2. analog
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Worth having my SOTA Sapphire refurbished?

I own a vintage 1986, SOTA Sapphire turntable, fitted with a Linn Basik tone arm, with some sort of old, Audioquest cartridge (it has a red housing). After a lengthy remodel, I am finally getting ready to unpack my stereo system once again and get it set up. I have miles and miles of beloved vinyl. :-) My listening room is on the small side. I value transparency and imaging over sheer volume.

Associated equipment includes a PS Audio Elite Plus integrated amplifier (I think it has 70 W per channel). I recently sold my old Vandersteen 2C speakers here on Audiogon (for space reasons in the new house) and am looking to replace them with Regas or Paradigms, probably monitors (but that a whole other question)!

Anyway, the SOTA probably needs some inspecting and tuning. I think that the motor and bearing are okay, but I'm guessing that the suspension springs need adjusting or replacing; I think they're a little stretched out.

SOTA has an inspection and tune-up/repair service. Have any of you ever used it? I'd have to ship the table off to them, and, apparently, pay for return shipping as well (I do have the original box) and the table weighs around 50 pounds in the box.

By the time I do all of this and buy a new cartridge, to boot, I'm looking at quite a chunk of change. Do you think I'm better off selling the SOTA and putting the money toward, say, a new Rega P2? Please, no flames; I've been out of the active high-end scene for many years, so I have no idea how those tables compare.

Anyway, all advice appreciated.
rebbi
lewm
13,142 posts
 
I would normally not recommend it, but at your level of knowledge, it probably would indeed be better for you to buy a new tt with a built-on tonearm. But no matter what tt and tonearm you use, you are going to have to understand the different terms associated with analog, e.g., vertical tracking force (VTF), vertical tracking angle (VTA), azimuth, "skating force" and the use of anti-skate devices, etc. The concepts are really simple and logical, if you've had even high school level geometry. You can probably find a tutorial on Youtube to explain it all and remove the veil of ignorance.

Finally, another reason to suggest you move on to a "plug and play" set-up is that the SOTA in "as is" condition, even with no functional defects (and it sounds like your tt may have a seriously compromised bearing to begin with), is no great shakes (my opinion, but I did own a SOTA Star Sappire Series III for many years as my only tt). SOTA the company can revive your unit and upgrade it to ameliorate all the perceived issues, but the cost may equal or exceed that of a new budget level tt with tonearm. That said, if you were to give them carte blanche to do the max upgrades, you would indeed then have a fine modern tt. But do you want or need something that good? It's your call.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Get a TW table used big upgrade had SOTA got TW big upgrade,your move!!
effischer
562 posts
 
You are caught between a rock and a hard place, Easy. Unlike Lewm, I love the Sapphire I bought new in 1984 and wouldn't consider anything else. However, he is correct regarding the bearing, and it sounds like your arm may also be toast. Moreover, the base value of the table, arm and cartridge mean that if you choose to refurbish, you really should go all the way. That will be at least two or three grand if you have to replace the bearing, upgrade the platter, repair the suspension, refurbish / replace the vacuum pump, rewire the tonearm and service the cart.

A Pro-Ject or Rega will get you 85% to 90% of what the Sota can deliver for half the refurbishment cost, and may be a better match to your listening style to boot. The problem is you will still have a high-end rig that will be difficult to sell and you wouldn't get much money for in its present condition.

Good luck and happy listening!
easytoslip
3 posts
 
thanks for all the advice. I don't think the issue is with the tone arm, but what do I know. The thing looks brand new, I know he never moved the thing one set up, cared for his gear greatly and knew what he was doing. I really think its the table along with user error from moving it (I of course moved it per SOTA directions, locking down the transfer bolts, etc...)

I think I'm going to take it to a local shop and have it looked at, get the arm and the cart checked out and if they are up to snuff sell them and move on to an new table.

I cheked out a bunch of youtubes last nigh and understand and am starting to grasp "vertical tracking force (VTF), vertical tracking angle (VTA), azimuth, "skating force" and the use of anti-skate devices". I printed the Zeta protractor from VE and that came out fine when I checked last night after I posted.

Either way, I'm too far down the road to turn back now.
lewm
13,142 posts
 
That tt has a sapphire/ruby thrust plate under the bearing. Hence the name "Sapphire". Fracture of the thrust plate is a known issue, and when they are moved there is a danger of that, altho it sounds like you did all the right things. However, if your platter appears to have wobble while rotating, when viewed on edge, that sounds like some sort of bearing problem, which is why I suggested it. Like Effischer says, repairs could get expensive. Plus, SOTA later corrected what I view is the major design flaw of the Sapphire. The motor was mounted to the unsprung part of the chassis, while the platter and bearing of course are sprung. Thus when the suspension is activated, the belt gets stretched, causing speed aberrations. Sota fixed that in all their latest products and can do it for the Sapphire too, for money.
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