All printed audio magazines are some what tainted with potential conflict of interests from impact of ad revenue generated vs transparency in reviewing certain product from particular company honestly - not to mention individual reviewer having preference for certain company or 'special' arrangement they would receive that might influence what they would say. This is my personal opinion with no proofs - period.
With that said, I had been reading Japanese StereoSound magazine (Korean translated version) for many years and felt they were lesser of all audio publication evils with better indepth review of audio equipment often disassembling the gear and coming to their conclusion not based on one man's opinion but from a panel of reviewers with open votes. Earlier this year, StereoSound gave out their annual Grand Prix award for analog gear introduced in 2012.
To my surprise, the panel of three reviewers gave two votes each to the Air Force One but all three people awarded three votes each to the Thales TTT-Compact Turntable w/ Simplicity arm. Makes you wonder...
If someone was in the market for the "best" turntable setup, one would owe one's ears a trial of the Thales before taking out a second mortgage on one's house for the AF1.
With that said, I had been reading Japanese StereoSound magazine (Korean translated version) for many years and felt they were lesser of all audio publication evils with better indepth review of audio equipment often disassembling the gear and coming to their conclusion not based on one man's opinion but from a panel of reviewers with open votes. Earlier this year, StereoSound gave out their annual Grand Prix award for analog gear introduced in 2012.
To my surprise, the panel of three reviewers gave two votes each to the Air Force One but all three people awarded three votes each to the Thales TTT-Compact Turntable w/ Simplicity arm. Makes you wonder...
If someone was in the market for the "best" turntable setup, one would owe one's ears a trial of the Thales before taking out a second mortgage on one's house for the AF1.