I owned two Sapphires in 1985-7. I had trouble with hyperextended springs with both, and moved on to a Well Tempered TT/TA, which was new then, and kept it for 30+ years.
Does Anyone Know the History of the Early Sota Turntables?
Does anyone know the differences between the Gen 1 and Gen 2 and 3 of the Sota Saphire tables? I found a very clean Gen 1 table I am going to use as a casual player. I have some extra arm boards and an extra arm I can put on it. Motor and bearing is in excellent shape. The platter feels like alumium, and I do not know if in these first tables they went to the lead or acrylic composite platters. The way the spindle looks I doubt this is the inverted bearing either. Anyone know the history of these early Sota tables?
- ...
- 44 posts total
I also owned a Sapphire in about ‘86 w/ a Souther Linear Tracking Arm. It had excellent resistance to foot falls w/ it’s then unique hanging suspension. The platter was all aluminum. The arm board was just cheap MDF secured / basically dry wall screws & overall quality of construction not great. I sold it for the newest VPI at the time which had noticeably better pace & dynamics. The Souther Arm was a bear to set up & align; when you changed one parameter, they all changed! It was a good concept & could sound very good. Lou Souther sold the rights to Clearaudio whose linear arm today is based on it. |
link to 1983 Audio review of original SOTA Sapphire It mentions the Sumiko Gem also, but not the back story I remember. My understanding is that the Gem design was a prototype for most of the ideas incorporated later in the Sapphire, including the inverted sapphire bearing. It was pitched to Sumiko, who added it to their product line. I don't know if Sumiko, SOTA, or a pre-SOTA company manufactured the Gem. The above story suggests that Fletcher et al formed a company to build the Gem. It may have started under a different name, but at some point became SOTA. SOTA has changed hands a few times over the yeas, but would be worth contacting to see if they can answer your questions. After seeing how the Gem worked in the marketplace, the more refined Sapphire came into being and was sold direct from SOTA. |
Had a Star Sapphire in the late 80's, with the sapphire bearing and aluminum platter. Swapped out Sumiko arm for Eminent Technology straight-line tracker and that made a dramatic difference. Light weight tonearm probably a good bet. l spoke with the designer, Alan Perkins, back then who then started Immedia where i had their TT and arm. Now he's been involved with the design of the MoFi TT's so that might be a source of sorts. It's true the SOTA was very vibration resistant and the speed was steady. |
- 44 posts total