So, finally got the SOTA professionally set up and playing records at home. While the Dynavector 20x2L probably needs some time to break-in, my initial thoughts are:
- incredibly spacious sound. Infinitely more sound stage than the Rega. With great recordings, this new dimensionality of sound is pretty awesome, not gonna lie.
- bass is much much tighter. The SOTA’s low end might not be as punchy as the Rega, but it is much more accurate. This may also be helped along by the jump up in cartridge and the record clamp--two new variables.
- clarity of recordings is much more apparent. You can hear much more detail--great recordings/pressings sound even better, bad recording/pressings sound somewhat lacking. I think the Rega was more forgiving in this regard, but also was missing a great deal of detail/clarity. In this regard, the Rega may be considered more "fun" as everything sounded pretty much even.
- a distinctly vinyl sound, which I like, and is one of the main reasons why I collect vinyl. There is a warmth and immediacy to the music that makes listening both engaging and rewarding.
- lastly, the SOTA is beefy. It weighs a ton, and seems built to last. While I was not equipped to set it up by myself, I appreciate that it feels sturdy enough that a novice like me won’t inadvertently break something.
Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions and feedback on this forum. Was a very useful guide and resource!
