I have a SOTA Sapphire VI(ish). I bought it refurbished from SOTA in 2020. I ordered it with an Origin Live Silver tonearm and an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. Their customer service is top notch.
Donna Bodinet (the owner)handled my order. I ordered over the phone on Wednesday. The second I gave her my shipping address she told me I could pick it up from the Factory on Sunday. It is 55 minutes from my driveway to the factory parking lot. While I was loading up my turntable in the car Donna told me that my turntable could handle any cartridge up to $3k I could throw at it.
A couple of weeks later I threw a SoundSmith The Voice at it. I have hit my endgame turntable. My Sapphire does not have the vacuum hold down and it probably has an older motor and controller system. By picking it up from the factory it was ready to go out of the box. They can't ship them that way.
I am very happy with my Sapphire. Unfortunately for me it is the best component in my main system. I love the way it looks and sounds. If you decide to order one you will have to ask which tonearms they have available. I wanted an Origin Live Zephyr tonearm. They did not have one so I had to "step down" to the Silver. To be honest I am happy with what I have and I wouldn't change anything.