recommendation for a high end analog system


I never had an analog system until last month. I bought a 1989 SOTA TT with vacuum/Sumiko MMT arm/Dennon 103R retyped with elliptical/sapphire cantilever. My phono is Kitsune MK5 WBT that is amplified by Don Sach 2 tube preamp and Pass X350.5. My speaker are Sound Lab M545 ESL. The TT has been very   well maintained despite its age. It sounded very good until I heard my friend's system which has the same TT but with Lyra Skala cartridge and first generation Triplanar arm (Spectral pre/amp). His sounded noticeably clearer and fuller. What is the best way to get a noticeable improvement in my system without breaking the bank (or before I have to squint to hear the improvement). I would love to hear some wisdom from analog-philes.
128x128chungjh

Showing 4 responses by dover

You can get headshell spacers/weights on eBay.

Google "Pats Audio Turntable Headshell Weight - 3 grams" from Scottsdale Arizona.
@chungh 
I hgave owned the Sota vacuum and am very familiar with the TT and the Sumiko arm.

In my view before you look at cartridges, you will get a better result if you do the following -

Step 1 - get the Sota brought up to current spec - Sota will do this - their service is excellent
Step 2 - upgrade your tonearm - buy the best you can afford. Sota can provide either blank or predrilled amrboards. You will have to choose a 9-10 1/2 " arm to fit the Sofa - Sota can confirm what will fit.

These first steps should improve your system markedly and set you up for a very long time.

Then Step 3 - you can start looking at cartridges down the road knowing you will get the best out of them with the updated turntable and tonearm. A great arm with a modest but good cartridge will always sound fundamentally better than an expensive cartridge on a cheap arm.

Triplanar will fit on a Sota Sapphire -
https://www.stereophile.com/tonearms/the_tri-planar_tonearm/index.html

Also no problem Cosmos or Millennia either.
In the old days Wheaton used to supply precut armboards for Sota’s..

All you need to do is order a blank armboard. mark it up and get a machine shop to cut it for you if you cant do it yourself.
@chungjh

You can get the SME V serviced by SME.
If you got the Sota brought up to date and the SME V serviced, you will end up with a great turntable/arm combo that should last you a lifetime and with full service records, be very saleable if you decide to sell later.