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Sota or Technics

Hello all, first time post here. 
I am in the market for a new TT under 2k. I've narrowed it down to the Sota Comet and the Technics 1200GR.
Going to use a $300 to $500 MM cart. 
System consists of NAD533 TT (currently). NAD pre amp, Cambridge Phono pre amp, Mac 240 amp, TDL compact monitors. 
Sota i like as it uses the 330 tonearm, is built in the states, solid rep, solid support, is pleasing to the eye.
Technics I like as it's built like a tank, seems more plug and play has a good rep and looks good too. (more bells and whistles, both positive and negatives there)
Obviously they are different in some ways. Direct drive vs belt etc..
Was wondering if anyone had an opinion either way on either deck. Greatly appreciate any feedback.
Thank you
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lewm
13,319 posts
 
 What is a mo-fi  ultra deck? Please enlighten us.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
... amazing dynamics. Its warm and revealing. 

I think this is all a cartridge characteristics, not a turntable characteristics. It’s hard to understand when terms like dynamics and warmth used to describe a sound of turntable (drive type or plinth), if you mount another cartridge the sound will be different (can be bright or muddy on the same turntable). 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
@lewm , it is a MoFi Ultradeck. Get with it old man.
sokogear
1,100 posts
 
Although I am a Rega guy and switched from DD 20 years ago (linear tracking Phase Linear 8000 and never looked back after a $500 Music Hall MMF5  blew it away), I agree with @chakster that hearing a turntable is at the bottom of the analogue chain. IMHO it’s arm first, then cartridge/phono stage, then table. Especially if it is well isolated from vibrations.

i as told years later that my PL8K may not have been set up properly…. I still think there was too much going on with fully automatic arm movement and the linear tracking aspect creating all sorts of noise. Did the direct drive system contribute to that? Not sure. Phase Linear was a marketing name as the “Sony Esprit” line for Pioneer and I know they made some decent stuff back in the day. Maybe @chakster has a few of their examples….
lewm
13,319 posts
 
"Although I am a Rega guy and switched from DD 20 years ago (linear tracking Phase Linear 8000 and never looked back after a $500 Music Hall MMF5 blew it away". I think you’re too smart to believe that you proved something about DD turntables with that experience.

Phase Linear was once the name of a US company that won the Watts wars, back in the 70s when each month brought the introduction of an ever more powerful SS amplifier with ever lower THD measurements, made possible by the use of more and more negative feedback. The Phase Linear 700 produced 700W with something like .00001 THD and sounded like crap.
Contrary to what Chakster seems to be saying, I do think that each of the various drive systems does have a distinctive sonic signature until you get to the very best of each type, where the differences tend to melt away in favor of transparency and accuracy. But just when and where that happens would be another cause for argument. It also doesn’t make sense to me that Chakster would take the position that turntables are not much different from one another, given his devotion to those he has chosen to own, over most others of any type.
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