What others think won't stop me from being a proud parent when it comes to my rig, or recommending the same components to others. I was ridiculed and insulted elsewhere for daring to recommend my little table or one of its siblings over several of the usual suspect more costly ones that make many pants get a bit more snug. I asked those guys why, considering the specs are as good or better than the classic tables we adore.
No one could come up with anything that actually makes any difference to more than 99% of vinyl lovers. Aside from an upgraded cartridge, the last generations of tables (1980s-90s) from the top tier brands are all pretty much the same specs, materials, and build quality, and will track and treat records pretty much the same. Even many of the most beloved 70s tables frequently don't measure up to the criteria that have been floated in various arguments. So, clearly coolness counts more than actual value.
I was just curious if the gang here could provide any greater enlightenment that I was somehow oblivious to. It would seem not.
Strange conclusions based on a comparison relying on memory, and inaccurate. If you look closely at the top tier brands, whichever ones you think they may be, you'll see a big variety of materials in use and mechanics - suspended, fixed, off board motor, power supply etc. Same goes for arms and cartridges.
The reason is there are differences, which you can here in an appropriate system. In other words,, expensive deck = expensive system, above all the speakers. Were you to try a Brinkmann, say, in your system or a new LP12 with all the trimmings, and compared them to you Technics, you might hear a faint difference. However, to conclude that therefore all turntables were all roughly the same would be wrong. Had your system comprised the top level Martin Logans, you'd be gobsmacked.
That's obviously an extreme example, but it does serve as a reminder that the turntable is only one part. I think people tend to forget that, whatever you spend on a turntable - and I'm talking new prices here - you should spend on the speakers, if not more. To be honest, coming from a CD-only system I already had a good amp and speakers, which meant that the first couple of turntables I tried, a Hanpin DD, some Pro-jects and the Basik Linn, were not in the hunt compared to the CD, or digital by then as I'd also started the mac/dac solution.
You're probably right that for 99% of vinyl lovers the music is the name of the game. It may also be true that many, probably the majority, have good all round systems and therefore are quite happy. However this, and I suspect the other forum, isn't aimed at them, and indeed why would they post? Here is more about extracting the best quality from whatever your system is, and posters are as much turntable lovers as vinyl lovers.
If you're happy with your system, then fine, but, other than the odd technical question, there won't be much to interest you here. I'd suggest, though, buying/borrowing some really expensive headphones and listening to your table compared with, say, a VPI with an MC cartridge. You'll then hopefully understand what the fuss is about.