Sota Sapphire VI Turntables with Origin Live tonearm

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.

@neonknight  

What a nice problem to have!

@lnitm , Origin Live makes a decent tonearm but their reputation for customer service is pretty bad. There are many other fine tonearms that will fit on the Sapphire including the Audiomods Series 6, the Kuzma 4 Point 9, the Rega RB 3000 and the Schroder CB. You can not go wrong with a used SME IV or V.  If you supply the arm Sota will mount it for you. Don't forget to add a dustcover and a reflex clamp.

I had a Sapphire for 40 years and just sold it recently to a young audiophile. I have a Cosmos Vacuum now. The Sapphire will have slightly more resonance in its sub chassis so under certain circumstances it might not be quite as detailed. Without vacuum clamping pitch might not be quite as stable but if you use a reflex clamp it will be close. A good turntable should make no sound of it's own and it should block any vibration/sound in the environment from getting to the cartridge. There is no turntable anywhere near it's low price that does a better job than the Sapphire. Any of the arms mentioned above will do a fine job with any cartridge of medium compliance and can be made to work with low compliance cartridges by adding head shell weights. What the overall sound will be like depends on factors none of us can evaluate, the performance of your phono stage, amplifier, speakers and room.  Every system/room is different. You are the one who has to make it sound the way you want. It is the price you pay for being an audiophile. Rock On!

@tonywinga , is your Condor/Roadrunner in a single chassis? With three buttons?

If so are you having any trouble with the turntable switching speeds when you turn it on?