So what makes it so special?

Basically two things: Isolation and materials.

On it’s original conception some 12 years ago, suspension was the prime factor in the Stratosphere’s launch onto the market. The Air Pod (now manufactured by Clear Audio) was designed to virtually levitate the whole turntable onto a bed of air and to that effect the current Stratosphere is supported in the same way. The latest version from Clear Audio, the ‘Magix’ are a refined and perfected version of the original Air Pod and their performance now allows complete suspension of the Stratosphere without any contact whatsoever between itself and the supporting stand or shelf. This truly is a ‘Floating’ turntable without the necessity of pumps or pipes and also along with the whole Stratosphere, this enables us to offer a lifetime’s guarantee with the whole unit.
The latest design has however, taken things considerably further. Isolation is one of the key factors that contribute to the Stratosphere’s ability to separate the music from the vinyl. The only vibration that can now affect the performance is through the air, which is virtually impossible to stop. This means that the noise floor is extremely low and there is virtually no extraneous noise created from the workings of the turntable finally reaching the arm and stylus. Not only have improvements been made to the suspension but also there are other significant properties that elevate the performance of the latest Stratosphere from the original design.

Hi-Fi News reviews of the Lumley Stratosphere Mk2