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Worth having my SOTA Sapphire refurbished?

I own a vintage 1986, SOTA Sapphire turntable, fitted with a Linn Basik tone arm, with some sort of old, Audioquest cartridge (it has a red housing). After a lengthy remodel, I am finally getting ready to unpack my stereo system once again and get it set up. I have miles and miles of beloved vinyl. :-) My listening room is on the small side. I value transparency and imaging over sheer volume.

Associated equipment includes a PS Audio Elite Plus integrated amplifier (I think it has 70 W per channel). I recently sold my old Vandersteen 2C speakers here on Audiogon (for space reasons in the new house) and am looking to replace them with Regas or Paradigms, probably monitors (but that a whole other question)!

Anyway, the SOTA probably needs some inspecting and tuning. I think that the motor and bearing are okay, but I'm guessing that the suspension springs need adjusting or replacing; I think they're a little stretched out.

SOTA has an inspection and tune-up/repair service. Have any of you ever used it? I'd have to ship the table off to them, and, apparently, pay for return shipping as well (I do have the original box) and the table weighs around 50 pounds in the box.

By the time I do all of this and buy a new cartridge, to boot, I'm looking at quite a chunk of change. Do you think I'm better off selling the SOTA and putting the money toward, say, a new Rega P2? Please, no flames; I've been out of the active high-end scene for many years, so I have no idea how those tables compare.

Anyway, all advice appreciated.
rebbi

Showing 3 responses by johnnyb53

johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I think getting your SOTA tuned up and back to snuff is a great place to start. Ditto with keeping the PS Audio integrated. PS Audio was particularly good with phono stages, and a lot of mid-'80s phono gear was really good, Amber and VSP Labs being a couple other good examples.

I was going to suggest a pair of Sequerra Metronomes (plus a little powered sub) from Acoustic Sounds to replace your Vandersteens, but it looks like they're not selling those anymore.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
06-02-08: Stringreen
... I can't believe you don't like the Vandersteen sound....
I got the impression that he liked the Vandersteen sound, but no longer had the space for them. That's why I recommended the Sequerra Metronomes for that time-aligned design, but it seems that they're now not to be found. :-(
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Well, don't count the Sequerra Metronome 7.7 Mk6 out just yet! It's true that Acoustic Sounds no longer carries them, and when they did, the $1500/pr price put them out of your budget. But now, according to this Web page these little time-aligned speakers are available factory direct for $850/pair. And note the 3/03/08 date stamp at the bottom of this web page, so I guess this is current information.

Call or email and see what happens.
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