Calling all Sota fans.

I have stated on many occasions that the Dohmann Helix is my ultimate turntable. Mark Dohmann is an aero-space engineer and very much like Peter Ledermann. He is very approachable.  I have had several discussions with him asking about the Helix and additional upcoming features including vacuum clamping and a dust cover. I never asked which less expensive tables he liked but the Sota is no surprise. He is totally focused on isolation of the cartridge from extraneous vibration. His dust cover is going to be designed specifically to isolate the table from airborne vibration. Sota approaches all these factors albeit in a less ornate fashion and it is the only turntable to do so. 

@dover,  you can get around the recessed arm board by modifying the plinth cover. The real problem is weight. The suspension is adjustable within reason but there are limits and many tone arms, particularly with VTA towers are just too heavy. 12" arms need not apply. But, the Kuzma 4 Point 9,  the Schroder CB and I believe the Reed 2G will fit and these are excellent arms. The Tri Planer will fit with modification.

@neonknight , just a slight correction. The new motor is a 3 phase AC motor. All Sotas use an AC motor of some type.  

IMHO the Sota Cosmos Vacuum is the best turntable you can buy when you factor in cost. My completed Cosmos Vacuum with a Schroder CB arm cost me just shy of $14,000 including a dust cover and reflex clamp. The next turntable I would consider would be the SME 30/2, more than twice the cost. After the SME it's the Dohmann Helix 2. The Sota Cosmos Vacuum does everything the Techdas Air Force 1 does at 1/10 the cost. Perhaps it does not do everything quite as well but at 1/10 the cost I'll take the Sota thank you. The Sapphire remains the all time best value in a high performance table. 

Meantime, is SOTA actually back producing product? Mijostyn has been waiting many months for his Cosmos. No doubt they were negatively affected by the pandemic like many other small companies.

Mijo, You are correct in thinking that the Phoenix Engineering speed controller, which was adapted for use in the Eclipse option, sees the motor as a 3-phase AC synchronous device.  Yet both SOTA and Bill Carlin refer to the new Eclipse motor as a DC type.  I got hung up on the same question. 

mijostyn

I have stated on many occasions that the Dohmann Helix is my ultimate turntable.

Yes, but have you actually seen or heard one yet? Because without that, your enthusiasm and endorsement don't mean much.

My completed Cosmos Vacuum with a Schroder CB arm cost me just shy of $14,000 including a dust cover and reflex clamp.

Great news! I thought you were still waiting for delivery.

@lewm , I have no idea why. It is a 3 phase AC synchronous motor. Synchronous motors are best for turntables because they will automatically adjust torque to maintain the speed dictated by the AC signal they are given. It happens instantaneously. I suspect they are just miss-informed. 

Sota has been producing tables, but at a slower pace. They can't find help like the rest of us. People would rather stay home on unemployment comp. Of course those are the people you do not want to hire anyway.
My table is currently being built although I can't get an estimate out of Donna as to when it will be delivered. Can't wait, I have something like 20 new records to play!