Here is additional information that I'm hopeful will help in providing you all (who are more knowledgeable about these technical matters)in offering me educated suggestions on the "best" cart and arm to use with a new SOTA Nova vacuum tt based upon the following criteria.
Thank you in advance for your help. I certainly appreciate it. If there is more detailed info I should provide kindly let me know.
PHONO Stage:
- gain (unbalanced) 42/48/54/60 dB
- gain (balanced) 48/54/60/66 dB
- loading 100/500/1k/47k
- output impedance 100 ohms
CURRENT SYSTEM: I want to upgrade to a new SOTA Nova vacuum table.
I currently own a 10+ y.o. SOTA Star Sapphire vacuum. I have been happy using a REGA RB300 fully modified OriginLive arm with true, new Cardas wiring terminated via Cardas male 5-pin DIN. Cart. is Grado Reference Sonata with 4.8mv output; 47000ohms input. I have a higher quality phono interconnect cable with female Cardas 5 pin DIN termination at arm.
My musical preferences vary widely and include both classics and current releases. LOTS of blues, jazz, artistic progressive rock, the creative original "punk" work, better quality rock by genuine artists (NO POP. NOT much rap), much of the Motown (non-poppy) classics, and classical focusing on more uplifting works by the likes of Teleman, Vivaldi, & Mozart.
I am seeking a natural sound with rich soundstage (prefer hearing the music as though I am hearing it live), focused midrange that is more upfront an delicate in clarity (not warm though), tight base with definition I can feel punching at my breastbone, and controlled yet true-to-recording performance in the high frequency range from 2kHz through 16 kHz (I want to hear the cymbals without experiencing fatigue).
I want to avoid boomy bass while still emhasizing low tones. I also prefer a richness of sound (such as true clarity of strings) vs. a warm sound. I prefer a more forward midrange and a balanced brilliance/crispness/intensity that keeps from making the music tiresome. And I appreciate a delicate freshness in high harmonics. No overemphasized consonants in vocals (no glazing).
To date my 2000+ LP collection includes many originally owned, well-taken care of classics plus a good number of newer discs including those of 150-180-200 grams.
I employ a SOTA LP record cleaning unit before playing any disc.
I am hopeful that reusing the arm and cart I now own (at least for now) will work very good for me. The kind folks at SOTA suggested this would be the case.
I do not want to overspend on any new arm and/or cart. that would offer a meaningful improvement to my current arm + cart relative to the new Nova price, which is approx $3600. $1500 is a range I'm thinking of if you believe I can meaningfully improve on the arm and cart I now own for that investment. I will very likely keep the Nova for at least 5 years or more.
My system is tubeless with high output amp wattage (450watt @ 8ohms). Everything runs through 2, PS Audio P500 line conditioners w/ "Plus" connector via dedicated 20amp circuits. I do record from disc to CD via a new Tascam CD recorder unit, mixing my personal instrumentation with the prerecorded medium from the turntable. Speakers are 2 pairs of classic McIntosh XR-7s and one pair of XR-5s, fully restored that include the MQ107 Environmental Equalizer with capacitors properly installed to best accommodate room acoustics (vintage 1978-79 in perfect condition). The Macs produce a warmer yet very natural sound by design.
Thanks again for any help you can provide. I am truly quite open to any and ALL suggestions you have.
