I would guess there would be no bad turntable for $5k. You would have to audition them all and then choose. Just kidding.
"You spent how much on that cartridge?"
Should there be a ratio of the amount of vinyl to the cost of your playback system? A recent thread implied that you should not have a nice rig unless you own a lot of albums. Almost like one does not qualify.
I want to enjoy listening to the relative-to-some few that I own without compromising. I agree that if you have little to no familiarity with the format, you should enter gingerly. But once you've decided you like it, why accept mediocrity?
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@mulveling I have a confession to make. I could not afford a Sota back in 1986 when I bought my HW19. I really wanted a Sota too. Forward to about 2008, a fellow I knew had a Sota for sale with an SME V on it. Again at that time, I couldn't afford it. I really wanted that Sota too. The truth of the matter is I have never heard a Sota that I didn't like. So you keep right on recommending Sota, and I'll keep on backing you up and thinking some day maybe.... |
I have read here enough opinions on the Sota Sapphire that contradict my own, to the point where I am willing to believe my Sapphire was defective in some way. I had a Star Sapphire series III as my only TT for probably the entire duration of the 1990s, or very close to it. While I owned it, I had no complaints, because I had nothing to compare it to. But when I eventually replaced it with a Nottingham Analog Hyperspace (using the very same Triplanar on both TTs), I immediately noticed increased clarity across the entire frequency range and much better, deeper, cleaner bass response (same cartridge, too). When I then added a motor controller to the Notts, the performance jumped up yet another notch. My theory is that either the felt mat or the vacuum hold down on the Sapphire, or both, hindered its performance, with an added possibility that the Sota was unstable in terms of speed. Before anyone takes too much offense, I do believe the modern Sota TTs are much better. |
I went the 2x price method, but opposite what people encouraged here. Benz Micro Zebra cart on a Schiit Sol. Absolutely phenomenal. I did that when at the time I had about 100 albums, only because I knew it was a setup I would enjoy for years as my collection grew. No wrong answers either way you play it, but that was how I did it. |
I think it’s cartridge/arm fit that is most important. A bad fit can make the best arm or cartridge not sound good. Followed by cartridge quality being of 2nd importance. Then to me it’s phono stage of 3rd importance. Followed by tone arm next. Then turntable. Then isolation. Then cables. I’m sure some have other thoughts but the above is what works for me. |
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