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If you had $500 to spend, how would you spend it?

I own an older but great SOTA Sapphire table that I bought used with an FT-3 arm; I added a Benz MC-20 cartridge. It works and sounds great but I'd like to know if it can be improved. Problem is I only have $500 to spend. I'm looking for advice on how to best spend it. Here are some of my options, as I see them:
1) I live close enought to Chicago that I can drive up with my turntable and have SOTA inspect and adjust the machine ($225)
2) On the phone, Donna from SOTA thinks the first thing I should upgrade is arm board ($250)
3) Her other suggestion is to replace the existing felt mat on platter with acrylic mat(?)
4) I guess I could trade in the MC-20 cartridge for a better Benz cartridge
5) Sell FT-3 and buy better arm (?)
6) None of the above. Apply the $500 towards a vacation with the wife.
I'm looking especially to those of you who are/were SOTA owners to advise me how to best spend my $500.
Thanks in advance

rockyboy
flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
I backup Pehare here, sounds to me that you are quite satisfied with your table right now.

Fernando
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
High End hookers cost at lot more than $500 (so I am told).

Buy some really good Audiophile digital discs... $30 or more a pop. Not only will this be a good use of the $500, but it may save you many thousands of dollars that you will otherwise spend seeking vinyl perfection.
rockyboy OP
335 posts
 
Pehare and Flg2001

I was satisfied with my B&K electronics and my Paradigm 7s speakers; but that didn't stop me from replacing it with "better" stuff. However, the turntable is different. I can't justify to myself, let alone my wife, that I need to replace my turntable. But I am interested in milking everything I can out of it. And I just happpen to have a little extra money that I can spend on upgrades - provided they make a difference. That's where you guys come in. Unfortunately, the majority of advice pertains to hookers. Not exactly the advice I was looking for.
audiobugged
528 posts
 
Danlib1, 100 $5.00 Hookers would have you back to spending 3 day with frozen peas on you nuts! ;0)~
jperry
2,453 posts
 
Take a look at the thread above. I recommend rubbing snake oil into the base of your SOTA. I used to have one and I found that a frequent and liberal application made it sound much better.

Have a Happy New Year ;-).
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