Anyone heard the Sota Millenia?

Hi Speedy and all, I'm curious as to why you think that moving the motor to a seperate subassembly makes it necessarily less effective. Most every table these days has decoupled the motor from the plinth. I do suppose it is dependant on what base the whole shebang is siting on. I like having a belt exposed. While I agree that it lends itself to gathering dust and debree I see this only an issue with the rubber belts. A string or milar tape should not be a problem. But even with a rubber belt a little Simple Green works wonders.

I do like the metal plinth, heavy platter and composite armboard. The vacuum hold down is also a major feature. I'm still waiting to hear from Sota on the dual arm possibility which is another major feature I'm looking for. I should have called them, but I'm not in that big of a hurry.

Hi Speedy. Yes I know that all of this is personal tastes and choices. I also know that you enjoy discussions on this audio stuff so I was just attempting to engage a bit. Your posts do get me thinking.

This dual arm thing started for me on my last table and I had a Vector and Graham 2.2 tonearms. I do listen to many kinds of music, classic rock, blues, jazz, some country and bluegrass, and from time to time, classical. I found that there was a very noticeable difference in sound when using the same cartridge on either arm with different types of music. Both were very good, but one combination would sound a little better in some way than the other. But I grew tired of spending 20-30 minutes swapping arms and there was no way to really dial in a step-up then remove and replace it and have it be the same. This is all probably due more to the engineer in me than the music lover. I'm trying to please my yen and yang at the same time.

The vacuum hold down is a feature I have just recently added to my list of desired features. I wasn't real impressed with the clamp on my last table, a little too susceptible to clamping pressure. I suspect the weight solution would be even more of a problem. Reading about Sota's vacuum sensing system sounds like it would be a very good alternative.

I'm still looking for my next table so I'll probably change my mind several times before settling on something.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Prhifi,

I guess you could say in the simplest of terms that I was just ready for a change. I have been fortunate over the last several years to be able to devote time, energy and money to this hobby. (My wife is great! She's put up with all of my hobbies over the years.) The table is not the only system change I have made lately. I recently replaced my BAT preamp with an Aesthetix Calypso to mate with the Rhea I've had for a while. The Calypso was an experiment and taught me that there is a whole other world out there that can be found with tube rolling. I am a huge fan of BAT and their rock solid equipment produces wonderful sound, but I've got to spend some time in this tube rolling world. To help on my journey I've also added some Rogue M150 mono-blocks to power the mid and upper drivers of my 10t's. More tube rolling in these the last few days and I'm starting to get some scary good depth and realism to the soundstage, even with my CDP. Hopefully with all of this as background you can see where I'm coming from.

The two arm setup is something I really want to do, however a dual arm 2500 is $9000 without the arms and I still wouldn't have the vacuum hold down or an upgraded speed controller, etc. Basis makes very good stuff and a Vector Model 3 tonearm is also on my wish list. Believe me I have had to keep telling myself that the 2500 is really gone. I just need to take a different journey for a while.

Speedy, I'm just beginning to learn what you already have found with tube choices so I do appreciate the "God's phono section" description. (Good chuckle on that one!) That technique you mention about voicing with the with the tubes is something I had not given serious thought to. I mean the idea is right there in my face but I hadn't connected the dots. I haven't started seriously buying tubes for my phono stage yet but I'm already down over a grand with driver tubes for the amps and some good Telefunkens and Amperex in the pre. But with the excellant results that I'm getting I do believe that this "tube sound" is the major part of what I've been looking for. The depth, ambiance and timbre are all there, with my damn CD player! Oh well, it's a no lose situation. The last two tables I've bought because I was there at the right time. That's just what it took to get me where I'm at now. This time I want to take some time and make an well though out decision on this one.

Thanks and keep those ideas coming!

Dan

Thanks for the suggestions, Raul. I almost bought an Acoustic Signature table here in the listing, but waited to long. I no longer have the Basis so I'll have to wait until I get another table to try the Dynavector.

Evening folks,

That is very good advice about listening to others systems. I've met a few audiophiles in my area, New Hampshire, and none that are into vinyl as much as I am. But I keep looking.

Still no word back from Sota. I'll keep trying. I'm a little short tonight, sinuses are all screwed up.

One quick comment. I agree about live music. I find live music of all genre much brighter than most systems reproduce.

I got an email back from Donna at Sota. Pretty much what I had expected. She says that a dual arm configuration can be done but it would be in the realm of special ordering.