Even staying within a particular design brief, interesting things can happen. This past CES Audio Note started the show with the long-standing TT Three Ref, a three motor suspended belt drive table with external power supply, until the prototype of their new redesign arrived, (also 3 motor, external supply, suspension, new chassis and who knows what else.)

Swapping the same arm/cart combo from table to table in an otherwised untouched system, my reaction to a Nirvana LP reversed 180 degrees from before (old table): "Jeez, I'm really not in the mood for this now!" to after (new table): Jumpin' around the room playing air guitar! (Anyone who knows me realizes how unlikley the latter response is!) I have no explanation, but the latter combo simply set my head on fire and insisted that I "get with it!"

Nota Bene: Clearly, these days I have a commericial axe to grind in this area, but I gathered my initial impressions and reached all these conclusions a long, long time ago, and have found nothing to cause me to change my mind yet.