recommendation for a high end analog system


I never had an analog system until last month. I bought a 1989 SOTA TT with vacuum/Sumiko MMT arm/Dennon 103R retyped with elliptical/sapphire cantilever. My phono is Kitsune MK5 WBT that is amplified by Don Sach 2 tube preamp and Pass X350.5. My speaker are Sound Lab M545 ESL. The TT has been very   well maintained despite its age. It sounded very good until I heard my friend's system which has the same TT but with Lyra Skala cartridge and first generation Triplanar arm (Spectral pre/amp). His sounded noticeably clearer and fuller. What is the best way to get a noticeable improvement in my system without breaking the bank (or before I have to squint to hear the improvement). I would love to hear some wisdom from analog-philes.
128x128chungjh
@dover , The Tri Planar is a great arm. Donna specifically told me that the current Tri Planar will not fit without cutting away part of the plinth cover. I was seriously considering it.
@lewm, although SOTA has not mounted one yet I believe the Reed 2G will fit. It was another arm I was considering. I got a dimensional drawing of the 2G and it will fit but it will require a light tonearm board. In the end I did not go for it because of the way the tonearm cable attaches to the arm. You would have to cut a notch in the dust cover to bring the cable out on top of the plinth. It does not make for a neat installation. The Schroder and Origin Live arms have cables that exit under the tonearm board which makes for a much neater installation and does not interfere with the dust cover.  I went with the CB because it meet all of my primary criteria in a very elegant way. It has one wire from cartridge to RCAs without any connections, it is neutral balance so VTF does not change with elevation, The vertical bearing is at the level of the record minimizing warp wow, it has frictionless anti skating and the bearings are top notch.
The new Cosmos comes with the Eclipse motor system which I will report on once I have the table which I put a $4K deposit on 3 MONTHS AGO.
bkeske, I also have a high output Soundsmith I am dying to hear.
chungjh, you really do not want to consider a different turntable. Once you are use to the bullet proof performance of the Sota and it's top notch isolation you will be unhappy with most other turntables including all of the VPIs. The Sota may not be the fanciest looking table out there but darn does it work well. 
@mijostyn,

I have to agree that SOTA is bullet proof. My friend's system that I was raving about at the beginning has a 30 yr SOTA.
The only thing with TP with SOTA is that the counter weight sticks out and the dustcover won't close while playing.
@mijostyn

bkeske, I also have a high output Soundsmith I am dying to hear.

I bought the high output Zephyr before I got my phono pre (when setting up my Sapphire for the first time) that I know can drive a low output cart. I love my Zephyr, but am really considering the MIMC Lo version of the Zephyr now. Or perhaps step-up on the Soundsmith line with one of Peter’s other Lo output offerings.

chungjh, you really do not want to consider a different turntable. Once you are use to the bullet proof performance of the Sota and it’s top notch isolation you will be unhappy with most other turntables including all of the VPIs. The Sota may not be the fanciest looking table out there but darn does it work well.

I agree whole heartedly
A lot of people are raving about 1200G. How long have had it and how durable is it?


Where you’ve been? You must be kidding, are you from another planet or what? Technics made killer turntables since the late 60’s. Technics motor used at Neumann cutting lathe. SP10 mk2 and mk3 are the best. Technics will last forever, this is one of the most durable turntables of all time. Their new G or GR are great for the money when someone looking for plug and play turntable (without upgrades). The tonearm is great! 

Looking for something better? The SP10R is the answer. Best Technics tonearm? The EPA-100 mk2 is the answer.