2. analog
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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
ghdprentice
6,394 posts
 

I don’t think it will cost you a fortune. I would do the table upgrades. Then see where you are… a used Audio Research PH8 would really upgrade your analog end. I would imagine that would be around $8K. Then if it isn’t there a cartridge for $3K. 

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

I don’t think it will cost you a fortune. I would do the table upgrades. Then see where you are… a used Audio Research PH8 would really upgrade your analog end. I would imagine that would be around $8K. Then if it isn’t there a cartridge for $3K. 

I sprung for the TT rebuild.

But I am not sure I would spend 8k$ on a phono stage without figuring out if the arm is a keeper or not.

And realistically just a new head shell and MM cart totally transformed many of the aspects of what was wrong with the system… and that was <1k$.

I think listening and then going from there is a wise move to ease into it.

But then again I looked at my age and at the calendar and thought, I best enjoy this stuff now. 

ghdprentice
6,394 posts
 

Btw, my expectation was the $8K was for both the rebuild ($3K) plus the purchase of a used ARC PH8 ($5K) phono stage. I am not sure that would change @Holmz comments… but that was what I intended to say.

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

Btw, my expectation was the $8K was for both the rebuild ($3K) plus the purchase of a used ARC PH8 ($5K) phono stage. I am not sure that would change @Holmz comments… but that was what I intended to say.

I got it, but it’ll be north of 10k with the cartridge…

I cannot comment on whether the rebuild is needed or is a good idea.
(I ordered it, but it is not in yet.)

However my TT sounds pretty good still, with just a cart and new head shell. And I am not not sure one needs a high $ phono stage unless a LOMC is in the picture.

so as he already has a cart to listen to, then we should await the conclusions.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,217 posts
 

@gyneguy225 , cartridges are balanced devices! All you have to do to use a balanced phono stage is solder XLRs to your tonearm wires. It would take me about 15 minutes. The only arms you can't do this to in my knowledge are the Rega arms. 

The Kuzma is $4,000, the Schroder is $5000 and I am not sure what a current SME is going for. There are many used SME V's now on the used market but I would not buy a used arm. Bearings are too easy to damage and significant bearing damage can be very hard to detect. As an example, If a turntable travels by car ANYWHERE without first removing the arm and placing it in a box where all of it is supported in foam (the original box) the bearings have been damaged. 

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