2. analog
  3. 179574-83759

What is the best tonearm for a SOTA Nova turntable?

I haven't played an LP for a while now. I've moved from CD's to streaming both Tidal and my own rips from a Roon Nucleus plus. My SOTA Nova with an ET2 arm has been sitting idle along with hundreds of high quality LP's. I've heard that the ET2 is not a good match with the SOTA, and may be the weak point in my analog chain. (SOTA-ET2-Lyra Kleos -Allnic 1201 phono stage- ARC Ref6- PS Audio-BHK300 amps-Reference 3a Grand Veena speakers and unnamed sub system. 

My digital system with a Holo May DAC and Roon with HQP trounces the analog system pretty soundly.

I'd like to resurrect the analog system as I have read that I'm missing out not using it.

My question is, where can I make the most improvement for the least cash outlay?

I'd like to keep the SOTA table, but everything else is expendable.

Thanks in advance for some help.

-John

gyneguy225
solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 

Or do you mainly do MC and prefer not to opine?

I do MC most of the time. The OP was leaning towards a Hana and keeping his Allinic 1201 so clearly not in the mindset to spend a lot on either cart or phono. So in that case a best in class MM might make more sense. Not saying they are better overall.

 

As you know I am in the trade and sell MC carts but they more costly than a Hana... ;)

solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 

Btw one of my friends runs a Hana ML into an Allnic 1201. He found better results using an outboard SUT.

 

 

gyneguy225 OP
93 posts
 

I think my purchase of the Allnic 1201 was an impulse buy, and I would be quick to sell that item before anything else in the chain. I'm considering the Parasound Halo JC3+ which was designed by John Curl who designed the Vendetta phono preamp many years ago. The balanced outputs are essential as my analog rig is about 20ft from my preamp. Right now I convert the output of the Allnic from RCA to balanced with an ARC BL1. -What a pain in the butt!

gyneguy225 OP
93 posts
 

Just bought a second hand Kiseki Purple Heart cartridge. The phono preamp is next on my list.

rdk777's avatar
rdk777
567 posts
 

I would say go the ARC Ref 3.  It's an end game phonostage - upgradeable to the SE if desired.  I went through a few phonostages before getting to the Ref 2SE. It adds a tubey flavor to my ss amp, in my pursuit, I've found that the best sound is when coupled with a good SUT.  

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