teres destroyed his (suspended) LP12;
2) defeating the suspension in my old, low fi TT produced better results;
3) for my $4K budget it didn't seem like any other TT, suspended or not, could compete;
4) it looks so damn good (sorry but that matters, it's in our living room).
I realize this says virtually nothing about top tables from the likes of Basis or SME. Still, even if a suspension is better in theory, implementing it is complex and maintaining it may be too, depending on the design. If I had more money and time to spend on a TT, then a top Basis, SME or Walker might have been my choice. As it is, I could not be happier with the choice I made. After four months we continue to be astonished by new musical insights and pleasures every evening.
Please let us know how/when/if you answer this question in a way that works for you.
If you can audition both designs in the same or similar systems, by all means let your ears decide. Just make sure the differences you hear are actually due to the TT's.
FWIW (not much) I chose a non-suspended Teres 265 because:
1) a former Linn dealer, pretty well known and respected around here, said his new Teres destroyed his (suspended) LP12;
2) defeating the suspension in my old, low fi TT produced better results;
3) for my $4K budget it didn't seem like any other TT, suspended or not, could compete;
4) it looks so damn good (sorry but that matters, it's in our living room).
I realize this says virtually nothing about top tables from the likes of Basis or SME. Still, even if a suspension is better in theory, implementing it is complex and maintaining it may be too, depending on the design. If I had more money and time to spend on a TT, then a top Basis, SME or Walker might have been my choice. As it is, I could not be happier with the choice I made. After four months we continue to be astonished by new musical insights and pleasures every evening.
Please let us know how/when/if you answer this question in a way that works for you.