In his review of the Avid Diva II SP turntable (with SME 309 tonearm) Micahel Fremer wrote:

"While sprung 'tables do achieve excellent isolation from outside vibrations, I believe that once you set a platter spinning, no matter how carefully it's machined, it will cause the suspension to move. I much prefer the rock-solid performance of mass-loaded or elastomer-isolated 'tables like the Diva II SP, provided they're placed on a properly tuned isolation stand like the HRS SXR rack and M3 base-which is what I did.
This $6,000 combination was ridiculously good in every aspect of vinyl play."

The problem is that the combination can't fairly be said to cost $6,000. Setting aside the cost of the phono cartridge (Lyra Kleos at $2750) and phono preamp (unknown), the combination really costs more like $14,000. That is because the rack costs $6,000 and the base costs between $1,900 and $2,900, depending on its size.

The advantage of a sprung table presumably is that one does not need a super expensive rack and base for it.

On a different topic concerning the Analog Corner column this month, Ray Samuels seems to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory in his manufacturers comments. About the Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline F-117 The Nighthawk MM/MC Phone Stage, Michael Fremer wrote: "Its sound quality is about right for its price."

Samuels wrote that he was "shocked" by the review. He also wrote, "Sadly, the review of the F-117 phono stage by your reviewer was not in harmony with the rest of the writers, who truly enjoyed the Nighthawk and gave it the thumbs-up."

Anyone reading the Samuels comment would have thought that Fremer had insulted the phono stage, when in fact he gave it mild praise.