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This is a second attempt to post. Sorry if it comes out weird. Anyway, my on-order-for-months GAE arrived last Thursday. Although I have listened to it quite a bit, it is too early to make definitive statements. But, preliminarily, the GAE does sound somewhat better than my old SL1200 MK2 w/full KAB mods. It is cleaner, more open, brighter, more alive. The old one does stand the comparison well though and is no slouch. In many systems the difference might be difficult to detect.Compared to my VPI Prime, the comparison is going to take longer. The GAE is brighter, lighter, with more air. The VPI seems to have more weight and greater sound stage depth. I think the arm is more damped on the VPI. On percussion the direct drive pace and timing is noticeable compared to the belt drive. This difference is easily heard in direct comparison, with the former having greater precision and the latter having almost an organic warmth. There is no difference in noise that I can detect, both are admirably free of wow, flutter, or rumble. Depending on equipment, musical preference and taste either of these could be a good choice.
I have read many comments concerning Panasonic's decision to leave the overall layout and controls the same on the new GAE as on the older models. For me that was a good decision. I find the sheer ease of set up and use on the GAE unsurpassed by any other. For me the Technics egonomic design is better.
Finally, to the all important question of value. Put simply is the GAE (or the functionally identical G) worth the asking price of $4,000? My Prime cost the same $4K, but then I added a periphery ring ($1,000) Phoenix Roadrunner and Eagle ($700), double belts and pulley ($100). And believe me these two tables are definitely competitive with each other.
Bill
For reference the components in use for this evaluation include: Conrad Johnson, ARTsa (amp), ET5 (line stage), TEA2MAX (phono stage), Sony SSAR2(speakers), and Ortofon Cadenza Black (cartridge), and Audio Sensibility (wires).
Edits: 08/22/16
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Topic - New Technics GAE has arrived - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 09:14:04 08/22/16 (23)
- Wires - valvesonly 19:32:30 08/23/16 (1)
- RE: Wires - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 06:45:16 08/24/16 (0)
- Wow!! You actually bought the SS-AR2 - jeromelang 18:36:53 08/23/16 (1)
- RE: Wow!! You actually bought the SS-AR2 - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 07:40:02 08/24/16 (0)
- RE: Double Belt on Prime - steve.ott@kctcs.edu 20:52:18 08/22/16 (4)
- RE: Double Belt on Prime - rrob 11:34:18 08/23/16 (0)
- RE: Double Belt on Prime - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 07:20:30 08/23/16 (2)
- RE: Double Belt on Prime - Dave Garretson 14:27:03 08/23/16 (1)
- RE: Double Belt on Prime - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 11:43:25 08/24/16 (0)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - John Elison 18:54:40 08/22/16 (1)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 07:32:53 08/23/16 (0)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - jkaschyk 15:47:11 08/22/16 (1)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 07:38:51 08/23/16 (0)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - TomWh 11:54:51 08/22/16 (1)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 08:00:03 08/23/16 (0)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - Andy43 11:50:19 08/22/16 (5)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 08:24:29 08/23/16 (4)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - Andy43 19:10:58 08/23/16 (0)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - John Elison 09:49:07 08/23/16 (2)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - flood2 19:12:53 08/23/16 (1)
- RE: New Technics GAE has arrived - John Elison 19:50:53 08/23/16 (0)
- Thank you! - MannyE 10:57:04 08/22/16 (1)
- RE: Thank you! - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 08:34:36 08/23/16 (0)