Sota Sapphire VI Turntables with Origin Live tonearm

I have the Sota Sapphire that Jim sold me. It is a beautifully refurbished 35 year old unit with a modified Sumiko FT-3 tonearm and new Hana ML cartridge. All I can say is it is the best sounding turntable I have ever had! It absolutely sings in my system. Couldn't be happier. 

@mr_m I have listened to your "new" table at Jim's house and it is what convinced me to get my own Sota Sapphire.  Nice to hear that it found a good new home :)

@big_greg 

Yeah, that's right. Jim told me you were over to listen to it and that helped you decide to get a Sota. They are truly beautiful turntables and incredibly well built. :-)

I just received my new Sota Nova VI last week.  I have listened to about 20 albums now and absolutely love it.  I started with the Sapphire Series III in 1992, upgraded to a used Star in 2018 and now have upgraded to the Nova VI with vacuum, the magnetic bearing with the Eclipse Condor motor package and the Roadrunner Tachometer.  I used my Sapphire for 26 years.  The Star with vacuum improved on the bass and I also appreciated the vacuum which took record warps out of the picture.  But this new Nova VI is a big leap forward I find.  The platter is dead quiet, more clarity in the mid bass and bass and cymbals sound amazing.  Speed drift is a thing of the past with the Roadrunner tachometer that feedbacks speed to the condor.  I can put my finger against the side of the platter with slight pressure and the speed does not change.

All three Sota's offer a great presentation.  I can only imagine what the Cosmos can do.  I'm very pleased with the sound of this new table and am glad I was patient enough to wait for it.  I ordered my new Nova VI last August.  Donna told me then that delivery would be in March.  She kept that promise date with just a few days to spare but Sota delivered.

I am fortunate enough to own a Cosmos Eclipse in bloodwood, has the vacuum option, the magnetic bearing, and the controller package. I put a SME V on it and have a Transfiguration Audio Proteus. It is a fine table, and is remarkably balanced sounding, superb spatial presentation, and dynamically expressive without sounding bombastic. It is a lovely table in every way, and I reserve it for my evening listening sessions.

I feel blessed to own a Scheu Audio Das Lauftwerk No2 with a couple of Dynavector DV505 arms installed. On one arm I keep a cartridge for casual listening times, and that is currently an Ortofon MC3000 MK II. On the second arm I have an Ortofon MC2000, that is also saved for those special listening sessions. My darkest secret is I love that combo as much as I do the SOTA, although both present music in a distinctly different manner. The resolution and fine detail of the MC2000 is top flight, and the bass response is still world class. If I were forced to chose between the two I don’t know how I would make that decision. Fortunately I do not have to do that.