SOTA vacuum or no?

Go vacuum. Once you go Vac, you'll never go back. :-)

I have a couple of Stars and it's just hypnotizing to watch how steady the cartridge/headshell stays while tracking.

I've had a lot of records that looked flat when I put them on, but I could see the cartridge going up and down on my non-vacuum table. Everytime the needle starts up a ramp, the tracking force gets increased and then when it's on the downside, it gets decreased. The more a stylus is sensitive to changes in tracking force, the more you will appreciate what a vacuum can do.

One of the things I notice with a Sota is that the arm appears motionless while playing. (this is also true with a ring clamp) On my best albums warp isnt an issue but on many of the records its nice to have something to flatten them to the platter.

I have been a Sota owner for 23 years. Star, Nova and now Cosmos IV. I could never live without vacuum hold down. I just received a few vinyls from Cisco and Naim and they look like a salad bowl. Badly warped. Without vacuum hold down those would have to be returned. On the Cosmos, they are sucked flat onto the platter. The power supply housing the pump inside is DEAD QUIET. No hassle at all. Go for it buddy....go for it without hesitation. Call Sota 608-538-3500 and speak with Donna or Kirk.
All the best....

The Sota vacuum system is really special. You can't go wrong with it. Seriously stable images. Tomb quiet. Great product. They're also very reasonable in the used market. If you're not sure you want to make the plunge pick one up used and play it for a while to see if you like the general sonic qualities. If you don't you'd get all or most of your money back re-selling it. Everyone I've ever spoken to who has one loves them though.

I have been using the VPI outer ring on my rig for 4 years now and it is easy as apple pie to use as it locks onto the platter and will not move unless you lift it off the table. It is easier if you have room next to your table to place the outer ring onto while you are changing record's or a chair or something next to the table. having it around your next IMO is not a great idea.
You would have to be an idiot or plain dum ass lazy to crash the cantilever into the outer ring. It is no more dangerous that no outer ring

That said, there is a certain amount of life,flow or air that not using the outer ring gives to the music. Not sure if that "air" is also missing when you use a vacuum hold??

cheers