SOTA STAR Sapphire Turntable Care and Feeding

I just had a great experience with SOTA.   My Escape motor was noisy and Christan had me send it in.  They sent me a brand new motor under warranty within a week.  Exceptional service !

The listing for your next setup looks like an owner saying goodbye LP playback.

My guess listing isn't getting much traction, which is the reason for that drop in price. You're getting "better" than ALOT of new gear under $10K+?

The Grado is a budget model from the 90's/early 2000s? When you're ready, a $1500+ LOMC/ & $3K+(find something used 1/2) will be another leap in SQ. 

 Hit the buy now button and worry about the little details once it's in your room.

The final outcome will remind you it was worth it.

Tablejockey, if you’re referring to the Grado XTZ as a budget model from the 90s, you’re very wrong. In the 80s that was Grado’s best cartridge, and it retailed for near to $1K. More importantly, it was superb in SQ, and I’d rate it ahead of most MCs I’ve heard in the $2K to $5K price range. (But that’s only my opinion of course.) Of course, we don’t know the condition of the sample the OP might buy. Replacement stylus assemblies are available, IIRC.

yep….plus i see you live close enough to deliver it to SOTA for any needed significant service / upgrades….

Thanks for the continued input.  Since my stereo is in a small room, how far can the vacuum unit be from the turntable?  Space is a premium and if I can put the workings on another room it would save me some space.