Sota Sapphire and Isolation?


Greetings, y'all! I should be receiving my new Sota Sapphire on Tuesday. I'm psyched! I currently have my Rega on a Gingko Cloud isolation platform. Since the Sota is a suspended table, will I need the isolation? Obviously, I won't know anything until I get the table setup, but my excitement is looking for any reason to engage with my new Sota. LOL. Thanks, y'all!

rblondeau

While it is impossible for us to know what the complex interactions will be, the odds favor a bad reaction to putting a sprung table on a sprung platform.  Even a slightly compliant platform, like the Ginko platform may be a negative, but, one can only know by trying it.  There are two basic concerns.  Obviously, the resulting sound is very important, but, the other concern is susceptibility to footfall issues.  Sometimes, suspended tables are more susceptible if the sharp impulse from footfall causes the spring suspension to bounce wildly.  This is most often a problem with what I consider lightly sprung tables that move up and down when only light pressure is applied to the plinth or platter (e.g. some JA Michell tables).  More stiffly sprung tables are less susceptible (e.g., the Basis Debut that I own).   The SOTA Sapphire is sort of medium stiffly sprung. If you don't have footfall issues, my bet would be that it will sound best on a very rigid platform which lets the suspension do what it is designed to do.  

Quick update: I set up the Sapphire today. It sounds pretty damn killer just sitting on the shelf. I'm blown away by the sound stage, particularly the placement of instruments/voices. It seems just right. This is only a few albums in. Luckily, my wife is out of town this weekend. I foresee a lot vinyl in the next couple days. 

Yes, saw them demo the SOTA at XPONA and allowed me to try upset the playing record by banging on the turntable and support. It didn’t miss a beat.