Turntables - Vacuum System - does it help with the sound?
-- Sun, 08/23/2009 - 07:31
Hi, Just enquiring if the vacuum system TT of moderate priced (not state of the art (like Continuum, Basis, Rockport,etc) turntables (such as Sota's higher range - Nova/Cosmos.Mil) help sonics.
Of recent I have read a comment from Paul Seydor who had the Cosmos as a long time reference (great TT as I heard it) to move to a non- vac reference such as the Basis 2100/Vector arm.
Paul if you do read this, would appreciate yours and other readers comments who have moved from a vacuum to a non-vac TT and if they wish that the new TT would have had that feature for sonic improvements?
Thanks
Nev
Listen for yourself, then decide.
It seems like Paul is pretty high on the basis 2200 table and arm and I suspect it's the suspension/isolation that really makes the more significant difference. I would suspect that older lp's with shape/form issues would benifit more from the vaccume. I think the sota might be a more expensive package than basis and like Paul says if it matches up or beat tuntable setups costing 20 to 30k, it sure sounds like a great bargain. It will be nice to hear more from PS himself. What would he buy?
The Basis 2200 package including the power supply cost more than the Sota Cosmos with a top arm.
Basis 2200 w vector 4 arm $10800. The sota cosmos with tri planar vii or Graham phantom arm is $11400. Slightly more. I'm also considering one of these. A used or demo setup might be much cheaper.
Nev:
I switched from an Oracle Delphi to a Sota Millennia with vacuum hold down and SME V arm. I will never go back to a non-vacuum table. I really like it and it sounds great. The table platform is so stable I can open the drawer below the table and the needle will not jump. It still makes me nervous so I avoid doing it on a regular basis. I hope this helps. R/ Robert
Thanks Rob, for your insights into the Millennia, which is extremely helpful as I am not in a position to audition the Basis.
Sam, I agree with your suggestions on the warped records and would like to hear from PS for his thoughts too if he gets a chance to comment.
SN - it would be easier to decide if I could hear both units, which unfortunately is not possible sometimes o/seas.
Cheers,
Nev
After owning various VPI, Well Tempered, and Michell 'tables over the years, I now own a Cosmos Mk IV (w/ Triplanar). I'll echo Robert's comment: "I will never go back to a non-vacuum table." The Cosmos is astonishingly good for a decent price.
Decent price= $6700 for cosmos +$4700 for triplanar?
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Sam -- Tue, 08/25/2009 - 17:50
Decent price= $6700 for cosmos +$4700 for triplanar?"
You can pay more, or you can pay less. How much do you want to pay?
Thanks Sam. I guess there is probably a whole host of others (vac and non-vac) TT's to consider in that type of price range. And finally at the end of it all, it will come down to preference of taste and performance taking into account the spend on cartridge and phono-stage.
Cheers,
Nev
I just ordered a reconditioned Sota Nova. Should I have gone for the Cosmos at $2000 more? Can anyone tell me if there is a significant difference between the two. It seems that all the comnponents are the same except for the armboard.
Thanks
The Cosmos has an aluminum sub chassis vs wood for the Nova. Also, the motor on the Cosmos is attached to the sub chassis vs the Nova's motor, which is attached to the plinth. I've never been able to compare the two sonically. Hopefully, you also ordered the Cosmos armboard and SOTA reflex clamp.
Thanks for the information. I did order the reflex clamp but not the Cosmos armboard. I guess I can do that later.
Thanks for the information. I did order the reflex clamp but not the Cosmos armboard. I guess I can do that later.
By all means, get the Cosmos armboard.
Mark
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