bonzo 75
Yes but you will be paying a lot for art, I.e looks of plinth etc
Greetings! After having listened intently to both the OMA Anatase and Artisan Fidelity Achates in person, I can vouch for the later having far greater engineering enhancements that the former.
ie. OMA - Slate plinth, solid chassis plate, OMA bearing, OMA Idler wheel.
ie. Artisan Fidelity - AF hardwood composite and Panzerholz plinth, AF solid ss chassis plate, AF heavy Copper alloy platter, AF Idler wheel, AF inverted Sapphire main bearing, Stillpoints Ultra, AF dual arm capable. IMO, equates to better value and playback capability with the Achates, not to mention the divine aesthetics. Full disclosure, not really a fan of the Slate plinth's tonal attributes, merely a personal preference, used to have a Technics OMA Sp10Mk2 slate plinth model so this I established very early on.
Lenco is much more dynamic and bassier and larger stage than the Garrard - also more than the 124. The best Lencos I heard were the PTP and the OMA Anatase...I also prefer the Schopper TD 124. That said all 3 have a very different sound, and if one likes all, he will have to buy all. I would like to own both the Schopper and the Anatase and sell one off after a longer listen. Then I would like a DD, not sure which one. I have no idea about Torqueo waiting for it to reach Gian.
Agreed with the TD124 comparison, much prefer a properly implemented Lenco based drive any day of the week. Listened to the Schopper TD124 many times, always just felt it was
"ok" to be quite honest. Cannot agree with your Garrard vs. Lenco comparison, but then again I am biased, as my Garrard 301 based front end is far from typical.