If you are on a suspended floor, have speakers that do LOW bass, like listening at high levels, won't have the TT mounted on a concrete slab anchored 60 ft into the ground, etc... there is NOTHING that will touch a Sota Star Sapphire for the money in terms of isolation. Since minute vibration is how the signal is extracted from a record, isolation from external vibration is the mass majority of the battle. Especially when trying to achieve the highest level of resolution and tracking ability.
I just read an old review that did a direct head to head comparison between the Sota, a Linn LP 12 and an imported Japanese table that is no longer available. Here are some excerpted comments in regards to the Sota:
"Our best estimate is that the Star Sapphire's isolation from base-conducted vibration in the audio range is at least 40 dB better than the BEST we have previously measured !"
"Phenomenal" is the most conservative term we can apply to this performance.
"Placed on a sturdy base, which its 44+ pound weight surely justifies, it seemed to be immune to anything less than an explosion".
After badmouthing the Linn, this was the first sentence when going back to talking about the Sota:
"In contrast, the Sota Star Sapphire is almost literally a gem among turntables"
Further down in the article when talking about isolation, acoustic feedback, external vibrations, etc... they state:
"The Sota Star Sapphire is the turntable of choice in such a situation. If IT has feedback problems, switch to CD's or use headphones ! Nothing else i have seen comes even close to matching the Sota's solidity and immunity to external influences."
Couple the Sota Star Sapphire with an ET II air bearing arm and you're home free. Complete isolation from external vibrations, linear tracking so you have minimal to no tracking error across the ENTIRE disc ( unlike pivoted arms that are only "correct" at TWO spots on a 12" record ), an air bearing arm for no drag, etc...
On top of this, the ET allows adjustable vta on the fly and is capable of phenomenal performance once fully dialed in. This does take some time and patience though, but fiddling around with it can pay off big-time in terms of sonic dividends.
"For the record", i have the above mentioned set-up. I purchased this combo before i had read the review of the Sota. Needless to say, that review only re-affirmed what had made me select the Sota in the first place.
I am also in the process of setting up another Sota Star Sapphire with my Clearaudio / Souther TQ-1. As you can tell, i'm a "linear tracking fan" and put my money where my mouth is.
If he doesn't respond here, try dropping Albert Porter a line and see what he thinks. He's an acknowledged "vinyl guru". I know that he likes the Basis tables in this price range and i'm sure that he can recommend an arm to go with it. I know that he has mentioned the Graham to me before but don't know about compatibility with this table. Either way, i'm sure that he'd be glad to help you out. He's good like that : ) Sean
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