New Analog system. where to start?

Gumby- you've posed a good, decent, reasonable question to Psychic as others have before you. The reason he can only come up with smart-ass comments in reply (or no reply at all)is that he has little or no real basis for his "opinion" or the "facts" he presents. Typical juvenile reaction to the fear of being "found out".

I challenge Psychic to answer the question you posed to him on 5/18 ("What is it that you found "better" out of the SOTA....?") No quoting others, no repeating the sales literature or the magazine reviewers, just cogent thoughts on your actual experiences with SOTA vs P3 and your 1200 in a listening (not nightclub) environnment. Compare & contrast and support your thoughts.

Jim

Can you listen?

Of course not, but that was the Rega leaflet back in 1982-83. Green with a drawing of the arm. They claimed that specs didn't matter because when placed on paper you couldn't listen to them (hence the sarcasm).

It is very difficult to A/B several TTs. Sean just presented a miriad of parameters that have to be kept equal. Hence TT choice must be done with the help of other parameters. Jimbo, I cannot teach you how to evaluate a TT, nor common sense. If you search the posts in many forums like I did you'll come accross people who have modded their 1200s. You'll read what they've done, what they have compared it with and how they feel. That's what made me shift from belt drive to a modded 1200 in the under $1000 category. Some guy has Technics 1800 and compared it to his Oracle w/ SME arm--it's here in the archives and in Harmonic Discord. Yes he said the Oracle outperformed it. By how much? Find out for yourself.

If there's someone in this planet that loves analog and is committed to its preservation is Kevin Barrett of KAB electroacoustics (www.kabusa.com). He's so committed he developed and marketed the tonearm fluid damper for the 1200. Why? Because he thinks it's *the* best value in turntables, dollar for dollar, in the market today. Not for nightclub use, Jimbo---for transcribing recordigs. He's so convinced that he says that in order to make an upgrade worthwhile one would need to jump from a modded 1200 to a VPI with flywheel!

BTW, Kevin Varrett has also designed and marketed the most complete high end phono transription preamplifier in the market.

Jimbo, I am sorry to hear you had a 1200 and couldn't set it up properly. Perhaps you should give Kevin a call...I'm sure he can teach you a few tips. I can, too, but "you don't listen".

Psychic- Maybe you didn't understand the question. Allow me to repeat- What is it that YOU found better about the SOTA? Please compare and contrast the SOTA, P3 and the 1200. YOUR experience and thoughts, not someone else's.

If you have any experience at all with these tables (as you say you do), mentioning three or four things should be easy. People do it on this site all the time.

BTW-Why do you always refer us to someone else to explain your opinion?


Regards
Jim

What I like about the SOTAs:

1) Machined polymer platter (beats glass & aluminum)
2) Incredibly effective hanging suspension
3) Vacuum system works wonders...

What I don't like about the Rega:

1) Cheap & feeble construction
2) Lack of suspension
3) Sarcastic--and convenient--disregard for specifications

What I like about the 1200:

1) Built like a tank, precise like a Swiss watch
2) Great value for the money

"Why do you always refer us to someone else to explain your opinion?"

The word *always* means *always*. But anyway, have you ever read articles in scientific journals? Do you know where does a quality assurance audit starts? If you can answer correctly and see the pattern, you're on your way...

I quote the findings and opinions of respected and well known people--Thorsten, Rochlin, Kevin Barrett. I have other people whom I respect--but it wouldn't be 'politically' correct to use them. One of them is from Barbados. He has a modded 1200. But, what can he possibly know about high end, he's black and a DJ--right?

I mean, if Rochlin's opinions' are disregarded by some because he's a DJ (ever seen his website---www.enjoythemusic.com)---imagine adding the 'black islander' stigma on top of that!!!

Interesting ... no description of sonic differences.
I guess I lucked out that my 15 yr old Rega has never needed any work except for replacement cartridges and belts. Same for everyone else I know with Regas. I wish my cars were all built to Rega's "low standards". :-)

Be happy ... be individual, but please don't trash any more threads.