Reference System TT - Dr. Feickert Analogue or Sota

Jim Hall invented the idea to use a fan to produce low pressure under the car, i.e., enhanced downforce, in the late 60s, when Nikki Lauda was probably still racing go-karts.  The idea was so successful, the cars were soon bounced out of the sport in that racing class; I think it was CanAm or IMSA, the class that then was dominated by the Porsche 917 and Mark Donohue from 71 to 73-ish.

My own testimony may or may not apply, but I also experienced the SOTA Star Sapphire III with vacuum as a bit lacking in dynamics, particularly when the vacuum was engaged.  (As I recall, it was switchable on the SS III.)  Rightly or wrongly, I attributed that particular quality to the felt mat + pulling the LP against it with vacuum.  This is just the kind of unfounded judgement we audiophiles make all the time, so take it with a grain of grated Parmesan.  I think I had the Triplanar mounted on the SS III.  I have since had it mounted on two other turntables, and I can not ascribe the perceived lack of dynamics to the TP.  Sure, could have been the cartridge.

Dear @jperry : I’m with you about " the SOTA is not as dynamic sounding." "

I was an owner too and I had mounted the ET LT tonearm where in those times this combo was something as the " fashion " and in those times I owned very good cartridges.

Yes SOTA TTs are good but for me SME are way superior TT with and engineering design second to none and with a build quality levels that could be missed in even top $$$$ TTs.
We have to remember that SME was only an small company part of manufacturer group that works in the automotive and aero space industry. SME was almost a side line for that group.

I listened several times the SME 20 and 30 but no money to buy it.

The model 15A is a real deal for any one interested in TTs where ( between other things ) its suspension ( take it from the 20/30 models. ) and its new designed controller makes the 15A just a " keeper ".

I seen your LP mounted in the SME 10 so you have experience with. Probably you need to listen the 15A in a know environment to you.


@mijostyn , "" Record weight does not matter anymore. ""

Are you kidding. did you tested with the vacuum and the record weigth atop?

R.

Not that it won’t work with a Sota or Feickert, but those setups are far more commonly mated with better vintage tables(e.g. Garrard 301,401).

Schick ("12 inch) was in my system and I would recommend it as a very cost effective solution, it’s a pure beauty! As far as I know a "9 inch version with anti-skating is available now. Schick is nice for any turntable (if you can mount it), I’ve been using it on SP-10mkII. It's often seen on EMT. My tonearm was OK for mid compliance MM, but I bought it primarily for SPU. 

@rauliruegas, you bet I did. The Reflex weight came with the turntable. I thought it was a PITA to use and decided to see if I really needed it. After several hours of listening to well known material and ABing the situation the answer is definitely not except for one problem. Without the mass of the weight on the platter the suspension's resonance frequency was not low enough and it was starting to interact with the tonearm's resonance frequency which laterally is lower than I usually go. The Soundsmith voice cartridge vertical resonance is higher than it's lateral resonance. In order to get the vertical down under 12 Hz I had to lower the lateral to 7  Hz. Just lifting the dust cover would make the tonearm skip. Put the weight on and things were much better. So, I attacked the problem 2 ways. The new Cosmos chassis is a 1" thick aluminum plate just like the SME 30/2. To lighten it a bit the Chassis has 3/4" deep 3/4" holes drilled in strategic places. I filled most of them with lead shot. Next I made a new record weight out of cocobolo and ebony that just slips on and off. It is not as heavy as the original but the lead shot takes care of that problem. You can see the weight being made on my system page. The Cosmos has evolved quite a bit. It has a magnetic thrust bearing, a very accurate drive, the new aluminum sub chassis, a very advanced tonearm board, a new platter that is machined from billet instead of cast and a great mat the durometer of record vinyl. Does the new record weight make the table sound better? Not that I can tell but it looks sharp and it is not  PITA. The Reflex clamp is a great clamp but on a suspended turntable it is a bit difficult to use.

The Soundsmith Voice in the Schroder arm are as dynamic as any combination I have heard. 

@jperry, turntables are not transducers. They just spin, adding noise and distortion. If they are good tables they add very little of anything. They sound like nothing. If they sound like anything then they are poorly made in some respect. Turntables are not dynamic. They do not make music. The cartridge/tonearm should be the only device reproducing music.