Anyone heard the Sota Millenia?

Dan,you must understand that this is all only my taste.Lots of stuff is viable.Though I can't see the ever so popular desire to have more than one arm,and cartridge.Unless one has an extensive mono collection,as well as stereo stuff,but that's JUST me!!

Turntable selection is a personal choice.You have to factor size,and your ability to accomodate some of the rather large "Beasts",as well as price.There is a TON of really good designs,in quite a few price categories.I LOVE a load of them.I can't wait to win the lottery,so I can collect.

That aside,as an owner of the latest COSMOS,and a SOTA user for twenty years,I have to say that I've never experienced any bearing noise,or vacuum problems,as some competitors like to believe exists.I am not married to this product line,but they are absolutely superb,when you factor sound/features/size/price.Personally I like the Cosmos way more than the Millenia,which is really the same table,but without the gorgeous housing(the Cosmos has the same,very effective "Swiss Cheese" sub-assembly,but you don't have to look at it),and the Millenia dispenses with the motor on the NON RESONANT subassembly,and puts it in a cute seperate housing,which cannot be as effective(though I'm sure it works)in speed stability,as placing it on the sub-assembly.Hey everyone has their own tastes.

One thing that has always confused me is,why would one want a belt,and innerworkings of a moving system to be exposed to the environment(ever see the stuff floating around,when the sun comes in a window at a certain angle?),when there is a sealed alternative.Surely the probability exists that the belt on my old Cosmos lasted 12 years because it was not exposed to environmental contamination,as some non sealed systems do.I'm probably going a bit overboard here.Just food for thought.

Best regards.

Dan,if you want some voicing options,equal to the difference in sound between two arms,get some different brands,but high quality NOS tubes.This will definitely give you a bang,for the buck.Unfortunately it'll probably cost as much as the additional arm,with the prices for good NOS being absurd,these days!!In my phono-stage I currently have KILLER Siemens CCa's.I,also have two different sets of superb Ediswan phono tubes(as back-ups).Different characteristics with the Ediswans having a bit more swagger,but the CCa's(mine are lower noise than almost any previously available)that I have are like listening to GOD's phono section.Only a fellow hobbyist,like you could understand!

Best regards!

BTW-Dan,Sometimes the best thing you can do,to aid you,in this hobby(and it will cost you nothing),is to make an attempt to hear a few really good set-ups,that other hobbyists own.Bring some of your own program material to listen in these systems.It is easy(with common sense,and a good ear)to get a feel for differing presentations,and system voicings,which can influence us to move closer to a specific set of performance parameters,we may hear and like.Sometimes it's only an adjustment,but what happens frequently,is that we learn about what is important in reproducing what we are ultimately striving for.I have been greatly aided by this,and it has given me great cause to think things through.I've benefited,in musical terms.Live music IS great,but you have to hear other set-ups to compare to what we already "think" is accurate.I hope this makes sense!

Best regards.

Dan,it has nothing to do with the actual sound of live music,which is influenced by hall,acoustics etc.Live is,well,live!!Of course it is the best,but NOT reproduceable!!What I mean is that,as you gain experience,you can notice the little things that a "music reproduction system" can do,if really well set up.For ex:I can tell when my cartridge downforce/vta/damping is off.To me,this is the sound (exagerated,of course)of a rock being dragged through a plowed groove!!You lose that sense of beauty in the music,here.Flutes lose air,harp notes suck,and small bell tones sound hard.Sometimes it is easy to confuse this resonant,yet inaccurate sound,with greater air,or dynamics,or life.Wrong!I can pick up un this in other set-ups too.Same goes for line condition interactions,as well as room acoustics,etc!!There is a host of plagues we don't know we have until we hear someone with a better set-up.Then we have a chance to correct our own problem,should one(usually there's quite a few,we didn't realize we had)exist!!

Best regards!