Audiophilepure

https://www.stereophile.com/content/spin-doctor-40-turntable-drive-mechanisms-esoteric-t1-turntable

Jazz musician Ira Sullivan lived at a time that bridged the divide between the classic era, when he played with Charlie Parker and many other greats, and the modern era. He continued to perform and record all the way into the 2010s before passing away in 2020 at age 89. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, he was equally comfortable playing trumpet, saxophone, and flute, although I remember him best playing the trumpet’s close cousin, the flugelhorn.On the track “Circumstantial” from his self-titled album (LP, Flying Fish FF-075) the rich textures and burnished midrange glow of Sullivan’s horn were presented in clear relief against an exceptionally quiet background. Simon Salz’s electric guitar is closely miked; the T1 presented the clean sound and resonant body of his instrument in vivid tonal color. It’s not that such details were missing when I’ve played this record on other turntables, but with the T1, they are easier to hear and follow.I keep several turntables to use in my reviewing process—SME 30/2, Brinkmann La Grange, Roksan TMS, Garrard 301, plus a few others—because each one offers a different set of strengths. The Esoteric T1 is the first turntable I’ve heard in my system that I feel could replace all of them on a sonic—though not a personal—level. I liked the T1 best when the torque was cranked up to deliver the most PRaT, though the more relaxed sound resulting from lower torque seemed more appropriate for some music. Yes, the asking price is crazy, but presumably if you’re shopping in this price range, you’re not digging through the couch cushions looking for a few lost pennies. It’s good to see companies pushing the limits of what’s possible; hopefully we’ll soon see some of this technology trickle down to more approachably priced ‘tables. If the T1 is within your budget, I can’t think of a better option.