I'm running a Star Sapphire w/ vacuum - I've never tried it without the vacuum, but in general it has very deep bass, lots of clarity and a very smooth top. It sounds great!
I had a Sapphire w/o vacuum years ago circa 1989, one of the first. It was an extrordinary TT.
In the mid-90's I heard a Vacuum model, and I couldn't believe my ears. It cost so much more and was NOT even close. I think it lost its resolution and detail, and sounded dull, not warm, but dull. I would stick with non-vacuum.
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