Sota Cosmos

I would either trade it in for one of their tables you like, or run it as is if the sapphire bearing plate is in good shape. If it has been cracked, then replace it with the mag lev option.

I will check the bearing this week to see if it's alright. Beyond the possibility of a bearing replacement, I will look over the pump because it's a little loud for my taste. 

I have other arms that I could put on it but it would require a new arm board drilled to the tonearm's specifications. Also, I believe there would have to be adjustments to the suspension depending on how heavy the arm is. 

The good thing is that the motor works well; gets up to  speed fast and maintains. The vacuum seal is strong, practically gluing the record to the platter. I haven't had an extensive listen as I sold my house soon after and packed it up. 

I think at most beyond some of the base mechanics that might need to be addressed, is I would like to repaint the plinth; its a cool material but the color is a little dated. Any suggestions on what type of place to take it to? My first guess would be an automotive place but I'm afraid that they might not be delicate enough. 

Thanks you guys for the reassurance. 

Either your pump could be failing OR its suspension has failed. The actual pump should be internally suspended by 4 little springs. 

Thanks for the insight on this, and I will check the motor of the pump and its suspension this week. I noticed that there was a hole in the bottom of the housing and the tech at SOTA told me that some of the older ones had adjustments knobs there, but were eventually not used any longer. 

I actually went to the SOTA factory last year. I drove around the entire country (and Canada) for some months and I was traveling through Wisconsin on the way to Chicago and I gave them a call. I need transport bolts for the Cosmos. They were supercool and gave me a tour of the factory. The guy who works on the tables wasn't there till I was leaving I showed him a picture of the Cosmos, but he said he needed the serial number to know what configuration and upgrades were done to it. He was cool and had a great shop. I thought the town, Delavan, was really nice (I thought the stretch between Minnesota and Chicago was gorgeous).

Lots of SOTA experience but none better than two gentleman above ^^^^^^
i do have thoughts on TT # of your soon to be thinned stable assuming you keep upgrade the SOTA : what work have you done to the SP-10 especially electronics,

arm, plinth and especially isolating it ????  DD drive and impact might be useful sonic foil to the SOTA and give you much more arm choices

I love hearing about SOTA turntables, and any turntable, so anything to add is much appreciated! 

The SP-10 was another lucky deal. I was at a radio station record sale in San Luis Obispo and amongst the records they had a bunch of equipment on the ground in the corner. The SP-10 was sitting there with an Audio Technica AT-12PT tonearm. I asked the guy about it and he said the speed doesn't hold and someone told him that it was not fixable. He told me to make any offer, and I offered $25 for both. It did not have the power supply, so I bought one used for $250. It doesn't hold speed on 33 or 45 (from what I remember) only 78. The chassis is in pretty good shape, only minor pitting. The goal after fixing, is to make a plinth and add a Transfi Terminator tonearm that I have in a box to it. Any advice on this approach or suggestions on tackling the speed issue? 

plinth and especially isolating it ????

I really only have experience with mdf and birch ply. I'd love to add different material, i.e. acrylic, steel, slate, but that would require a shop with exact specifications. Any advice on isolation, sandbox, magnetic levitation, spikes or sheer mass?