Audiophilepure

https://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/music_hall_stealth.htm

Have I heard better-sounding turntables? Yes, starting at four to five times the cost, without a cartridge or in many cases even a tonearm. For its modest asking price, the Stealth performed well above what’s expected in terms of sound, convenience and build. With it, you get a well-made, plug‘n’play turntable complete with an above-average moving-magnet cartridge, the choice of three speeds and several convenience features. In the final analysis, what counts for me is the degree of satisfaction one gets from hi-fi — the satisfaction that comes from the emotional relationship the listener has to the music. Also, the satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve made a good investment and spent wisely, without suffering buyer’s remorse. Music Hall’s Stealth turntable has fulfilled all of those requirements.

Most of all, though, the Stealth gave me confidence that whatever LP I put on the platter would sound as good as it was going to at the sub-$2000 price point. A cartridge upgrade, perhaps to a high-output moving coil, raises that performance to a higher level still. Both value hunters and music lovers will be impressed with the Stealth turntable because it offers performance well beyond the threshold for high-end audio. For those who get their music from the grooves of vinyl records, the purchase of a Stealth turntable could be an endpoint. It will open the door to the high-end without breaking the bank. In the right system, it can deliver 85% of the magic found in systems costing much, much more. I view it as the foundation upon which a fine system is built. Music Hall Audio and Roy Hall have hit it out of the park with this one

Both album versions of this overture (different orchestras, conductors, locations, and recording equipment) had nearly identical overall timing, yet provided appropriately unique sound signatures when played back with the Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo. The Witches’ Brew LP had a more forward presentation with additional upper-midrange emphasis (think strings, woodwind, brass, and non-bass percussion), while maintaining excellent clarity and dynamic agility. Timing and pacing, as presented by the combo, were as good as expected and proved to be a conduit for a bundle of energy when called upon. The Mephisto & Co. version of “Tam o’ Shanter” presented additional fullness and power in the lower registers of all instruments (especially in the bass region), while maintaining the rhythmic pacing of the performance. Energy was excellent, tilting a good bit towards the lower register of any instrument used during reproduction. This contrast is normal for these recordings and consistent on any of the playback systems I have in-house. The Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo combo reproduced the expected differences in these performances with relative ease.

With an already solid construction supported by the Neo advancements that Acoustic Signature has implemented across the board on all products, the Tornado Neo and TA-2000 Neo provided near-exceptional performance in its price class along with countless hours of musical enjoyment.

The 9” EVO tonearm on the Pro-Ject Classic EVO turntable is one of my favorite designs on the market. It is well designed, light, and rigid. Plus, it is fully adjustable.

The supplied Sumiko Amethyst cartridge was very sweet sounding and undoubtedly was a major factor in the quality audible performance.

On the whole, this turntable was capable of the kind of high-end audio performance where you forget about the equipment and just let the music carry you away. I just wish it would pull this trick with greater regularity.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/analog-corner-269-techdas-air-force-iii-turntable-and-graham-engineering-phantom-iii-tonearm

The Air Force III’s platter is driven by an outboard synchronous AC motor that appears to be the same as the one supplied with the II, and controlled by the same or similar quartz-oscillator DC amplifier. The Air Force III uses one air pump for both the bearing and vacuum system, unlike the AF One, whch uses separate pumps for each. Motor and platter are linked by the same nonstretch belt of polished polyurethane fiber used in all Air Force models. The motor’s power supply and the silent, low-vibration air pump are housed in a plain black box measuring 13.8″ wide by 6.3″ high by 10.6″ deep and weighing 19.8lb.