Since you already have an excellent table and arm why not put your upgrade budget into a new cartridge alone? Or better yet, a new cartridge and some room treatment products. I recommend considering Marigo room treatment dots. They will improve dynamics and provide more focused images.
Upgrade Sota Saphire vs. Buy New Turntable
I have owned a Sota Saphire III since 1988. It is in perfect condition and plays great. I need to replace the stylus of the Grado MCZ cartridge and thought maybe it is time to upgrade the Audioquest PT-5 tonearm also. I priced out a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge and a new PT9+ arm at an expense of about $1400.00, plus installation costs. I see that a new Rega P25/RB600 is $1275 and a VPI Scout/JMW-9 is $1500.00. Is my Sota "outdated" compared to the other table combos described? Will the the other tables sound better than my 50lb suspended Sota? I don't want to invest $1400.00 in a 15 year old table if I can better the sound quality by purchasing a new design for roughly the same price. Any guidence or suggestions would be appreciated. Pete.
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